GYPSOPHILA NANA

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Name:- None

Synonym:- Gypsophila achaia

Meaning:- Gypsophila (Gr) Lover-of-chalk

Nana (Gr) Very small, dwarf.

General description:- Small, tufted (caespitose), somewhat woody-based

perennial; whole plant glandular-pubescent on the stem and lower leaves.

Stems:-

1) Generally 4-10 cm.

2) Flowering stems several, ascending to erect.

Leaves:-

1) 5-20 x 2-3 mm.

2) Broadly linear to oblanceolate, dull green to glaucous (covered with a waxy

bloom).

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, of lax, 3-10-flowered dichasia.

2) Pedicels, 1.5-4 times as long as the calyx.

3) Calyx, 3-4.5 mm bell-shaped (campanulate); tube obscurely 5-veined; teeth

ovate.

4) Petals, 2-2.5 times as long as the calyx, truncate or notched at the apex usually

pale pink with darker pink veins, occasionally white.lilac-pink, rarely white.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds, 1 mm with short acute, conical tubercles.

Key features:-

1) Inflorescence lax; rarely with more than 10 flowers.

2) Pedicels usually more than twice as long as calyx.

3) Leaves not more than 20 mm long x at least 2 mm wide.

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges in cliffs of limestone or schist, screes, usually

somewhat damp in semi-shade. (900-)1400-2400 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the mountains of Crete, Peloponnisos and Sterea Ellas

to Giona. Rare on Crete known only from the three main massiffs of Lefka Ori

Psiloritis and Dikti

Flowering time:- Late May to mid-Aug.

Photos by:- Lia Liakou