ATRIPLEX MOLLIS

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- Cremnophyton molle.

Meaning:- Atriplex (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, from the ancient Greek meaning black and intertwined.

Mollis (L) Softly hairy, soft.

General description:- Much-branched, somewhat contorted shrub or subshrub.

Stems:-

a) 30-70 cm tall.

Leaves:-

a) 10-22 x 3-8 mm.

b) Altemate.

c) oblanceolate, entire, obtuse, silvery-sericeous.

d) with fascicles of smaller leaves in their axils.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) much branched with flowers in small, rounded clusters.

2) Bracteoles:

a) 6-11 mm.

b) suborbicular to reniform, cartilaginous.

Fruit:-

Key features:-

1) Leaves oblanceolate, with fascicles of smaller leaves in their axils.

2) Bracteoles 6-11 mm.

Habitat:- As a constituent of supralittoral scrub on calcareous neogene and hard

limestone.

Distribution:- Previous records from Sicily, Malta and Sardinia are uncertain. Only

recently reported from the small island of Gavdopoula S of Crete (Bergmeier & al. in

Greuter & Raus 1999: 52-53). Previous European reports of this N African species

are either erroneous or refer to casual occurrences. 1

Flowering time:- May

Photos by:-

1. Atlas of the Aegean Flora, Book 1, Arne Strid 2016.