LACTUCA ACANTHIFOLIA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. PHOENIXOPUS

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Chondrilla acanthifolia, Phaenixopus acanthifolius,

Prenanthes acanthifolia, Scariola acanthifolia.

Meaning:- Lactuca (L) Reference to the milky sap.

Acanthifolia (L) Thorny leaved.

General description:- Perennial. Rhizome large, covered with remains of leaves.

Stem:-

1) 30-100 cm, erect, striate, glabrous except for the arachnoid-lanate base.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, very variable in shape, oblong-ovate or spathulate in outline, lobed or

pinnatifid, rarely entire, petiolate;

2) Upper pinnatipartite, auriculate; all densely arachnoid-lanate on the proximal side

. of petiole and sometimes on midrib, otherwise glabrous or subglabrous

Flowers:-

1) Capitula subsessile in a spike-like panicle, solitary or in small fascicles.

2) Involucral bracts lanate at apex.

3) Ligules yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 8-9 mm; body oblong-lanceolate, 5- to 7-ribbed, yellowish-brown; beak

½ as long as or as long as the body.

Key features:-

1) Stem glabrous or with eglandular hairs below. Arachnoid-lanate at the base.

2) Achenes yellowish-brown.

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Habitat:- A typical chasmophyte, growing in crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs,

(occasionally other substrates), generally in semi-shade. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete, Aegean & SW. Turkey. Widely scattered on Crete,

but not common.

Flowering time:- (June-) July-Sept.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis