TYRIMNUS LEUCOGRAPHUS

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Name:- Tyrimnus

Synonym:- Acarna leucographa, Carduus leucographus, Cirsium maculatum,

Cnicus leucographus.

Meaning:- Tyrimnus (L) Possibly derived from (tyrius) Royal purple.

Leucographus (L) With white lines, with white marking.

General description:- Slender, greyish- or whitish-downy, short to medium annual

or biennial.

Stems:-

1) 20-60 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Thin, decurrent, white-veined, sinuate-dentate, with spinulose margin, green and

slightly lanate above, greyish-lanate beneath.

2) Lower, obovate-oblong, attenuate into a short petiole.

3) Cauline,smaller, lanceolate-oblong, acute, sessile.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula 14-16 mm.

2) Involucral bracts lanceolate, acuminate.

3) Receptacle with scales.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes c. 4 mm, blackish-red.

2) Pappus c. 12 mm.

Key features:-

1) Receptacle with scales.

2) Outer florets usually sterile.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry habitats, bare, waste and fallow land, sandy and stony habitats,

roadsides, vineyards and olive groves, open dry shrubby vegetation and open

coniferous woodland. 0-700 m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean coastal areas. Sporadic

on Crete mainly in the east and west around coastal habitats.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis