DIANTHUS FRUTICOSUS subsp. CRETICUS
Common Names:- Wild carnation.
Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Dianthus (Gr) Zeus'-flower. A name used by the Greek philosopher
Theophrastus.
Fruticosus (L) Of shrub-like habit.
Creticus (L) From Crete, Cretan.
General description:- Small shrub with tortuous branches.
Stems:- Up to 50 cm.
Leaves:-
1) Elliptical or broadest towards the apex and tapering to the stalk.
2) Slender, tapering cylinder, more or less circular in any cross-section, fleshy, tips
. rounded.
3) Covered with a waxy bloom, giving a bluish or greyish colouration.
Flowers:-
1) Numerous; scentless.
2) Stalks, (pedicels) short.
3) Epicalyx-scales, (8-)10-20, obovate, shortly abruptly tipped with a sharp rigid
point (cuspidate).
4) Calyx, 18-25 x 2-3 mm, narrowed from about the middle.
5) Petal-limb, c.10 mm, toothed (dentate), bearded, pink.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, splitting open to release the seeds (dehiscing) at the apex (apically);
with 4 teeth; carpophore often present.
2) Seeds numerous, concave on 1 side.
Key features:-
1) Calyx not more than 3 mm wide, narrowed from about the middle.
2) Flowers not in bracteate heads.
Habitat:- Rocks of submontane and lowland zones to 400 m.
Distribution:- Endemic to Crete. The commonest and most widespread race which
occurs from sea level to about 400 m more or less scattered throughout Crete
except the far east, where it is replaced by the endemic subsp. sitiacus.
Flowering time:- June-July. Rarely later.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
Status:-
Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (V) according to IUCN
1997.
Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
