DITTRICHIA VISCOSA subsp. ANGUSTIFOLIA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Stinking inula, Woody Fleabane, False yellowhead.

Synonyms:- Inula viscosa var. angustifolia.

Meaning:- Dittrichia meaning unknown.

Viscosa (L) Sticky, viscid.

Angustifolia (L) Narrow-leaved.

General description:- Densely glandular, viscid perennial.

Stems:-

1) 40-130 cm. woody at base.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, 30-70 x 2-30 mm, linear to oblong-lanceolate, acute, remotely denticulate.

2) Upper sessile, semiamplexicaul.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, medium, bright yellow.

2) Involucre, 6-8 mm.

3) Outer bracts, 1-2 x 0·5-0·7 mm, linear-lanceolate, acute, erect.

4) Inner, bracts 6-8 x 0·6-0·8 mm.

5) Ligules, 10-12 mm, distinctly exceeding the involucre.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes c. 2 mm, hairy.

2) Pappus with 15 setae.

Key features:-

1) Ligules 10-12 mm, distinctly exceeding the involucre.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, streambanks, wasteground, often gregarious on gravelly

road verges. 0-700(-1400) m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece mainly in coastal areas, Widespread in the

Mediterranean, Widespread across Crete common.

Flowering time:- Late Aug to early Nov.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton