SPECIES DESCRIPTION
CENTAUREA ARGENTEA subsp. CHIONANTHA
Family and Genus:- See- COMPOSITAE/Subgen. ACROLOPHUS/Sect.
Common Name:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Centaurea (Gr) Centaur, Centauros. The centaur Chiron was cured of
a hoof wound with this plant.
Argentea (L) Silvery, silvered.
Chionantha (Gr) Snow-flowered.
General description:- Whitish-densely woolly, grey-green perennial.
Stems:-
1) Up to 45cm, erect or ascending, with few short branches.
Leaves:-
1) Basal, lyrate, lobes, oblong.
Flowers:-
1) Capitula, solitary.
2) Involucre, 8-10 x 5-7 mm, ovoid; appendages of the involucral bracts lunate or
semilunate, 0.6-1 mm long, dentate or with short spines 0.1-0.6 mm long; pale
brown.
3) Florets, white the fertile ones reddish purple at the apex.
Fruit:-
1) Pappus, usually present.
Key features:-
1) Appendages of the involucral bracts, lunate or semilunate, 0.6-1 mm long,
dentate or with short spines 0.1-0.6 mm long; pale brown.
2) Florets, white, the fertile ones reddish purple at the apex.
Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs, often in semi-shade in gorges,
rarely ungrazed coniferous woodland. 0-900(1800) m.
Distribution:- Cretan endemic confined to the Afendis Kavousi area, E. Crete.
Rare.
Flowering time:- Apr-July
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
Status
Protected by Greek Presidential Decree 67/81
