Short Description
False London-rocket can grow up to 1.2 metres tall.
The hairy leaves are arranged in rosettes near the ground as well as singly and alternately on the stem. They are incised on both sides almost to the middle rib and have a triangular terminal section. The leaf margin is often toothed.
The upright stem is branched in the upper part. It is densely rough-haired, especially in the lower part.
The flowers are clustered at the end of a racemose inflorescence. They are yellow and have four petals and four sepals and six stamens.
The fruits are elongated, narrow pods with two valves. They sit protruding upright under the flowers and contain many small, brown seeds.
Features
False london-rocket
Sisymbrium loeselii
four yellow petals
upright protruding pods
In the city
False London-rocket grows on nutrient-rich soils in patchy weed stands, on rubble and refuse sites, on walls, along paths and embankments. As a pioneer plant, it prefers light and warm sites.
Fun Facts
The species name loeselii honours the German physician and botanist Johannes Loesel (1607-1655), who found this immigrant species in Gdansk in 1654.
It belongs to the same plant family as mustard and cabbage. It contains mustard oil glucosinolates, which are often found in the cruciferous family.
An inflorescence bears up to 100 flowers in the course of a summer.
The flowering period is from May to September.
False London-rocket is an annual to perennial plant. It lives for one or two years, but flowers only once and dies after the seeds have matured.
- Endangerment level Germany: not evaluated
The original distribution area of false London-rocket in Central Europe is thought to be Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria and Romania. From its natural range, it has spread to Germany since the 17th century. It belongs to the non-native plants (neophytes).
Sources
Habitus, Radio Tonreg, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sisymbrium_loeselii_(8237767382).jpg
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Blütenstand, AnRo0002, CC0 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20150924Sisymbrium_loeselii3.jpg
Früchte, AnRo0002, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20150924Sisymbrium_loeselii1.jpg
Page „Loesels Rauke“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 01.08.2017, 08:57 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loesels_Rauke&oldid=167770687 (Accessed: 04.09.2018).