SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ARENARIA CRETICA
Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Subgen. ARENARIA
Common Name:- None
Synonym:- None
Meaning:- Arenaria (L) Sand-dweller.
Cretica (L) From Crete, Cretan.
General description:- Densely caespitose, perennial.
Stems:-
Leaves:-
glandular-pubescent.1-veined.
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescence,1- to 5-flowered, usually corymbose stems, 1-3 times as long as
the sepals.
keeled at the base. glandular-pubescent.
3) Petals, 2 or more times as long as the sepals, white.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, slightly exceeding the sepals. ovoid.
2) Seeds, 0.8-0.9 mm. with low obtuse tubercles.
Key features:-
1) Sepals and sepals obtuse or subacute.
2) Capsule slightly exceeding the sepals.
Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, 1400-2200 m.
Distribution:- Scattered in mountains Taigetos northwards, extending just across
the borders to Albania. Rare on Crete known only from the Lefka Ori mountain
range.
Flowering time:- June-Aug.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED
Acute:- Sharp, sharply pointed, the margins near the tip being almost straight
Caespitose:- Tufted, growing in tight groups, the bases of individual plants touching
Capsule:- Dry fruit that opens when ripe. splittin from apex to base into separate segments known as valves.
Corymb:- An inflorescence with branches arising at different points but reaching about the same height, giving the flower cluster a flat-topped appearance.
Corymbose:- Adjective of corymb.
Elliptic - Elliptical:- Forming an ellipse, widest in the middle and pointed at both ends.
Glandular pubescent:- Hairs tipped with small glands that secrete oil or some other liquid often making the leaves and stems sticky.
Inflorescence:- The flowering branch or branches, flowers and bracts above the uppermost leaves on a stem. Inflorescences are very variable from one species to another.
Keel - Keeled:- A prominent longitudinal ridge like the keel of a boat.
Mucro:- a sharp terminal point
Mucronate:- Of or having a mucro; ending abruptly in a sharp point
Oblanceolate:- Inversely lanceolate, broadest towards the apex and tapering to the stalk.
Oblong:- Rectangular with rounded ends - used to describe a leaf or petal shape.
Obtuse:- Blunt, not pointed, ending in an angle of between 90 - 180o
Petal:- The inner perianth segments when they clearly differ from the outer - often brightly coloured.
Procumbent:- Trailing along the ground but not rooting.
Sepal:- A member of the outer perianth whorl in most flowers. The sepals collectively make up the calyx.
Subacute:- Having a tapered but not sharply pointed form.
Tubercle:- A small rounded projection or protuberance, especially on a bone or on the surface of an animal or plant.
Acute:- Sharp, sharply pointed, the margins near the tip being almost straight
Caespitose:- Tufted, growing in tight groups, the bases of individual plants touching
Capsule:- Dry fruit that opens when ripe. splittin from apex to base into separate segments known as valves.
Corymb:- An inflorescence with branches arising at different points but reaching about the same height, giving the flower cluster a flat-topped appearance.
Corymbose:- Adjective of corymb.
Elliptic - Elliptical:- Forming an ellipse, widest in the middle and pointed at both ends.
Glandular pubescent:- Hairs tipped with small glands that secrete oil or some other liquid often making the leaves and stems sticky.
Inflorescence:- The flowering branch or branches, flowers and bracts above the uppermost leaves on a stem. Inflorescences are very variable from one species to another.
Keel - Keeled:- A prominent longitudinal ridge like the keel of a boat.
Mucro:- a sharp terminal point
Mucronate:- Of or having a mucro; ending abruptly in a sharp point
Oblanceolate:- Inversely lanceolate, broadest towards the apex and tapering to the stalk.
Oblong:- Rectangular with rounded ends - used to describe a leaf or petal shape.
Obtuse:- Blunt, not pointed, ending in an angle of between 90 - 180o
Petal:- The inner perianth segments when they clearly differ from the outer - often brightly coloured.
Procumbent:- Trailing along the ground but not rooting.
Sepal:- A member of the outer perianth whorl in most flowers. The sepals collectively make up the calyx.
Subacute:- Having a tapered but not sharply pointed form.
Tubercle:- A small rounded projection or protuberance, especially on a bone or on the surface of an animal or plant.