ARENARIA FRAGILLIMA

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Subgen. ARENARIA

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Arenaria graveolens, Arenaria oxypetala.

Meaning:- Arenaria (L) Sand-dweller.

Fragillima (L) More fragile.

General description:- Laxly tufted, (caespitose) perennial, glandular-pubescent

throughout.

Stems:-

a) 5-15 cm.

b) slender, fragile.

Leaves:-

1) Lower:

a) stalked (petiolate).

b) thick, ending abruptly in a sharp point (mucronate).

c) blades, elliptic-oblanceolate.

Flowers:-

1) Cyme:

a) lax, irregular with lateral branches on both sides of the main axis.

b) stems, tread-like stems, 5-15 mm.

2) Calyx:

a) ending somewhat abruptly (truncate) at the base.

3) Sepals:

a) 2.5-4.5 mm.

b) lanceolate, sharp to narrowing gradually to a point (acute to acuminate).

4) Petals:

a) equalling or slightly exceeding the sepals.

b) white.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) equalling the sepals.

2) Seeds:

a) 0.4-0.7 mm.

b) kidney-shaped (reniform).

c) with small, wart-like projections, and with long, slender dorsal papillae.

Key features:-

1) Calyx ± truncate at the base.

2) Seeds with slender dorsal papillae.

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs (200-)800-1900 m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete & Karpathos. On Crete known from the four main

massifs. Not common.

Flowering time:- Mid-May to mid-July

Photos by:- Thanasis Papanikolaou