CAMPANULA AIZOON

Family:- CAMPANULACEAE/Sect. RANUNCULUS

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Campanula (L) Bell-like.

Aizoon (Gr) Always-alive

General description:- Glabrous biennial. Root thick, turnip-shaped (napiform).

Stems:-

a) 15-30 cm.

b) branched, rather stout.

c) grooved or furrowed (sulcate).

Leaves:-

1) Basal:

a) rosulate.

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

c) margin, hard and tough, but slightly bendy (cartilaginous).

2) cauline:

a) acute, triangular.

b) sessile.

Flowers:-

a) numerous, stalked (pedicellate).

1) Inflorescence:

a) much-branched.

b) a compact panicle of ± cylindrical form (thyrsiform).

2) Calyx:

a) teeth, triangular, as long as the ovary, ½ as long as the corolla.

3) Corolla:

a) 12-15 mm.

b) tubular-campanulate.

c) longer than the calyx-teeth.

d) pale blue.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) erect, angular, rounded.

Key features:-

1) Pedicels usually not thread-like (filiform).

2) Stem stout, sulcate.

3) Root thick, napiform.

Habitat:- Rocky slopes, rock ledges and screes, on limestone. (1200-)1800-2300

m. or above in open coniferous woodland.

Distribution:- Endemic, Greece in the mountains of Chelmos, Parnassos and

Giona. Crete known only from the Lefka Ori.

Flowering time:- June to early Aug

Photos by:- Sofia Apergi .