CREPIS PUSILLA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. ZACINTHA

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Melitella pusilla, Melitella rechingeri

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

Pusilla (L) Weak, insignificant, minute.

General description:- Stalkless annual.

Leaves:-

1) 2-7 x 0·2-0·5 cm, in a flat basal rosette, linear-spathulate, entire to runcinate-

pinnatifid, attenuate at base subglabrous.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, in sessile clusters of 2-8 in centre of basal rosette.

2) Involucre, c. 4 x 3-4 mm.

3) outer bracts, 2-4, linear, membranous.

4) inner, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, with a membranous apex.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 1-1·5 mm, shortly beaked, of 2 kinds: inner and some outer whitish,

oblong, compressed, striate; the remainder of the outer achenes brownish,

thicker, angled, more finely striate and enclosed by the inner involucral bracts.

Key features:-

1) Plant acaulescent.

2) Capitula in sessile clusters in the centre of a flat rosette of leaves.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Clayey flats, dolines, fallow terraces, open ground along roads and

tracks. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Rare and scattered in the Mediterranean region. Fairly well scattered

across Crete.

Flowering time:- End of Mar to May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis