SPECIES DESCRIPTION
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.