LITHOSPERMUM INCRASSATUM

Family and Genus:- See- BORAGINACEAE

Common Names:- Corn cromwell

Homotypic Synonyms:- Buglossoides arvensis ssp. Gasparrinii, Buglossoides

incrassata.

Meaning:- Lithospermum (Gr) Stone-seed. A name used by the Greek physician

and botanist Dioscorides.

Incrassatum(L) Very thick, stout.

General description:- Very variable low to medium, somewhat bristly annual.

Stems:-

1)1·5-17(-45) cm, usually numerous, central erect, the others procumbent or

ascending, densely leafy, and hispid.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, 1·5-4(-6) mm wide, linear or oblong.

Flower:-

1) Pedicels, obliquely clavate.

2) Receptacle, ± oblique in fruit.

3) Corolla. 4-6·5(-8) mm, usually blue or blue-violet.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, 1·5-2·5 x (1-)1·5-2 mm, with small, low tubercles,, contracted into a

short, beak.

a) adaxial nutlet, ± embedded in the receptacle and pedicel.

Key features:-

1) Pedicels, obconical or clavate in fruit.

2) Receptacle, ± oblique in fruit;

3) Adaxial nutlet, ± embedded in the receptacle and pedicel.

4) Nutlets, with small, low tubercles.

5) Stems, 1·5-17(-45) cm, usually many, procumbent or ascending.

6) Cauline leaves, 1·5-4(-6) mm wide.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky limestone slopes and dolines. (600-)900-2000 m.

Distribution:- Widespread in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia. On crete

confined to the four massifs. (Lefka ori, Psiloritis, Dikti and Thripti).

Flowering time:- Mid Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Dr Armin Jagel