CISTUS PARVIFLORUS

Family:- CISTACEAE

Common Name:- Narrow-leaved cistus

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cistus (Gr) Capsule.

Parviflorus (L) Small-flowered.

General description:- An erect or spreading shrub to 1m, though often less.

Leaves:-

1) Opposite, 3-veined with undulate margins, pinnately veined, oval to elliptical,

10-3 0mm long.

Flowers:-

1) Radially symmetrical, pink, 20-30 mm,

2) Cymes, 1- to 6-flowered, more or less symmetrical.

3) Sepals, 5, oval, long-pointed.

4) Pedicels, 5-10 mm.

5) Style, absent.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, loculicidal, with 5, 6 or 10 valves.

2) Seeds, with a more or less curved embryo; endosperm present.

Key features:-

1) Stigma sessile or subsessile.

2) Petals rose-pink.

3) Leaves usually grey-tomentose and usually on both sides.

Habitat:- Constituent of dry open shrubby vegetation on rocky hillslopes. 0-600(-

1100) m. Sometimes gregarious after fire in coniferous woodland.

Distribution:- From Italy and Sicily eastwards to Turkey and Cyprus. Widespread

and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton