LEGOUSIA FALCATA

Family:- CAMPANULACEAE

Common Names:- Spicate Venus's looking glass

Synonyms:- Campanula falcata, Pentagonia falcata, Prismatocarpus

falcatus.Specularia falcata; Triodanis falcata.

Meaning:- Legousia. Meaning uncertain.

Falcata (L) Sickle-shaped.

General description:- More or less pubescent annual up to 50 cm.

Stems:-

a) 20-40 cm tall.

b) simple or sparingly branched.

c) hairless or somewhat bristly.

d) often tinged with purple.

Leaves:-

a) often broadest above the middle (obovate), weakly undulate.

1) Lower:

a) short-pedicellate.

b) blade broadly elliptical, ± ciliate.

2) Upper:

a) stalkless (sessile).

Flowers:-

a) 5-8 mm.

b) solitary or in pairs in the leaf-axils.

c) in a lax spike forming at least 1/2 the total length of the stem.

1) Calyx-lobes:

a) almost as long as the ovary when the flower is fully open and functional.

b) linear-lance-shaped, narrowing gradually to a point.

c) spreading (patent) or recurved.

2) Corolla:

a) up to half as long as the calyx teeth.

b) shallowly lobed.

b) purplish-blue inside, paler outside.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) 15-20 mm.

b) narrow, cylindrical.

Key features:-

1) Flowers in a lax spike forming at least ½ the total length of the stem.

2) Calyx-lobes almost as long as the ovary at anthesis.

3) Corolla up to half as long as the calyx teeth.

4) Plant smooth.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, olive groves, open woodland and

embankments on various substrates. 0-1300 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece, except the interior north and smaller

islands. - Widespread in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia. Rare on Crete

currently known from only a few scattered locations.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis