SPECIES DESCRIPTION
LEGOUSIA SPECULUM-VENERIS
Family and Genus:- See- CAMPANULACEAE
Common Names:- Large Venus' looking-glass.
Homotypic Synonyms:- Click Here for a full list
Meaning:- Legousia Meaning uncertain
Speculum (L) Shining, as if with mirrors.
Veneris (L) Revered.
General description:- More or less pubescent annual 10-40 cm, usually much-
branched.
Stem:-
1) 10-30 cm tall, simple or branched from base, suberect.
Leaves:-
1) obovate or oblong, margin, scarcely undulate.
a) lower, sometimes petiolate.
b) upper, sessile.
Flower:-
1) Numerou, subsessile, often forming a large panicle.
2) Inflorescence, ± paniculate.
3) Calyx-lobes, somewhat shorter than to about as long as the ovary at anthesis,
linear, acuminate, patent.
4) Corolla, c. 10 mm, at least as long as the calyx-lobes, dark violet-purple, often
with a paler centre.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, 10-15(-20) mm, cylindrical, narrowed at the apex.
2) Seeds, 1.1-1.2 mm, broadly ellipsoid.
Key features:-
1) Corolla, at least as long as calyx-lobes.
2) Calyx-lobes, almost as long as the ovary at anthesis; patent or recurved in fruit.
3) Capsule, 10-15 mm, narrowed at apex.
Habitat:- Cultivated, fallow and waste land, roadsides, occasionally on open stony
hillsides or in open shrubby vegetation. 0-1200 m.
Distribution:- Fairly common throughout mainland Greece, Peloponnisos and
Ionian Islands. - Widespread in the C & W Mediterranean region and SW Asia.
Declining in many places with modern farming practices. On Crete fairly common
in the west, but limited distribution in the east.
Flowering time:- Apr-June
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
