Biscutella laevigata

English: Buckler Mustard
Nederlands: Brilkruid
Español: Hierba de los anteojos
Français: Lunetière lisse - Biscutelle commune
Deutsch: Glatt-Brillenschötchen - Glattfrüchtiges Brillenschötchen - Gewöhnliches Brillenschötchen

Family: Brassicaceae - Cabbage family
Flowering time: May-July
Height: 15-40cm
Altitude:
Colour: yellow - lemon yellow
Flower: 6-10mm
Leaves: linear to lanceolate, lobed or toothed, stem leaves up to 2
Habitat: dry limestone rocks, slopes, fissures of rocks, waste places
Distribution: central, southern and northern Europe as far north as Belgium
Synonym: Biscutella valentina subsp. valentina var. laevigata (Picos de Europa)





Notes: Biscutella laevigata is a complex species which includes a number of subspecies and varieties. It has a distinctive sheath, long, flat with two rounded lobes which are divided over time. Biscutella refers to these double shield-like seed pods. These look like reading glasses which explains its vernacular name in many languages. In the Sierra Nevada where these photos are taken, three other Biscutella species can be found: Biscutella atropurpurea, Biscutella auriculata and Biscutella glacialis. Biscutella laevigata is one of the nectar plants and larval host plants of Anthocharis euphenoides (Provence Orange Tip).

Related key words: Arenales del Trevenque, Vereda de la Estrella, Sierra Nevada, finca, Alpujarras, Granada, Andalucía, Andalusia, Andalusië, Picos de Europa, Spain, Alps, butterfly, vlinder, nectarplant, waardplant, Anthocharis euphenoides, Provence Orange Tip, Geel oranjetipje, Bandera española, Aurore de Provence,Gelber Aurorafalter