ATRIPLEX RECURVA

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE/A. prostrata group

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Atriplex tatarica ssp. recurva, Atriplex tatarica var.

sibthorpii.

Meaning:- Atriplex (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, from the ancient Greek meaning black and intertwined.

Recurva (L) Bent or curved backwards.

General description:- Procumbent perennial shrub, with a strongly woody, often

contorted base.

Stems:-

1) Up to 10-40 cm, flowering, slender ± herbaceous.

Leaves:-

1) up to 7 x 5 cm, mostly opposite.petiolate,

a) Blade, triangular, with a broadly cuneate. base, dentate or sinuately lobed,

silvery- to greyish green.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, terminal leafless, with flowers in dense, contiguous clusters along

short branches.

2) Bracteoles, connate to the middle, broadly triangular to rhombic-orbicular.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds, diamorphic, some small, biconcave, blackish, others larger, discoid,

brown.

Key features:-

1) Shrubs or subshrubs.

2) Leaves, dentate to sinuately lobed.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and occasionally gravelly or sandy seashores, on various

substrates, but mainly hard limestone. 50(-200) m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the Aegean area. Rare on Crete, known only from a few

locations.

Flowering time:- Mar-June(-July) until Oct.

Photos by:- Giorgos Pantakis