UMBILICUS HORIZONTALIS
Common Names:- Narrow navelwort
Synonyms:- Cotyledon horizontalis, Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var.
horizontalis, Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris subsp. horizontalis, Cotyliphyllum
horizontale, Umbilicus pendulinus var. horizontalis, Umbilicus rupestris
subsp. horizontalis, Umbilicus vulgaris subsp. horizontalis
Meaning:- Umbilicus (L) Naval, reference to the depression in the leaf surface
where the stem connects to the underside.
Horizontalis (Gr) Flat on the ground.
General description:- Herbaceous plant, erect and reddish, with a tuberose root.
Stem:-
1) 20-50 cm, erect.
Leaves:-
1) Basal, orbicular, peltate, concave above, sinusoidal, or sinuate-crenate,
2) Cauline leaves numerous and crowded, progressively smaller, mostly reniform,
margin, dentate, uppermost with many linear.
Flowers:-
1) Bracts, usually linear, about equalling the pedicels, but occasionally large and
leaf-like.
2) Pedicels, 3-9 mm.
3) Flowers, 7 x 3 mm, tubular, almost subsessile, horizontal; raceme fairly dense,
sometimes branched at the base, occupying not more than ½ the stem.
4) Sepals, ovate, acuminate.
5) Corolla-lobes, triangular, lanceolate, acuminate, dull crimson.
Fruit:-
1) Carpels tapered to a fairly long style.
Key features:-
1) Flowers horizontal.
2) Raceme occupying not more than ½ the stem.
3) Corolla-lobes lanceolate, acuminate.
Habitat:- Shady rock ledges, stone walls between terraced fields, road
embankments. 0-1250 m. on various substrates.
Distribution:- C & E. Mediterranean from Spain to Crete, Greece and NW. Africa;
absent from Corsica and Sardinia. Widespread and common on Crete.
Flowering time:- Apr-May occasionally later.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton