STACHYS CRETICA subsp. CRETICA

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. ERIOSTOMUM/S. GERMANICA

Group

Common Names:- Mediterranean woundwort

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Stachys (Gr) Spike-like.

Cretica (L) From Crete, Cretan.

General description:- Short to tall, densely white-felted perennial.

Stems:-

1) Erect, 20-80 cm, tomentose to lanate.

Leaves:-

1) 30-100 x 10-30 mm, oblong-ovate to ovate, cuneate at the base, rarely the basal

truncate or subcordate, tomentose and grey-green above, densely tomentose or

lanate, grey or white beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Verticillasters, 15-20 mm. distant.

2) Calyx, 6-12 mm;

a) teeth, usually eglandular, slightly unequal, c. ½ as long as the tube, with an

arista not more than 1 mm.

3) Corolla, 15-20 mm, pink or purple.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, obovoid or oblong, rounded at the apex.

Key features:-

1) Calyx-teeth, with an arista not more than 1 mm.

2) Lowest leaves, at least 3 times as long as wide, cuneate at base.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open dry shrubby vegetation, scrubland vegetation, dry grassland, olive

groves. 0-1400 m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete and the Aegean area. Widespread and common on

Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton