CAMPANULA PELVIFORMIS

Family:- CAMPANULACEAE/Sect. CAMPANULA

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Campanula (L) Bell-like.

Pelviformis (L) Shallowly cupped, shaped like a shallow bowl.

General description:- Perennial herbs, usually with white latex when cut.

Stem:-

a) 20-30 cm.

b) ascending, simple or somewhat branched.

c) with stiff bristly hairs (hispid).

Leaves:-

a) generally alternate.

1) Basal:

a) c. 20 cm, not laciniata.

b) ovate, pointed (acute), hispid.

c) margins, with rounded teeth (crenate), stalked (petiolate).

2) Cauline:

a) similar but stalkless (sessile).

Flowers:-

a) often large and showy.

b) borne in heads.

1) Corolla:

a) about 30 mm. long.

b) broadly bell-shaped (campanulate). swollen in the middle (ventricose).

c) blue-violet-coloured, occasionally white.

2) Calyx-teeth:

a) oblong-ovate, narrowing gradually to a point (acuminate).

b) 3 times as long as the ovary.

c) appendages, ovate-orbicular, almost as long as the teeth, deflexed.

3) Sepals:

a) oblong-ovate. 3 times longer than the ovary.

Fruit:- A capsule.

Key features:-

1) Basal leaves c. 20 cm, not cut into slender lobes (laciniata).

2) Corolla broadly tubular-campanulate to campanulate.

3) Stems ascending, simple or sparsely branched.

4) Stigmas 5.

5) Ovary 5-locular.

Habitat:- Rock ledges, rocky slopes, stony places in dry streambeds, road

embankents, stone walls in villages. 0-850(-1100) m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Central and East Crete, where it is widespread and fairly

common.

Flowering time:- End of May to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton