TEUCRIUM MICROPHYLLUM

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. CHAMAEDRYS

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Teucrium quadratulum, Chamaedrys quadratula.

Meaning:- Teucrium (Gr) A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides, perhaps for the hero and first King of Troy, Teucer.

Microphyllum (L) With small leaves.

General description:- Shrublet, with spread out to trailing, green stems, very

branched, covered in small white hairs.

Stems:-

1) 5-15(-30) cm tall. slender, appressed grey- or white-tomentose when young.

Leaves:-

1) In opposite pairs, c. 5 mm, oblanceolate to ovate, crenate-serrate, acute, white-

tomentose beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, rather lax, verticillasters 2-flowered.

2) Bracts;

a) lower, leaf-like.

b) upper, small and entire.

3) Calyx, 6-7 mm, pubescent and glandular;

a) teeth, 1/2-3/4 as long as the tube, triangular, acute.

4) Corolla, 10-12 mm, villous, pink.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, smooth or reticulate.

Key features:-

1) Not rhizomatous.

2) Stems, woody, except for ultimate branches.

3) Leaves, c. 5 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry, rocky and gravelly slopes with open dry shrubby vegetation and open

coniferous woodland, gorges. 0-900(-1500) m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete, Karpathos & S. Aegean. Widespread and common

on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton