Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.

Isatis boissieriana (Gintzburger et al., 2003)

Alyssum desertorum
Gintzburger et al., Rangelands in Uzbekistan, 2003
Isatis boissieriana (Gintzburger et al., 2003)
Leptaleum filifolium
Isatis boissieriana
Isatis boissieriana
Isatis boissieriana


Isatis boissieriana Rchb. f.

Local name:

  • Russian: Вайда Буасье - vajda Buas'e
  • Turkmen: Chetyr

Chromosome number: 2n = 28 (Quézel 1957; Fedorov 1969).

Description and morphology: Annual herb (height 10–50 cm). Stem: erect, thin, glabrous or slightly hairy. Leaves: alternate, closely attached to stem with entire margins, without bracts; cauline leaves sessile, triangular-lanceolate, auriculate. Flowers: bisexual; (4–7 mm) on long, threading pedicel, yellow. Inflorescence: loose, many-flowered racemes, assembled in a panicle.

Reproduction: Sexual. Entomophilous. Flowering: April. Fruit maturation: end of April– May. Fruit: silicle heterocarpous, polyspermous. Indehiscent winged, oblong-elongated wide with truncate or retuse apex and 1 prominent vein on the middle silicula (17–23 mm long, 6–9 mm wide), deflexed filiform. Seed: oblong (4–6 mm long,1–2 mm wide) with large, bent embryo and reduced endosperm. Dormancy A2–B1 type. Fresh collected seeds do not germinate. Dormancy is lifted after about 4 months dry storage. Removal of the fruiting body or stratification stimulates germination. Viability of seeds 2–4 years.

Pastoral importance: Good grazing. Harvested for haymaking and mixed with Hordeum and also a component of silage. Fodder value: A valuable fodder plant, rich in fibre. At flowering contains (% DM): protein 29; cellulose 16.5; nitrogen-free extract 41. Forage value about 85 FU/100 kg DM.

Habitat: Psammo-xerophyte. Common in sandy deserts in small plant communities. Occurs in the chol and adyr, sometimes in dense stands. Tolerates both cold and hot dry weather; seedlings will tolerate frosts down to -20 °C.

Distribution: Endemic species of Central Asia.