UMBILICUS PARVIFLORUS

Family and Genus:- See CRASSULACEAE

Common Names:- Small-flowered navelwort

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cotyledon parviflora.

Meaning:- Umbilicus (L) Naval, reference to the depession in the leaf surface

where the stem connects to the underside.

Parviflorus (L) Small-flowered.

General description:- Perennials, with tuberous or rhizomatous rootstock.

Stem:-

1) 10-35 cm. erect or ascending. often ftexuous.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 2-5 cm in diam., orbicular, cordate or subpeltate, sinuate or subentire.

Flowers:-

1) 4-6 mm, erect or horizontal, obconical, in a dense, usually narrow panicle.

2) Bracts, minute, about equalling the pedicels.

3) Sepals, ½ as long as the corolla.

4) Corolla, yellow, with lanceolate, acute lobes 1½-2 times as long as the tube.

Fruit:-

1) Follicles slender.

2) Carpels gradually tapered to a nearly straight style.

Key features:-

1) Flowers 3-6 mm; obconical; lobes of corolla considerably longer than the tube.

2) Carpels gradually tapered to a straight, fairly long style.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs, generally in semi-shade, stone

walls of old buildings and between terraced olive groves. 0-600(-1100) m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete, S. and W. Aegean and SW. Turkey. Fairly limited

distribution on Crete not common.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton