CREPIS ZACINTHA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. ZACINTHA

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Hedypnois zacintha, Lampsana verrucosa, Lapsana zacintha,

Rhagadiolus zacintha, Zacintha verrucosa, Zacintha zacintha.

Meaning:- Crepis (Gr) A name used by Greek philosopher Theophrastus.

Zacintha (L) Meaning currently unknown.

General description:- Annual

Stems:-

1) 20-30 cm, branched from the base.

2) With some capitula sessile at or near the bifurcations.

Leaves:-

1) With pale, eglandular hairs.

2) Basal and lower cauline up to 20 x 4 cm, withering early, oblanceolate, lyrate-

pinnatifid.

3) Terminal segment large, ovate, obtuse.

4) Lateral segments remote, narrowly triangular and acute.

5) Upper cauline, lanceolate, acuminate, sessile, with acute auricles, or bract-like.

Flowers:-

1) Ligules yellow, with reddish-purple stripe on the outer face.

2) Involucre 5-7 x 3-7 mm.

3) Bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous or tomentulose at the

base, the outer c. ½ as long as the inner.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes of 2 kinds:

a) marginal 2-2·5 mm, strongly compressed laterally, triangular, acute at the

base, truncate or rounded at apex.

b) inner c. 2·5 mm, yellowish, obconical, 10-ribbed, smooth.

Key features:-

1) Receptacle glabrous or with ciliate pits, but never with scales or rigid hairs

subtending the florets.

2) Involucre 5-7 mm.

3) Achenes 2-2·5 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, meadows, cultivated and fallow fields, olive groves, 0-

500(1200) m

Distribution:- Conspicuous throughout the summer scattered throughout Greece. -

A distinctive species. widespread in thecMediterranean region, Anatolia and W.

Syria.. On Crete fairly wiespread, but more so in the centre and west of the island

Flowering time:- Apr to June.

Photos by:- Charalambos Chiotelis and Ori Fragman_Sapir