CREPIS NEGLECTA subsp. CRETICA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. ALETHOCREPIS

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Crepis cretica

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

Neglecta (L) Overlooked, disregarded, neglected.

Cretica (L) Cretan, from Crete.

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-30 cm. Solitary and erect or several and decumbent, more or less hispidulous

below, glabrescent above.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, in a rosette, oblanceolate in outline, lyrate, runcinate or dentate.

2) Cauline, few, sessile and amplexicaul, the upper bract-like.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, nodding before anthesis.

2) Involucre, 4-7 mm.

3) Outer phyllaries, 4-6, the inner narrowly lanceolate, slightly swollen and indurate

below in fruit.

4) Ligules, yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 2-3 mm, fusiform, brown, 10-ribbed, with a slender.beak.

2) Pappus equalling the achene

Key features:-

1) Slender annual.

2) Capitula nodding in bud.

3) Involucre 4-7 mm

4) Outer phyllaries minute.

Achenes 2-3 mm, fusiform.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open shrubby vegetation, field margins, dry grassland, open woodland 0-

1400(-1800)

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

Flowering time:- Mar-June occasionally later.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton