STAEHELINA FRUTICOSA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Hirtellina fruticosa, Centaurea fruticosa.

Meaning:- Staehelina. Meaning unknown.

Fruticosa (L) Of shrub-like habit.

General description:- Small tufted shrubs.

Stems:-

1) Up to 150 cm, the branches slightly glandular-pubescent, with rosettes of

leaves at the apices.

Leaves:-

1) 35-55 x 8-15 mm, lanceolate, acute, subpungent, entire, glabrous, glaucescent,

sessile.

2) Rosette-leaves oblong-spathulate, obtuse, shortly petiolate.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula in corymbose cymes.

2) Involucre 10-12 x 4-5 mm.

3) Bracts acute, glabrous, light brown, the lower green at apex.

4) Corolla whitish.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 5-6 x 1-1·5 mm, white-villous.

2) pappus 10-12 mm.

Key features:-

1) Leaves glabrous.

2) Ovary and achenes white-villous.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, generally, in semi-shade and usually near the

sea, occasionally to 1200 m.

Distribution:- Endemic S and SE Aegean area. Limited distribution on Crete

mainly in the southeast and southwest. Rare.

Flowering time:- Late Aug to Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare (R) according to IUCN 1997

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