PTILOSTEMON CHAMAEPEUCE

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Shrubby knapweed, Shrubby Ptilostemon.

Synonyms:- Serratula chamaepeuce.

Meaning:- Ptilostemon (Gr) Feathery-stamened-one.

Chamaepeuce (Gr) Ground-fir.

General description:- Spineless evergreen shrub

Stems:-

1) 30-100 cm. Flowering branches tomentose, occasionally glabrescent, with leaves

as long as those on the main stem.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, narrowly linear, acute, densely white-tomentose beneath, the margin

conspicuously revolute.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula. usually few, in corymbs, rarely solitary.

2) Involucre. 14-18(-22) x 13-20(-23) mm.

3) Bracts. lanceolate-triangular, with inconspicuous vittae, appressed to arcuate-

deflexed, or the apex erecto-patent.

4) Outer bracts. shortly deflexed, unarmed or with spines less than 1 mm.

5) Corolla 20-25 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 3·5-5 mm.

2) Pappus 14-17 mm. with feathery hairs.

Key features:-

1) Leaves narrowly linear, without spines.

2) Involucral bracts appressed or with short patent to deflexed apex, unarmed to

weakly spinescent.

3) Leaves on flowering branches not expanded or laciniate at the base, with an

acute apex.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, rocky slopes on ridges in open dry shrubby

vegetation and open coniferous woodland, sometimes on road embankments. 0-600

(-900) m.

Distribution:- Greece, Crete and the E Mediterranean, including Cyprus. Fairly

widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton