TEUCRIUM CUNEIFOLIUM

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. POLIUM

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Teucrium (Gr) A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides, perhaps for the hero and first King of Troy, Teucer.

Cuneifolium (L) With wedge-shaped leaves.

General description:- Much-branched dwarf shrub.

Stems:-

1) 10-25 cm, ascending, densely green- to white-tomentose.

Leaves:-

1) 9-13 mm, at least 8 mm wide, ovate to orbicular, with 3-4 crenations, cuneate at

the base, shortly petiolate, densely green- to white-tomentose.

Flowers:-

1) In terminal or axillary heads.

2) Bracts;

a) lower, leaf-like.

b) upper, entire, spathulate.

3) Calyx, 5-7 mm, hairy; veins obscure.

4) Corolla, cream, proximal lobes spathulate.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, smooth or reticulate.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, c. 10 mm, pale yellow, with spathulate lateral lobes.

2) Leaves, c. 10 mm wide, densely white- or yellowish-tomentose, suborbicular with

3-4 conspicuous crenations on either side

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs, occasionally in scree at the

bottoms of gorges. 0-300(-650) m.

Distribution:- Endemic SW. Crete. mainly in gorges in the foothills of the Lefka

Ori.

Flowering time:- May-June, occasionally later.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare (R) according to IUCN 1997

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