PLUMBAGO EUROPAEA

Family and genus:- See- PLUMBAGINACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Plumbago (L)

Europaea (L) From Europe, European.

General description:- Perennial herb or subshrub.

Stems:-

1) Up to 100 cm, much branched with long, straight, herbaceous branches.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate, often with glandular-denticulate margins,

2) Middle, usually 3-6 cm.

3) Upper, smaller and gradually passing into bracts.

Flower:-

1) In 1-flowered spikelets variously grouped into long compound inflorescences.

2) Calyx, 6-9 mm, tubular, 5-ribbed,often purplish.

3) Ribs, with large stipitate glands; teeth short, triangular.

4) Corolla, with a long narrow tube and spreading limb, pinkish-lilac.

Fruit:-

1) Dry, 1-seeded, enclosed in the persistent, sticky calyx.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Thick scrubby evergreen underbrush, streambeds, woodland margins,

failow fields, fences, roadside thickets and ruderal habitats, 0-600 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Peloponnisos, Greek mainland and Ionian Islands. -

Widespread in the Mediterranean region, C Europe and SW Asia. Rare on Crete,

currently known from only a few locations. (see map).

Flowering time:- (April-)May-September.

Photos by:- Enda McMullen and Christopher Cheiladakis