CAMPANULA LANCINIATA

Family:- CAMPANULACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Campanula erucifolia

Meaning:- Campanula (L) Bell-like.

Laciniata (L) Jagged, fringed, slashed, with many flaps. Reference to

the leaves.

General description:- Pubescent, greenish perennial, with a very thick, wrinkled

(rugose) stock.

Stems:-

a) 20-60 cm.

b) erect, simple or somewhat branched.

Leaves:-

1) Basal:

a) c. 30 cm.

b) ovate, margins laciniate and toothed (dentate).

2) Cauline:

a) ovate, slightly laciniate or dentate.

b) stalkless or almost so. (sessile or subsessile).

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) many-flowered.

2) Calyx-teeth:

a) triangular, acute; appendages ovate, rounded, deflexed, as long as the ovary.

3) Corolla:

a) 40-50 mm wide.

b) 3 times as long as the calyx-lobes, broadly bell-shaped velvety (velutinous).

c) sky-blue often with a whitish centre.

d) lobes, broadly ovate, acute, between spreading and erect (erecto-patent).

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) 5-celled (5-locular).

b) splitting open to release the seeds (dehiscing) by basal valves or pores.

Key features:-

1) Capsule dehiscing by basal valves or pores, rarely indehiscent.

2) Stigmas 5.

3) Stems erect or ascending.

4) Basal leaves c. 30 cm, laciniata.

5) Ovary 5-locular.

Habitat:- Crevices of vertical cliffs,often in gorges, occasionally among boulders at

the base of cliffs 0-700 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the Aegean area, but rare throughout. Limited

occurrence on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis and Enda McMullen

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare (R) according to IUCN 1997

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981