OTANTHUS MARITIMUS

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Name:- Cottonweed

Synonym:- Diotis maritima, Achillea maritima, Filago maritima

Meaning:- Otanthus (Gr) After the Greek warrior Achilleios.

Maritimus (L) Growing by the sea, maritime, of the sea.

General description:- Bushy, much-branched perennial with ascending

herbaceous branches, densely white-tomentose throughout.

Stems:-

1) Up to 50 cm, ascending, stout, woody., branched above.

Leaves:-

1) 5-17 mm, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, toothed or untoothed, fleshy, sessile.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, 2-8 in terminal corymbs, subglobose, 9-12 mm in diam.

3) Florets, all tubular, yellow, widened at the base, with persistent, spongy lateral

appendages enveloping the achene at least in its upper half.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 4-5 mm, somewhat curved, straw-coloured; pappus lacking.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, A typical species of sandy beaches and dunes. 0-10m.

often gregarious.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean coastal areas. On Crete

widespread mainly along the northern coastal region.

Flowering time:- Late May to Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton