CARLINA CORYMBOSA subsp. CURETUM

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Subgen. CARLINA

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Carlina (L) For Charlemagne (742-814) Emperor of Rome (whose army

was supposed to have been cured of the plague with a species of Carlina, which the

Archangel had revealed to him).

Curetum. Unknown.

General description:- Rigid perennial with one to several erect usually

corymbosely branched above; whole plant subglabrous or sparsely arachnoid-

tomentose.

Stems:-

1) 20-70 cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) Ovate-lanceolate, ± amplexicaul, pinnatifid. deeply divided with narrow lobes

tapering into long spines.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula solitary on short branches.

2) Involucre broadly campanulate, l8-28 mm in diam.

3) Outer phyllaries spinose-dentate.

4) Inner resembling ligules, 10-16 mm, straw-coloured to brownish-yellow, shiny.

5) Florets yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes c. 2.5 mm.

2) Pappus of long plumose hairs.

Key features:-

1) Capitula mostly pedunculate, in a ± corymbose inflorescence.

2) Middle cauline internodes 12-15 mm.

3) Upper leaves widest at base, amplexicaul.

4) Leaves and outer involucral bracts deeply and remotely spinose-pinnatisect, with

the margin between the principal spines usually ± entire.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and gravelly coastal habitats, grassland, open dry shrubby

vegetation, roadsides, fallow fields, open woodland. 0-2000 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the three main massifs of Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-Aug.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton