CENTAUREA BALDACCII

Family:- Compositae/Subgen. CYANUS

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Cyanus baldaccii

Meaning:- Centaurea (Gr) Centaur, Centauros. The centaur Chiron was cured of a

hoof wound with this plant.

Baldaccii (L) For Antonio Baldaccii (1867-1950) of the Bologna

Botanic Garden. Italy.

General description:- Perrennian, herbaceous plant with a long creeping rhizome

and numerous very short, stout stems.

Stem:-

1) Very stout 3-4 cm long.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, narrowly lanceolate, shortly petiolate, entire or lyrate, margin undulate

arachnoid-tomentose.

2) Upper, smaller.

Flowers:-

1) Involucre 6-8 mm diam., ovoid; appendages long-decurrent dark brown, fimbriae

shorter than the width of the margin, silvery.

2) Florets white, rarely pale rose-lilac.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 4.5 mm.

2) Pappus 1.2-1.5 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Calcareous mountain pastures and rocky outcrops. 1900-2100 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to W. Crete. Rare

Flowering time:- June-Aug.

Photos by:- Andreas Loukakis

Status:-

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

to the Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (1995)

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