PERIPLOCA ANGUSTIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- APOCYNACEAE

Common Names:- Silk-vine

Homotypic Synonyms:- Periploca laevigata subsp. angustifolia

Meaning:- Periploca (Gr) Twisted-around.

Angustifolia (L) Narrow-leaved.

General description:- An erect shrubby deciduous plant.

Stem:-

1)1·5-3 m, erect, sometimes twining at the apex.

Leaves:-

1) 1-3·5 x 0·2-0·6 cm, subsessile, linear, acute or obtuse, cuneate at the base.

glabrous, coriaceous.

Flowers:-

1) Cymes, few-flowered.

2) Corolla, c. 1 cm diam, lobes oblong, obtuse, green outside, green, purple-brown

and white inside, margins not deflexed at anthesis, awns, deflexed, green.

3) Anthers, smooth.

Fruit:-

1) Follicles, 5-8 (-10) cm, spreading horizontally, not connate at the apex.

2) Seeds, c. 7 x 3 mm; coma c. 40 mm.

Key features:-

1) Stems, 1·5-3 m, erect.

2) Leaves, 1-3·5 ? 0.2-0·6 cm, somewhat coriaceous.

3) Corolla, c. 1 cm diam.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Scrub in gorges and on rocky slopes, with Juniperus phoenicea, etc.

0-150 m.

Distribution:- A North African species extending locally to S. Spain, Sicily,

Lampedusa, Malta and W Syria. In the Aegean region known only from the

Southern Cretan islands of Gavdos, Gavdopoula and Chrysi. Rare.

Flowering time:- Apr-May, and sporadically at later times.

Photos by:- Daniel Didier