ALYSSUM FRAGILLIMUM

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE/Sect. ODONTARRHENA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Alyssum alpestre var. fragillimum, Alyssum

nebrodense var. fragillimum, Odontarrhena fragillima.

Meaning:- Alyssum (Gr) Pacifier, ancient Greek name meaning without-fury -

alluding to the supposed medicinal properties against rabies.

Fragillimum (L) Fragile.

General description:- Prostrate, mat-forming dwarf plant with many lateral roots

coming from organs other than the main root system (adventitious roots). cm.

Stem:-

1) 1-3 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Mostly crowded towards base and apex of the stems, 1.5-7.5 x 0.7- 8 mm,

obovate to lanceolate-spathulate, denser covered with minute, stellate white

hairs, basal leaves slightly smaller.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence condensed, up to 10 mm wide, with up to 10, 4-merous

2) Sepals 1.5-2.3 urn, oblong, yellowish, white-stellate-hairy.

3) Petals 2.5-3 mm, spathulate, yellow, glabrous.

Fruit:-

1) Siliculae elliptiaI, densely white-pubescent, with 11-18-rayed stellate airs; valves

somewhat inflated.

2) Seeds scarcely winged.

Key features:-

1) Hairs on leaves not more than 0·4 mm diam.

2) Silicula 2-2·5 mm wide.

3) Plant 1-3 cm, procumbent.

4) Largest cauline leaves 3-4 x 1·5 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry, stony and gravelly slopes and flats, on limestone. 1600-2350 m. with

Alyssum sphacioticum, Anchusa cespitosa, etc.

Distribution:- Endemic to Lefka Ori, where it was first collected by Baldacci in

1893 and is locally quite common.

Flowering time:- June-July

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

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

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (R) according to the Red

Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (1995).

A dwarf alpine plant known only from a single mountain massif in Crete. The

species is at risk from overgrazing by sheep and goats, which damages the plants,

reduces the quantity of seeds produced and inhibits the establishment of seedlings.

Collection of plants by unscrupulous botanists and gardeners may pose a further

threat.