PROSPERO RHADAMANTHI

Family and Genus:- See- HYACINTHACEAE

Common Names:- Autumn squill

Homotypic Synonyms:- Scilla rhadamanthi.

Meaning:- Prospero (Gr) Provide a good omen, give hope. or (L) Pass, penetrate.

Refering to the fact that the genus is close to the genus Scilla.

Rhadamanthi Meaning unknown.

General description:- Low to short perennial.

Scapes:-

1)1-2,1 mm in diam., erect, 12-16 cm long in flowering time, up to 18 cm in fruit.

Bulb:-

1) Subglobose to ovoid, 1.6-2 x 1.3-1.8 cm., living scales whitish, tunic brown.

Leaves:-

1) Appearing after the flowers.

2) 5-14(-20), up to 20 cm long, up to 1,2-2 mm wide, green.

Flowers:-

1) Flowers, 5-28.

2) Pedicels, 4-7 mm in flower, up to 2 cm in fruit.

3) Tepals, pale pink, 6 x 2 mm, middle rib tinged with green outside.

4) Filaments, lanceolate, pale pink, 4 x 1 mm, with white base.

5) Ovary, pale violet, 2 x 1.5 mm.

6) Style, 1.8 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, globose, 3 mm in diam.

2) Seeds, black, 1.8-2 x 1 mm.

Key features:-

1) Tepals, pale pink, 6 x 2 mm, middle rib tinged with green outside.

With special thanks to Ralf Jahn for supplying the diagnostics.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky hillsides with scrubland vegetation and open dry shrubby

vegetation, open woodland, olive groves, dolines, mainly over limestone. 0-1200(-

1800) m.

Distribution:- Type locality: Petres gorge near Karoti Crete; probably widespread.

but, rare.

Flowering time:- Mainly Aug-Oct.

Photos by:- Christopher Cheiladakis