ALLIUM CIRCINNATUM subsp. CIRCINNATUM
Family and Genus:- See- ALLIACEAE/Sect. MOLIUM
Common name:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Allium clusianum
Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.
Circinnatum (L) Curled round, coiled like a crozier.
General description:- Short to medium bulbous perennial.
Bulbs:-
1) 0·7 cm diam. ovoid, outer tunics chartaceous, pitted.
Stem:-
1) 5-18 cm. terete. hairy.
Leaves:-
1) 2-5, up to 24 cm × 1-1·5 mm, almost basal, linear, twisted or coiled especially at
the apex into up to 10 coils, covered with long, patent hairs.
Flowers:-
1) Spathe, 6-10 mm, 1-valved, 1- or 2-lobed at the apex, about as long as the
pedicels, persistent.
2) Umbel, fastigiate, with 2-5 flowers.
3) Pedicels, 3-11 mm.
4) Perianth, stellate, segments 5-6 x 1·5-2 mm, white, with a pink mid-vein, the
outer oblong, the inner lanceolate, acute or obtuse.
5) Stamens, included;
a) filaments, c. 4 mm, simple.
b) anthers, yellow.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, 3 mm.
Key features:-
1) Umbel, on an evident scape.
2) Leaves, hairy, or at least ciliate towards the base. Spirally coiled (Crete).
3) Stem, hairy.
Habitat:- Calcareous cliffs, in crevices, phrygana and soil pockets in rocks at low
altitudes (up to 250 m).
Distribution:- Endemic Crete & Antikythera. On Crete confined mainly to the
northern side of the island. Rare.
Flowering time:- Feb-Apr.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
Status:-
Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare (R) according to IUCN 1997
Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
