BOLANTHUS CREUTZBERGII subsp. ZAFFRANII

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Bolanthus Meaning uncertain.

Creutzburgii (L) After Nikolaus Creutzburg. German geographer.

Zaffranii (L) For the French botanist Jacques Zaffran.

General description:- A dwarf, laxly caespitose perennial, with a woody base. The

whole plant densly hairy with some longer, glandular and eglandular hairs.

Stems:-

a) 1.5-6 cm.

b) ascending to erect.

Leaves:-

1) Blade:

a) 2-5 x 0·5-1·5 mm.

b) spatulate to oblanceolate.

Flowers:-

a) in capitate clusters or forked.

b) axis divided into two equal branches (dichotomous) with one flower per node.

1) Bracts:

a) leaf-like, ± equalling the calyx.

b) stem (pedicel) very short.

2) Calyx:

a) 2.5-4 mm.

b) ellipsoid.

c) tube 5-ribbed.

d) teeth narrowly triangular.

3) Petals:

a) linear-spathulate, somewhat exceeding the calyx.

b) white, with a deep purple transverse stripe near the middle or base.

Compared with the mountain plants, they are very similar but the petal limb

appears shorter.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) equalling the calyx.

2) Seeds:

a) c. 1 mm.

b) comma-shaped, black.

c) minutely papillose

Key features:-

1) Stems not more than 6 cm.

2) Calyx 4-6 mm, tubular.

3) Petals linear-spathulate.

Habitat:- Stony and sandy beaches. 20-200 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to an area east of the coastal town of Paleochora. Rare.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (V) according to IUCN

1997.

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981.