BOLANTHUS CREUTZBERGII subsp. ZAFFRANII

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Bolanthus Meaning uncertain.

Creutzburgii (L) After Nikolaus Creutzburg. German geographer.

Zaffranii (L) For the French botanist Jacques Zaffran.

General description:- A dwarf, laxly caespitose perennial, with a woody base. The

whole plant densly hairy with some longer, glandular and eglandular hairs.

Stems:-

1) 1.5-6 cm, ascending to erect.

Leaves:-

1) 2-5 x 0·5-1·5 mm, spatulate to oblanceolate.

Flowers:-

1) In capitate clusters or forked, axis dichotomous, with one flower per node.

2) Bracts, leaf-like, ± equalling the calyx.

a) pedicel, very short.

3) Calyx, 2.5-4 mm, ellipsoid.

a) tube, 5-ribbed.

b) teeth, narrowly triangular.

4) Petals, linear-spathulate, somewhat exceeding the calyx, white, with a deep

purple transverse stripe near the middle or base.

Compared with the mountain plants, they are very similar but the petal limb

appears shorter.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, equalling the calyx.

2) Seeds, c.1 mm, comma-shaped, black, minutely papillose

Key features:-

1) Stems, not more than 6 cm.

2) Calyx, 4-6 mm, tubular.

3) Petals, linear-spathulate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Stony and sandy beaches. 20-200 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to an area east of the coastal town of Paleochora. Rare.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (V) according to IUCN

1997.

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