VELEZIA RIGIDA

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- Velezia

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Velezia. Meaning unknown.

Rigida (L) Rigid, inflexible.

General description:- Low to short, rather rigid, usually glandular-hairy annual.

Stems:-

1) 5-15(-30) cm, procumbent or ascending, rigid, with many wiry wide spreading

divaricate branches.

Leaves:-

1) 10-20 mm, linear-acuminate, ciliate margins.

2) Lower, sometimes linear-subspathulate.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary or paired, borne at most nodes, sessile, pink, 5-7mm.

2) Calyx, 10-14 mm, linear, 5-6 times as long as the pedicel, with a long slender

tube, but without overlapping bracts at the base.

3) Petals, with a long claw and deeply bifid limb.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, cylindrical, very narrow, dehiscing, with 4 teeth; carpophore absent.

2) Seeds, few, scutate with a hilum, usually radicle.

Key features:-

1) Petal limb, bifid.

2) Calyx, linear, 5-6 times as long as the pedicel.

3) Plant, glandular-pubescent.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, open coniferous woodland, streambeds,

etc., generally in dry, stony and rocky habitats, on various substrates. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean. Widespread and common

on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to mid-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton