Yellow stone seed

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The yellow stone seed (Neatostema apulum) is the only species of the plant genus Neatostema in the family of roebes (Boraginaceae).

Description

Vegetative characteristics
The yellow stone seed is a relatively small, annual herbaceous plant and reaches growth heights of 3 to 30 centimeters. The stem is stiff upright. Of the numerous foliage leaves, the lower ones are descending into the stalk, the upper ones sitting. The simple leaf spreads are narrow spatula-shaped to elongate and protruding long bristle hair.

Generative characteristics
The almost seated flowers are arranged tightly in the wrappers foliated to the top. The twilight flowers have a double flower shell. The chalice is brittle. The crown of the flower, which is relatively short with a length of about 6 millimetres, is yellow and has a bearded throat as well as a five-lobed, hairy and short hem.

The flowering period is between March and June. The clauses are short beaked, warty and light brown.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 28.

Occurrence
The Yellow Stone Seed is found in the Canary Islands, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, France, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Aegean islands, Turkey, Iraq, Bulgaria, Moldova and southern Ukraine. He thrives on rocky grass hallways and in the garigue.

Taxonomy
It was first published in 1753 by Carl von Linné under the name (basic name) Myosotis apula in Species Plantarum, page 131. The recombination to Neatostema apulum was published in 1953 by Ivan Murray Johnston in Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, Volume 34, page 6, who placed it in the genus Neatostema, which he newly established. Other synonyms for Neatostema apulum are: Myosotis apula, Lithospermum apulum, Rhytispermum apulum, Lithospermum luteum, Lithospermum strigosum, Myosotis lutea

Individual evidence

Weblinks

Neatostema (stone seed) on Mittelmeerflora.de.
Neatostema apulum at Electronic Flora of South Australia.

Cultividae