On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 10:15:00 +0200, "P van Rijckevorsel"
wrote:

Please see http://www.astrostitch.co.uk/plant.htm.

Leon Fisk schreef
So how can you tell it is Lunaria annua and not Hesperis
matronalis (Dame's Rocket, Sweet Rocket). I always have to
wait for the seed pods to start forming to determine which
of the two it is. Curious...

+ + +
Well, I suppose the best clue would be leaf shape: shape here is pretty
typical for Lunaria annua, and rather unlike Hesperis
cf http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/T51058.HTM

Thanks PvR,

The reference site you gave shows a significant difference
between the leaves. I'll have to go study my books again. I
remember struggling with this id in the past. The drawings
and descriptions I used weren't the best in distinguishing
between the leaves. This site makes it look obvious. I have
both varieties growing in my area (but not side-by-side).
I'll take a better look later this spring when they're
flowering.
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
Remove no.spam for email