CHAMAECYTISUS SPINESCENS subsp. CRETICUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Chamaecytisus creticus

Meaning:- Chamaecytisus (Gr) Dwarf clover-like plant.

Spinescens (L) Spiny, with spines.

Creticus (L) From Crete, Cretan.

General description:- Erect or ascending, unarmed deciduous shrublet up to

1 m. Twigs thorny.

Leaves:-

1) Trifoliolate.

2) Leaflets, small, (up to 6 x 4 mm), narrowly obovate to elliptical, sparsely

pubescent on both sides.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary or in few-flowered axillary clusters.

2) Bracts, absent.

3) Calyx, tubular, appressed-pubescent, bilobed, upper lip with 2 and lower with 3

short teeth.

4) Corolla, l4-22 mm, bright yellow:

a) standard, 10-12 mm. often with a brownish spot near the base.

Fruit:-

1) 15-25 x 4-6 mm, densely hairy.

Key features:-

1) Bracts, absent.

2) Leaflets, small, (up to 6 x 4 mm).

3) Twigs thorny.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open dry shrubby vegetation, scrubland vegetation, rocky road

embankments, olive groves. 0-1300 m. mainly on schist.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete. Scattered across the central west, west and central

east of the island.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton