CREPIS FRAASII subsp. FRAASII

Includining:- Subsp. mungieri found mostly at medium and high altitude on

Crete and Karpathos, is generally smaller and more glandular-pubescent than

subsp. fraasii, but there are many intermediates and the taxonomic status of the

former is doubtful. ¹⁾

1) Arne Strid "Atlas of the Aegean Flora". Book 1 2016

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. HIERACIOIDES

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Crepis (Gr) A name used by Greek philosopher Theophrastus.

Fraasii (L) Named after Carl Fraas, author of Synopsis Plantarum

Florae Classicae (1845).

General description:- Perennials.

Stems:-

1) 6-35 cm.

Leaves:-

1) With glandular or eglandular hairs.

2) Basal, 3-22 x 0·8-5·2 cm, oblanceolate, lyrate-pinnatifid the terminal segment

broadly ovate and remotely denticulate, the lateral segments broad, obtuse,

close or remote.

3) Lower cauline, like the basal or lanceolate and dentate.

4) Upper cauline, bract-like.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula few to many in a compound or irregular corymb.

2) Involucre 9-10 x 4-5 mm.

3) Bracts linear-lanceolate, acute, the outer ¼ - ½ as long as the inner, with

numerous, short glandular and sometimes some longer eglandular hairs.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 3-5 mm, dark brown, fusiform, more or less curved, 15- to 20-ribbed.

Key features:-

1) Achenes 15- to 20-ribbed.

2) Leaves lyrate-pinnatifid with broad, obtuse lateral segments and a broadly

obovate terminal segment.

3) Involucre with dense, short, glandular and sometimes eglandular hairs.

4) Cauline leaves few and, except the lowermost, bract-like, not amplexicaul.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Calcareous cliffs, crevices, ledges & rocky slopes from 0-2300 m.

Distribution:- Greece and south-western Asia. Widespread on Crete, but

commoner in the higher mountains.

Flowering time:- Apr-Aug.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis