TRAGOPOGON LASSITHICUS

Family and Genus:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Tragopogon (Gr) Goat's-beard, A name used by the Greek philosopher

Theophrastus, referring to the pappus of the fruit.

Lassithicus (L) From the Prefecture of Lassithi East Crete.

General description:- Annual or biennial with a slender taproot.

Stems:-

1) Short (generally 6-10 cm). few, erect, slender, usually simple, glabrescent.

Leaves:-

1) Mostly basal, narrowly linear, not or scarcely widened at the base.

Flowers:-

1) Ligules, slightly shorter than the phyllaries.

2) Pale yellow tinged purple towards the apex.

3) Phyllaries, 5, linear-lanceolate.

4) Peduncles, long, not or scarcely inflated in fruit.

Fruit:-

1) Few, (7-10 per capitulum), 16-18 mm long, with acute scales.

3) Beak, short (2-3 mm), stout, scarcely differentiated from the body but paler.

4) Pappus, equalling or somewhat shorter than the achene, pale brownish.

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Habitat:- Rocky and stony limestone slopes and dolines 1400-2200 m

Distribution:- Rare Cretan endemic known only from a few locations on the

Psiloritis and Dikti massifs.

Flowering time:- June-July

Photos by:- None currently available