PETRORHAGIA CANDICA

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. PSEUDOTUNICA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Dianthus candicus, Fiedleria candica.

Meaning:- Petrorhagia (Gr) Rock-bursting.

Candica (L) From Crete, Cretan

General description:- Perennial, glabrous or glandular-pubescent.

Stems:-

1) Up to 20 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Linear to lanceolate, 3-veined.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, lax.

2) Pedicels, up to 20 mm.

3) Calyx, 3-4·5 mm.

4) Calyx-teeth, triangular-oblong, ± acute or mucronate, 3-veined, the lateral veins

sometimes weak.

5) Petals, 4·5-7 mm, oblong-spatulate, distinctly emarginate, white, with pink

veins.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds, 1·5 mm; black, smooth with thin margins.

Key features:-

1) Calyx-teeth, triangular-oblong, ± acute or mucronate; 3-veined, the lateral veins

sometimes obscure near the apex.

2) Petals, white, with dark violet veins beneath.

3) Seeds, c. 1·5mm, black, smooth.

Habitat:- Rocky and gravelly slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation and open

coniferous woodland, dolines. (0-)300-1500 m. mainly on limestone.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete

Flowering time:- May-July, occasionally later.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis