VINCETOXICUM CRETICUM

Family:- APOCYNACEAE

Common Names:- Cretan swallow-wort

Synonyms:- Cynanchum luteum

Meaning:- Vincetoxicum (L) Poison beater, referring to it supposedly being an

antidote to snake poison.

Creticum (L) From Crete, Cretan.

General description:- Small shrubby perennial plant.

Stems:-

a) 40-70 cm.

b) covered with short, dense, matted hairs (tomentose).

Leaves:-

a) 6-8 x 3-6 cm.

b) opposite.

c) short stalked (subsessile).

d) broad and rounded at the base and tapering toward the end.

e) covered with short, dense, light-grey fine hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Cymes:

a) 8- to 15-flowered.

b) 7-8mm.

c) stemless (sessile), clustered in the leaf axils.

d) yellowish-green, somewhat waxy.

2) Calyx-lobes:

a) ovate.

3) Corolla:

a) 7-8 mm diam. stemless (sessile).

b) lobes triangular.

c) yellow, hirsute above.

4) Corona membrane:

a) c. 1/8 as long as the segments.

b) lobes stipitate.

Fruit:-

1) Follicles:

a) 7-10 x 1·5-2 cm.

b) ovoid, gradually narrowing to a short point (acuminate).

c) pubescent.

Key features:-

1) Leaves grey-tomentose.

2) Corona-lobes stipitate.

Habitat:- Open rocky slopes, dry river beds, screes and crevices.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Dikti mountains and Krioneritis. Rare

Flowering time:- June-Aug.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

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

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