PHAGNALON SAXATILE

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Conyza saxatilis, Gnaphalium saxatile, Gnaphalon saxatile.

Meaning:- Phagnalon. Meaning unknown.

Saxatile (L) Living in rocky places, of the rocks.

General description:- Dwarf shrub

Stems:-

1) Up to 60 cm. ascending to erect.

Leaves:-

1) 2·5-3·5 cm, linear to linear-oblanceolate, greenish and sparsely lanate above,

densely lanate beneath, erose or rarely remotely dentate; margin sometimes

revolute.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula solitary.

2) Involucral bracts:

a) outer, linear-lanceolate, acute; margin undulate.

b) inner, linear.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes cylindrical, somewhat compressed or angled, unbeaked, usually hairy.

2) Pappus-hairs in 1-2 rows, simple, free.

Key features:-

1) Leaves densely lanate, at least beneath.

2) Margin of middle involucral bracts undulate.

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Habitat:- Rocky slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation, scrubland vegetation

cliffs, stone walls, mostly on non-calcareous substrates.

Distribution:- Limited distribution across the Aegean, reported from SW Mainland

and Kefallinia. - Mediterranean region and SW Europe. Rare on Crete currently

known from only one location in the extreme SW.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Courtesy of Wiki-Commons