SPECIES DESCRIPTION
UMBILICUS HORIZONTALIS

Family:- CRASSULACEAE

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.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

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
Native to:
Albania, Algeria, Azores, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Greece, Gulf States, Iran, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Socotra, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen, Yugoslavia
 
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
Native