Descurainia tanacetifolia

Hugueninia tanacetifolia (or Descurainia tanacetifolia) is a southern European species, found in the western part of the Alps. Growing at altitudes between 1,300 and 2,500 metres, it is one of the typical species of hygrophilous mountain megaherb communities – that is, those communities of ‘tall, broad-leaved herbs’ that inhabit cool, long-snow-covered slopes, and which are often associated with green alders (Alnus viridis) in the habitat known as alder grove.

A perennial herbaceous plant, growing up to 100 cm tall, it is recognised by its leaves, which are deeply divided into lanceolate segments – hence the specific name tanacetifolia, meaning ‘tansy-leaved’. It has abundant racemose inflorescences, consisting of small yellow flowers which develop into fusiform siliques containing the seeds.

Hugueninia tanacetifolia is a species belonging to the Brassicaceae family (from ‘bresic’, meaning ‘cabbage’ in Celtic) or Cruciferae, so named for the typical shape of the flowers – with four petals – which resembles a cross.