ALLIUM CIRCINNATUM subsp. CIRCINNATUM

Family and Genus:- See- ALLIACEAE/Sect. MOLIUM

Common name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Allium clusianum

Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.

Circinnatum (L) Curled round, coiled like a crozier.

General description:- Short to medium bulbous perennial.

Bulbs:-

1) 0·7 cm diam. ovoid, outer tunics chartaceous, pitted.

Stem:-

1) 5-18 cm. terete. hairy.

Leaves:-

1) 2-5, up to 24 cm × 1-1·5 mm, almost basal, linear, twisted or coiled especially at

the apex into up to 10 coils, covered with long, patent hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Spathe, 6-10 mm, 1-valved, 1- or 2-lobed at the apex, about as long as the

pedicels, persistent.

2) Umbel, fastigiate, with 2-5 flowers.

3) Pedicels, 3-11 mm.

4) Perianth, stellate, segments 5-6 x 1·5-2 mm, white, with a pink mid-vein, the

outer oblong, the inner lanceolate, acute or obtuse.

5) Stamens, included;

a) filaments, c. 4 mm, simple.

b) anthers, yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 3 mm.

Key features:-

1) Umbel, on an evident scape.

2) Leaves, hairy, or at least ciliate towards the base. Spirally coiled (Crete).

3) Stem, hairy.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Calcareous cliffs, in crevices, phrygana and soil pockets in rocks at low

altitudes (up to 250 m).

Distribution:- Endemic Crete & Antikythera. On Crete confined mainly to the

northern side of the island. Rare.

Flowering time:- Feb-Apr.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare (R) according to IUCN 1997

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