CENTAUREA ARGENTEA subsp. CHIONANTHA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Subgen. ACROLOPHUS/Sect. PANNOPHYLLUM

Common Name:- None

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.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

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