PTILOSTEMON GNAPHALOIDES subsp. PSEUDOFRUTICOSUS

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Ptilostemon (Gr) Feathery-stamened-one.

Gnaphaloides (Gr) Felted like Gnaphalium

Pseudofruticosus (L) Falsely - shrub-like.

General description:- Spineless evergreen shrub to 1m, though often less.

Stems:-

1) Often white-downy, especially when young. Flowering branches tomentose

occasionally glabrescent.

2) Flowering branches with leaves as long as those on the main stem.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, simple, narrow, somewhat widened below, base with laciniae 1-5(-9)

mm, acuminate at the apex, white-downy beneath.

2) Upper, shorter than the lower.

3) Margins recurved, in the shape of a needle.

4) Persistent, with silver-coloured hoary fine hairs below and with coiled edges.

Flowers:-

1) Purple, pink or white, from 20-25 mm long, joined together in a capitula.

2) Capitula, usually few, in corymbs, rarely solitary.

3) Involucre, 18-25 x 18-26 mm.

4) Bracts, lanceolate-triangular, with inconspicuous vittae. with an erecto-patent

apex, the middle and outer with an apical spinule 1-3 mm.

5) Phyllaries with a long, acuminate, somewhat pungent apex.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 4-6 mm.

2) Pappus 14-17 mm. plumose.

Key features:-

1) Bracts with an erecto-patent apex, the middle and outer with an apical spinule 1-

3 mm

2) Involucre 18-25 x 18-26 mm.

3) Flowering branches with leaves as long as those on the main stem..

4) Persistent, with silver-coloured hoary fine hairs below and with coiled edges.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Limestone cliffs, occasionally on rocky ridges or road embankments, 0-

100m.

Distribution:- Some additional records from Peloponnisns and S Sterea Elias,

otherwise not known outside the Aegean area. Rare on Crete currently know from

one area in the south-west coastal region.

Flowering time:- April-June

Photos by:- Another