Biennial or perennial herbs with simple or branched, stellate, somewhat rough hairs. Leaves variable, often deeply dentate, lower stalked, upper subsessile or sessile. Racemes often many flowered, large. Flowers large, showy, very variable in colour, white, pink, violet or yellowish, sometimes brownish; pedicels often elongated in fruit. Sepals erect, usually saccate at base. Petals c. twice as long as the sepals. Stamens 6; filaments not appendaged; anthers oblong, obtuse. Lateral nectar glands annular, often 3-lobed towards the outer side; middle glands absent. Ovary linear, subquadrate, generally many ovuled; stigma bilobed, often erect and subsessile. Siliquae linear-oblong, terete, often ± torulose, biolcular, usually late dehiscent; valves somewhat rigid with a distinct mid-rib; septum rigid, often septulated; seeds often large, oblong, not winged.

About 30 species, chiefly in Europe, C. and W. Asia; known from I cultivated (ornamental) species from our area.

Lower Taxon

• Hesperis matronalis Linn.