PROSPERO MINIMUM

Family and Genus:- See- HYACINTHACEAE

Common Names:- Autumn squill

Homotypic Synonyms:- Scilla minima.

Meaning:- Prospero (Gr) Provide a good omen, give hope. or (L) Pass, penetrate.

Refering to the fact that the genus is close to the genus Scilla.

Minimum. (L) Least, smallest.

General description:- Low to short perennial.

Bulb:-

1) Subglobose to ovoid, 1.1-1.8 x 0.7-1.4 cm., living scales white, tunic blackish-

brown.

Scapes:-

1) 1-2 (-3), 4-10 cm in flower, up to 17 cm in fruit, erect, thin, 0.7-1,2 mm in diam,

2) 3-10-flowered.

Leaves:-

1) Appearing in autumn after the flowers.

2) Filiform, 6-10 x 0.5-1 mm.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels, 2-6 mm in flower, up to 2 cm in fruit.

2) Tepals, 4.8-5 x 2 mm, pink, middle rib rust brown outside.

3) Filaments, 3-3.5 x 1 mm, broadly lanceolate, violet, white at the base.

4) Ovary, 1.3 mm in diam, subglobose, violet.

5) Style, 1-1,3 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, globose, 2.5-3 mm in diam.

2) Seeds, 1.5 x 1 mm , brownish-black.

Key features:-

2) Tepals, 4.8-5 x 2 mm, pink, middle rib rust brown outside.

With special thanks to Ralf Jahn for supplying the diagnostics.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky hillsides with scrubland vegetation and open dry shrubby

vegetation, open woodland, olive groves, dolines, mainly over limestone. 0-1200(-

1800) m.

Distribution:- Type locality: Imbros gorge, 550 m. Widespread on Crete; the most

frequent taxon. Known mainly from S. coast from Chora Sfakion to Plakias. Iraklio

region, Vianos region, Sitia region.

Comment:-

A polyploid complex (2n = 12, 14, 26, 28, 42, etc.) in need of critical study

throughout its range. Speta (2000b, sub nom. Prospero) named six new species

from Kriti (P. battagliae, P. depressum, P. hierapytnense, R idaeum, P. minimum

and P. rhadamanthi), all based on single collections.1)

1) "Atlas of the Aegean Flora" Book1, Arne Strid 2016.

Flowering time:- Mainly Aug-Oct.

Photos by:- Popi Bormpoudaki

Status:

Vulnerable. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species