LEGOUSIA FALCATA

Family and Genus:- See- CAMPANULACEAE

Common Names:- Spicate Venus's looking glass

Homotypic Synonyms:- Campanula falcata, Pentagonia falcata,

Prismatocarpus falcatus.Specularia falcata; Triodanis falcata.

Meaning:- Legousia. Meaning uncertain.

Falcata (L) Sickle-shaped.

General description:- More or less pubescent annual up to 50 cm.

Stems:-

1) 20-40 cm tall, simple or sparingly branched, glabrous or somewhat hirsute often

tinged with purple.

Leaves:-

1) Often obovate, weakly undulate.

a) lower, short-pedicellate, blade broadly elliptical, ± ciliate.

b) upper, sessile.

Flowers:-

1) 5-8 mm, solitary or in pairs in the leaf-axils, in a lax spike forming at least 1/2

the total length of the stem.

1) Calyx-lobes, almost as long as the ovary when the flower is fully open and

functional, linear-lanceolate, accuminate, patent or recurved.

2) Corolla, up to half as long as the calyx teeth, shallowly lobed, purplish-blue

inside, paler outside.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 15-20 mm, narrow, cylindrical.

Key features:-

1) Flowers, in a lax spike forming at least ½ the total length of the stem.

2) Calyx-lobes, almost as long as the ovary at anthesis.

3) Corolla, up to half as long as the calyx teeth.

4) Plant, smooth.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, olive groves, open woodland and

embankments on various substrates. 0-1300 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece, except the interior north and smaller

islands. - Widespread in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia. Rare on Crete

currently known from only a few scattered locations.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis