INULA CANDIDA subsp. CANDIDA

Family:- COMPOSITAEA/CANDIDA Group

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Inula candida, Inula limonifolia

Meaning:- Inula (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher Pliny.

Candida (L) Shining-white.

General description:- Perennial, whitish-silvery shrub.

Stems:-

1) Up to c. 30 cm, slender, simple or with few short branches in the upper 1/3. The

indumentum appressed-sericeous-tomentose.

Leaves:-

1) Simple, alternate.

2) Basal, 3-9 cm ovate to lanceolate, tomentose.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula medium-sized with yellowish florets, very tiny, difficult to be

observed, usually supported or enfold by several bracts.

2) Involucre 8-9 mm, bracts recurved, usually with an elongate apex.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes c. 2 mm, hairy; angled, not abruptly contracted below the pappus.

2) Pappus about twice as long as the achene, with 10-15 setae.

Key features:-

1) Outer involucral bracts more than ½ as long as the inner.

2) Most capitula subtended by 2 or more bracts.

3) Stem and leaves more or less densely appressed-sericeous-tomentose.

4) Leaves entire.

5) Involucral bracts recurved near the usually elongate apex.

6) Involucre 8-9(-11) mm.

7) Indumentum very dense.

8) Basal leaves 3-9 cm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Calcareous rocky places, crevices & screes, flat clayey areas 0-1000(-

1400)m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Crete and Kythera. Rare in east Crete.

Flowering time:- May-july.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton