PETROMARULA PINNATA

Family:- CAMPANULACEAE

Common Names:- Petromarula

Synonyms:- Phyteuma pinnatum, Rapunculus pinnatus.

Meaning:- Petromarula (L) Rock lettuce (derived from the Greek nétpoz (rock)

and uapoukl (lettuce).rocks).

Pinnata (L) Set in two opposite ranks, winged, feathered.

General description:- A robust perennial plant.

Stems:-

a) up to 80 cm.

b) hairless (glabrous) below, slightly hairy above (puberulent).

Leaves:-

1) Blade:

a) up to 30 cm long forming a rosette.

b) pinnate or pinnately divided. the divisions extending almost to the rachis

(pinnatisect).

c) lower long-stalked (long-petiolate).

d) segments coarsely toothed (dentate) or lobed.

Flowers:-

a) in panicles.

1) Calyx:

a) deeply divided at the tip in 5 (5-fid).

2) Corolla:

a) funnel-shaped (infundibuliform).

b) divided nearly to the base into 5 linear lobes, whitish to deep violet-blue.

c) stamens 5.

d) filaments dilated at base.

e) anthers free.

3) Ovary 3-celled (3-locular).

4) Style protruding (exserted), hairless (glabrous); stigma large, head-shaped

(capitate).

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) splitting open to release the seeds (dehiscing) by 3 pores in the middle.

Key features:-

1) Flowers radially symmetrical (actinomorphic).

2) Filaments free, though anthers sometimes united (connate).

Habitat:- Calcareous cliffs & crevices, steep banks, rocky & shady places,

old stone walls (0-1200 m).

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Widespread and common.

Flowering time:- Apr-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton