Tower mustard (Turritis glabra, Sp. Pl.: 666 (1753))

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 666 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Turritis

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Northern Hemisphere to Trop. Mts.

Description

Tower mustard, known scientifically as Turritis glabra, is a captivating plant that belongs to the esteemed Brassicaceae family. First documented in the monumental work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by L., this plant has intrigued botanists and plant enthusiasts for centuries.

Turritis glabra flourishes prominently across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, extending its reach to tropical mountainous areas. Such a wide geographical distribution underscores its adaptability and resilience in various climates and terrains.

Characterized by its tall, slender stature, Tower mustard is often identified by its striking, elongated flower stalks which can rise impressively above surrounding vegetation. This growth habit contributes to its common name, with the plant resembling a towering structure in its natural habitats.

The leaves of Turritis glabra are typically smooth and glabrous, aligning with its specific epithet ‘glabra,’ which translates to ‘smooth’ in Latin. This distinguishing feature provides an elegant, unblemished appearance to the plant’s foliage. Moreover, the flowers of Tower mustard are usually small yet plentiful, with a subtle charm that adds to the overall aesthetic of the plant.

Ecologically, Tower mustard plays a significant role in its native environments, supporting a variety of pollinators. Its presence in both temperate and tropical mountain regions indicates its importance in diverse ecological niches, aiding in the sustenance of local biodiversity.

In summary, Tower mustard (Turritis glabra) is a noteworthy member of the Brassicaceae family, celebrated for its hardiness and modest beauty. Its broad distribution from the temperate Northern Hemisphere to tropical mountains showcases its ecological versatility, making it a fascinating subject of study and admiration in the botanical world.

Common Names

Deu: gewöhnliches turmkraut
Eng: tower mustard, tower rockcress, towercress
Dan: tårnurt
Nor: glat taarn-sinnep
Swe: rockentrav
Nld: torenkruid
Sme: gassabađvvotgiera
Fra: tourette glabre, arabette glabre
En: Tower mustard, Tower rockcress, TOWER-MUSTARD, Towermustard rockcress, Garden arabis, Towercress, Glabrous Tower-cress
Az: Köynəkotu
Ca: Àrabis glabra
Zh: 旗杆芥
Cs: Huseník lysý
Da: Tårnurt
Nl: Torenkruid
Et: Lehmakapsas
Fi: Pölkkyruoho, Ketopölkkyruoho
Fr: Arabette glabre, Tourette glabre, Tourelle
De: Kahle Gänsekresse, Turmkraut, Turmkresse, Kahles Turmkraut, Gewöhnliches Turmkraut, Thurnsenf
It: Arabetta glabrescente
Ko: 깃대나물, 장대나물
Se: Gassabađvvotgiera
No: Glat taarn-sinnep
Oj: Misodjidamo’ anûk
Fa: مناری
Pl: Gęsiówka wieżyczkowata, Wieżyczka gładka, Wieżycznik gładki
Ru: Вяжечка гладкая
Sk: Strmobyľ holá
Es: Gola stolpica, Torreada, Torrreada
Sv: Rockentrav
Zh-tw: 南芥菜
Uk: Пужник голий
Cy: Berwr y cerrig

Synonyms

• Arabis macrocarpa (Torr.)
• Turritis pseudoturritis ((Boiss. & Heldr.) Velen.)
• Arabis pseudoturritis (Boiss. & Heldr.)
• Psilarabis glabra ((L.) Fourr.)
• Arabis turritis (Vest)
• Erysimum pseudoturritis ((Boiss. & Heldr.) Kuntze)
• Crucifera turritis (E.H.L.Krause)
• Arabis glabra ((L.) Bernh.)
• Turritis perfoliata (Neck.)
• Turritis glabra var. lilacina (O.E.Schulz)
• Arabis glabra subsp. pseudoturritis ((Boiss. & Heldr.) Maire)
• Turritis dregeana (Sond.)
• Turritis glabra f. glaberrima (Kuusk)
• Arabis crepidiopoda (Griseb. ex Pant.)
• Arabis glabra f. columnalis ((Nakai) M.Kim)
• Arabis columnalis (Nakai)
• Arabis hirsuta var. glaucescens (Caball.)
• Arabis excelsa (Prokh.)
• Turritis macrocarpa (Nutt.)
• Turritis glabra var. ramosa (DC.)
• Arabis glabra var. furcatipilis (M.Hopkins)
• Arabis glabra var. typica (M.Hopkins)
• Arabis perfoliata ((Neck.) Lam.)
• Turritis rigida (Wall.)
• Erysimum glastifolium (Crantz)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Iran (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Québec (native)
• Romania (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Utah (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Yukon (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Apr 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2022 by Wolfgang Wallner (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2021 by Ivan Mikulic (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken May 31, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 2, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 8, 2020 by ellura (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2017 by Sarah Dechamps (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 1, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2015 by Tela Botanica − David MERCIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2015 by Tela Botanica − David MERCIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 2, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Claude CALAIS (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Apr 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5376000)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:290916-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Turritis glabra L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 6

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’]

Soil nutriments: 5