Hesperis matronalis
Gerald D. Carr

Flora of Oregon

Plants pubescent.

Stems 4–8(11) dm.

Basal leaves withered by flowering.

Cauline leaves middle and upper narrowly oblong, lanceolate, or broadly ovate, (2)4–15(20) × (0.4)0.8–4(6) cm, bases not auriculate, margins denticulate or entire; short-petiolate.

Inflorescences fruiting pedicels divaricate or ascending, (5)7–17(25) mm, eglandular.

Flowers sepals 5–8 mm; petals obovate, (13)15–20(22) × 3.5–7.5(9) mm, deep purple, lavender, pink, or white, claws 6–12 mm.

Fruits terete, (4.5)6–10(14) cm × 2–2.5 mm; valves glabrous.

Seeds (2.5)3–4 × 1–1.5 mm.

2n=24.

Abandoned fields, gardens, floodplains, waste areas, roadsides, oak glades, bluffs, railroad embankments, thickets, woodlands. Flowering May–Aug. 0–1200 m. Casc, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA; throughout Canada and US; Asia, Europe. Exotic.

Flora of North America

as described under Hesperis matronalis

Stems unbranched basally, often branched distally, 4-8(-11) dm, often eglandular, glabrous distally. Basal leaves withered by flowering, long-petiolate. Cauline leaves short-petiolate; blade narrowly oblong, lanceolate, or broadly ovate, (2-)4-15(-20) cm × (4-)8-40 (-60) mm, base cuneate, margins denticulate or entire, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces pubescent. Fruiting pedicels (5-)7-17(-25) mm. Flowers: sepals 5-8 × 1.5-2 mm; petals (13-)15-20(-22) × 3.5-9 mm, claw 6-12 mm; filaments 2.5-6 mm; anthers 2.5-4 mm. Fruits (4-)6-10(-14) cm × 2-2.5 mm. Seeds (2.5-)3-4 × 1-1.5 mm. 2n = 24.Flowering Apr-Jul. Gardens, roadsides, oak glades, waste areas, bluffs, floodplains, abandoned fields, railroad embankments, thickets, woodland; 0-2200 m; introduced; Alta., B.C., Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask.; Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Tenn., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.; se Europe; c, sw Asia; n Africa; introduced also in South America (Argentina, Chile).

Photo images

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Herbarium specimens

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