IUM STATICIFORME

Family and Genus:- See- ALLIACEAE/Sect. CODONOPRASUM

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.

Staticiforme (L) Probably from Statice = (astringent) Dioscorides'

name for Limonium (Limonium-like leaves)

General description:- Bulbous perennial plants.

Bulb:-

1) 0·8-1·5 cm. diam. outer tunics coriaceous, blackish, stipitate bulblets present.

Stem:-

1) 7-30 cm., often curved in the lower part.

Leaves:-

1) 2-4, up to 130 x 0·5-2 mm. filiform, sheathing the stem up to halfway,

tubular, usually glabrous.

Flowers:-

1) Spathe, 2-valved.

a) valves, unequal, the larger 1-3 cm, the smaller 0·5-2 cm. ovate at the base,

contracted above into a slender appendage.

2) Umbel, 1·5-2·5 cm. diam. hemispherical, usually dense, 10-60-flowered.

a) pedicels, 5-12 mm, almost equal.

3) Perianth, obovoid.

4) Perianth segments, 3-3·5 x 1·4-1·6 mm, elliptical, pink, with a red mid-vein.

a) inner, slightly wider than the outer, rounded at the apex.

5) Stamens, slightly exserted.

a) filaments, 3·5-4 mm.

b) anthers, red or yellow.

6) Ovary, obovoid, shortly stipitate.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 3 mm.

Key features:-

1) Stamens, slightly exserted.

3) Leaves, sheathing lower 1/3-1/2 of the stem.

4) Ovary, broadly obovoid.

5) Umbel, very dense, subglobose, many-flowered.

6) Anthers, very slightly exserted.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy and rocky coastal habitats and dry open shrubby vegetation,

usually over limestone. 0-200 (-500) m.

Distribution:- Almost restricted to the Aegean area, just extending to SC

Peloponnisos and W Anatolia. Rare on Crete known from only a few locations in the

centre and east.

Flowering time:- May-June.

Photos by:- Charalambos Chiotelis