ERYSIMUM CANDICUM subsp. CANDICUM

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Erysimum (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus

(perinnial wallflowers).

Candicum (L) From Crete, Cretan.

Plant:- Small shrub 25-50 cm.

Stems:-

1) Erect; simple or branched up to 30 cm in flower, up to 60 cm in fruit; hairs divided

at the tip in 2(-4) (usually equal) parts by a median cleft (2(-4)-fid).

Leaves:-

1) 20-120 x 3-13 mm, entire or with a few serrations, densely pubescent.

2) Petiole, much shorter than the lamina.

Flower:-

1) Raceme, of fragrant yellow flowers. The racemes elongate considerably during

fruit development.

2) Sepals, 6-8 mm.

3) Petals, 11-17 x 3-5·5 mm, pubescent on the back.

4) Style, 2-4 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Siliqua, 20-60 x 4-4·5 mm, somewhat compressed with a thin mid-vein on each

valve.

2) Seeds, 5-6 x 3.5 mm. in 1 row in each loculus.

Key features:-

1) Petals, 13-22 x 5-8·5 mm.

2) Siliqua, ± terete, with a weak mid-vein on each valve.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, usually in semi-shade in gorges, (not on

maritime cliffs). 50-700(-1000) m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Crete. Limited distribution.

Flowering time:- Mar-Apr.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis & Zacharias Angourakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Near Threatened (nt) according to

IUCN 1997

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981