CERASTIUM DICHOTOMUM

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cerastium (Gr) Horned, (the fruiting capsule's shape).

Dichotomum (Gr) Divided into two equal portions, equal-branched,

split into two.

General description:- Erect annual.

Stem:- 8-20 cm; densely viscid-glandular, sparingly branched.

Leaves:-

1) Middle cauline, 12-25 mm, more or less linear-oblong, subacute.

2) Upper sometimes ovate-lanceolate, densely viscid-glandular.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels, shorter than the sepals.

2) Bracts, herbaceous.

3) Sepals 7-10 mm, more or less lanceolate, acute, densely viscid-glandular,

without eglandular hairs.

4) Petals 6-7 mm, shortly bifid.

5) Stamens 5.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule 15-22 mm.

2) Seeds 1 mm, chestnut-brown, tuberculate.

Key features:-

1) Sepals 9-12 mm.

2) Capsule more than15 mm.

Habitat:- Traditionally managed cereal fields, olive groves and vineyards, generally

in deep reddish-brown clay. 100-1100 m.

Distribution:- Scattered in E Peloponnisos and E mainland. - Widespread in the

Mediterranean region and SW Asia, but vanishing over much of it's range. Fairly

rare on Crete known only from the Dikti mountains.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early May.

Photos by:- A. N. Other.