MACROSYRINGION GLUTINOSUM

Family and Genus:- See- OROBANCHACEAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Euphrasia glutinosa, Odontites glutinosa.

Meaning:- Macro- (Gr) Large

Syringion (Gr) Syringa = Pipe.

Glutinosum (L) Sticky, viscous, with glue.

General description:- Glandular-puberulent annual.

Stems:-

1) 15-35 x 1-2 mm erect, simple or with a few suberect branches, shortly glanular -

and eglandular-pubescent.

Leaves:-

1) Opposite, 15-35 x 1-2 mm, linear, keeled, entire.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescences, 3-6(20), subsessile in the axils of the leaf-like bracts, up to 8 cm

in fruit, dense at first, lax later.

2) Bracts, 5-9 mm, lanceolate, pedicels, 1-2 mm.

3) Calyx, 5-8 mm; divided halfway into narrowly triangular subobtuse teeth.

4) Corolla, 9-15 mm, pale yellow, sometimes tinged with brownish-purple,

puberulent;

a) tube, longer than the limb and twice as long as the calyx.

b) upper lip, of the limb hood-like, externally glandular-pubescent.

c) lower lip, longer, divided halfway into 3 lobes

5) Anthers, with apical tuft of hairs, included.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 5-8 mm oblong, slightly exceeding the calyx, hairy, with several seeds.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Stony alpine grassland and rocky slopes, on various substrates. 1700-

2300 m.

Distribution:- Rare and scattered in mountains from Taigetos to Varnous - From

Albania and Greece through Anatolia to Caucasus. Very rare on Crete known only

from a doline at 1850 m. in the Lefka Ori.

Flowering time:- Late July to mid-Oct.

Photos by:- Thanasis Papanikolaou