ATRIPLEX RECURVA

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE/A. prostrata group

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- Atriplex tatarica ssp. recurva, Atriplex tatarica var. sibthorpii.

Meaning:- Atriplex (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, from the ancient Greek meaning black and intertwined.

Recurva (L) Bent or curved backwards.

General description:- Procumbent perennial shrub, with a strongly woody, often

contorted base.

Stems:-

a) Up to 10-40 cm.

b) flowering, slender ± herbaceous.

Leaves:-

a) up to 7 x 5 cm.

b) mostly opposite.

c) stalked (petiolate).

1) Blade:

a) triangular, with a broadly wedge-shaped (cuneate) base, dentate or with rather

deep rounded wavy undulations lobes (sinuately lobed).

b) silvery- to greyish green.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) terminal.

b) leafless, with flowers in dense, contiguous clusters along short branches.

2) Bracteoles:

a) united (connate) to the middle.

b) broadly triangular to rhombic-orbicular.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds:

a) diamorphic, some small, biconcave, blackish, others larger, discoid, brown.

Key features:-

1) Shrubs or subshrubs.

2) Leaves dentate to sinuately lobed.

Habitat:- Rocky and occasionally gravelly or sandy seashores, on various

substrates, but mainly hard limestone. 50(-200) m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the Aegean area. Rare on Crete, known only from a few

locations.

Flowering time:- Mar-June(-July) until Oct.

Photos by:- Giorgos Pantakis