PARACARYUM LITHOSPERMIFOLIUM subsp. CARIENSE

Family:- BORAGINACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Cynoglossum lithospermifolium subsp. cariense, Omphalodes

cariensis, Paracaryum cariense, Paracaryum lithospermifolium var. cariense.

Meaning:- Paracaryum (Gr) Nut-like?

Lithospermifolium (L) Lithospermum = stone-seed, folium = leaved

Cariense (L) From the ancient region of Caria, SW Anatolia, Turkey.

General description:- Tufted (caespitose) perennial.

Stems:-

a) (2-)7-35(-50) cm.

b) covered with stiff bristly hairs or long, shaggy hairs.

Leaves:-

1) Basal:

a) 3-5 x 0·5-1 cm.

b) lanceolate to spathulate.

c) stalked (petiolate).

2) Cauline:

a) smaller, stalkless (sessile).

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) 1·5-3 cm.

b) terminal, dense.

c) elongating up to 6-10(-30) cm in fruit.

d) stems (pedicels) 0-4 mm, elongating in fruit.

2) Calyx:

a) 2-4 mm.

b) lobes linear-oblong.

3) Corolla:

a) 3-5 mm.

b) bell-shaped (campanulate).

c) blue-violet.

d) style included.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets:

a) 7-8 mm.

b) suborbicular, with sparse barbed bristles (glochidiate).

c) wing with small tooth-like spines (spinulose-dentate).

Habitat:- Calcareous rocky slopes, crevices, screes and rubble dolines. 1700-2300

Distribution:- Widespread and variable in Anatolia. On Crete known only from the

Lefka Ori, W. Crete. Rare.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Philippa Dean and Andreas Loukakis