ACHILLEA LIGUSTICA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/A. nobilis group

Common Name:- None

Synonym:- Achillea nobilis subsp. ligustica.

Meaning:- Achillea (Gr) After the Greek warrior Achilleios.

Ligustica (L) From Liguria, NE Italy.

General description:- Rhizomatous perennial, slightly woody at the base.

Stems:-

1) 20-60 cm, erect.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, ± lacking at anthesis;

2) Cauline, 1.5-4 cm, broadly oblong to ovate in outline, pinnatisect with a winged

rhachis and rather broad incised-serrate, forward-directed primary segments,

sparsely pubescent, green.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, many, in compound corymbs.

2) Ligules, 1.5 mm, white or cream.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, compressed, oblong or obovate, pappus absent.

Key features:-

1) Primary segments of middle cauline leaves lanceolate in outline, irregularly

pinnatifid.

2) Rhachis of cauline leaves winged; primary segments forward-directed, incised-

serrate

Habitat:- Rocky slopes, gorges, scrub, open coniferous woodland. (0-)200-1100 m.

on various substrates but usually limestone.

Distribution:- Peloponnisos and S. mainland Greece. - W & C Mediterranean

region, eastwards to Evvia and Andros.Very rare on Crete known only from one

historical location in the far west. Recorded by Heldreich but has not been

confirmed, but appears feasible. (¹)

(1) Arne Strid (Atlas of the Aegean Flora, Part 2 Maps) Page 76.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Francesco Russo and By kind permission of Saxifraga - Free Nature

Images