DIANTHUS JUNIPERINUS subsp. PULVINIFORMIS

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Dianthus (Gr) Zeus'-flower. a name used by the Greek philosopher

Theophrastus.

Juniperinus (L) Bluish-brown, juniper-like, (the colour of the berry).

Pulviniformis (L) Having cushion-shaped swellings, cushion-like.

General description:- Dwarf shrub forming rounded hummocks.

Stems:-

1) Flowering, 3-5 cm, slender, 2- or 3-flowered.

Leaves:-

1) Leaves of young branches 1-1·5 cm, needle-like, densely crowded.

Flowers:-

1) Epicalyx-scales, c. ½ as long as the calyx, with a slender mucro 1-1·5 mm.

2) Calyx, 7-8 mm.

3) Petal-limb, 3-4 mm wide, obovate, cuneate, shortly and sharply dentate, white

Fruit:-

Habitat:- Limestone rocks, c. 600 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Mount Kedros SW Crete. Very rare.

Flowering time:- June-July

Photos by:- Christopher Cheiladakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Critical (CR) according to IUCN

1997.

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981.