SAPONARIA GLUTINOSA
Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Common Names:- None
Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Saponaria (L) Soap-like.
Glutinosa (L) Sticky, viscus, glutinous. with glue.
General description:- Annual or biennial, usually glandular-hispid throughout.
Stems:-
1) 25-70 cm, branched above in a pyramidal panicle.
Leaves:-
Flower:-
2) Calyx 18-25 mm, narrowly cylindrical, purplish.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule ovoid, shorter than the calyx.
Key features:-
1) Plant glandular-hispid.
2) Petal-limb c. 5 mm.
Habitat:- Open deciduous and coniferous woodland, rocky ridges, embankments of
forest roads. (200)600-1800(2100) m.
Distribution:- Scattered in Peloponnisos and mainland Greece. - Disjunct in two
regions: Spain and NW Africa; and Balkan Peninsula and Anatolia. Rare on Crete
currently known only from the Dikti mountains.
Sieber (1823) reported this species from Tzermiado on the Lassithi plain in E Crete
and was collected by Rechinger on Mt Lazaros at 1800-2000 m:
Flowering time:- Late May to mid-Aug
Photos by:- None currently available
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED
Acuminate:- Gradually narrowing to a point.
Acute:- Sharp, sharply pointed, the margins near the tip being almost straight.
Bifid:- Divided at the tip in two (usually equal) parts by a median cleft
Calyx:- A Collective name for the sepals - the outer whorl of organs in most flowers
Calyx-teeth:- Tip of a calyx lobe or division.
Capsule:- Dry fruit that opens when ripe. splitting from the apex to the base into
separate segments known as valves.
Cauline:- Borne on the stem, of the stem.
Corymb:- An inflorescence with branches arising at different points but reaching
about the same height, giving the flower cluster a flat-topped appearance.
Corymbose:- Adjective of corymb.
Elliptic - Elliptical:- Forming an ellipse, widest in the middle and pointed at both
ends.
Glandular-hispid With stiff bristly glandular hairs.
Inflorescence:- The flowering branch or branches, flowers and bracts above the
uppermost leaves on a stem.
Lanceolate:- Lance-shaped: more or less elliptical but broadest below the middle.
Linear:- Narrow and parallel-sided. Narrow and much longer than wide, with parallel
margins.
Orbicular-Reniform:- Rounded to kidney-shaped.
Ovate:- Broad and rounded at the base and tapering toward the end.
Panicle:- A loose, branching cluster of flowers.
Paniculate:- Arranged or branched in the manner of panicles; borne in panicles.
Petal-limb:- An enlarged upper part of the petals
Petiolate:- Having a leaf stalk.
Petiole:- The leaf-stalk.
Reflexed:- Bent abruptly backwards.
Spatulate:- Paddle-shaped, oblong with an extended basal part.
Tuberculate:- With small, wart-like projections.