SYMPHYTUM CRETICUM

Family and Genus:- See- BORAGINACEAE

Common Names:- Cretan gorge comfrey

Homotypic Synonyms:- Borago cretica, Procopiania cretica, Psilostemon

creticus, Trachystemon creticus.

Meaning:- Symphytum (Gr) Growing-together-plant. A name used by the Greek

physician and botanist Dioscorides for healing plants, including comfrey.

Creticum (L) Cretan, from Crete.

General description:- Perennial, more or less branched herb.

Stems:-

1) 15-45 cm, sparingly branched, with patent, rather soft bristles mixed with much

smaller hairs especially above.

Leaves:-

1) elliptic-ovate, often subcordate,petiolate.

a) upper, sessile, extending down the stem.

Flowers:-

1) Cymes, many-flowered.

2) Calyx, 4·5-7(-8) mm, lobed to 1/2-4/5.

a) lobes, acute.

3) Corolla, blue-violet, rarely white.

a) tube, (2-)2·5-4(-4·5) mm.

b) lobes, 2 1/3 to 4 1/2 times as long as tube, patent, not contorted, only

slightly recurved in the uppermost part.

4) Scales, narrowly lanceolate-subulate,

a) marginal papillae, not more than 1½ times as long as wide.

5) Stamens, 9-11(-14) mm, glabrous or with minute lateral hairs at the base,

without basal scales, or the scales rarely with a minute, unilateral, fringe of very

short hairs.

a) anthers, 1·5-3(-3·5) mm.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, ovoid, erect, sometimes curved, usually verruculose, and often rugose,

concave at the base with a thickened collar-like ring.

Key features:-

1) Corolla-tube, 2-4·5 mm.

2) Lobes, not contorted.

3) Marginal papillae, of corolla-scales not more than 1½ times as long as wide.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky habitats and calcareous cliffs, ledges and fine debris, shady rocky

places. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- S Greece, S Aegean Is., Crete. Mainly in the E. and W. Of Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis