BELLIUM MINUTUM

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Bellium (L) Pretty, A name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny.

Minutum (L) Somewhat small, diminutive.

General description:- Sparsely pubescent, with a basal rosette and an

inflorescence rising from the centre of the rosette on a leafless stalk, annual.

Leaves:-

1) 5-8 x 3-5 mm, elliptic-obovate; petiole, about as long as the lamina.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, 2-5 cm, very slender, numerous.

2) Capitula, 6-7 mm diam., with 7-10 involucral bracts and ligules.

3) Involucral bracts 2-2·5 mm, elliptic-oblong, acute.

4) Ligules scarcely exceeding the bracts.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, glabrous.

Key features:-

1) Scapose annual.

2) Capitula with 7-10 involucral bracts.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Seasonally damp coastal habitats, rock ledges and cliff bases in semi-

shade, rocky places in open dry shrubby vegetation, also on small islets.0-200(-

650) m.

Distribution:- Confined Sicily, Greece and Crete. Limited distribution on Crete

around coastal habitats.

Flowering time:- Apr to mid-June.

Photos by:- Vivienne Walker