PHLOMIS LANATA

Family and Genus:- See-- LABIATAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None.

Meaning:- Phlomis (Gr) Flame, (the hairy leaves were used as lamp wicks).

Lanata (L) Woolly.

General description:- Hairy shrub.

Stem:-

1) Up to 55 cm. Eglandular, densely stellate-tomentose.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, 1·5-2·8 cm, broadly elliptical, oblong, obovate or suborbicular, cuneate to

rounded at the base, crenulate, coriaceous, stellate-lanate on both surfaces.

2) Petiole, up to 1 cm.

Flowers:-

1) Floral leaves, subsessile, suborbicular, obtuse.

2) Verticillasters, 2- to 10-flowered.

3) Bracteoles, 6-10 x 3-5·5 mm, broadly elliptical, oblanceolate or obovate,

mucronate, straight at apex, stellate-lanate.

4) Calyx, 10-12 mm, stellate-tomentose;

a) teeth, 0·5-1 mm, subulate.

5) Corolla, 20-23 mm yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, pubescent.

Key features:-

1) Bracteoles elliptic-lanceolate, oblanceolate, obovate or ovate, straight at the

apex.

2) Shrub up to 55 cm.

3) Lower leaves, 1·5-2·8 cm, broadly elliptical, oblong, obovate or suborbicular.

4) Calyx-teeth, 0·5-1 mm, subulate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- A common constituent of open dry shrubby vegetation on rocky lime-

stone slopes, also roadsides and olive groves. 0-1100(1700) m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Widespread and common, but more-so in the east.

Flowering time:- Apr to mid-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

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