CIRSIUM MORINIFOLIUM

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. ERIOLEPIS

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cirsium (Gr) The ancient Greek name for thistle.

Morinifolium (L) With leaves resembling those of Morina.

General description:- Biennial.

Stem:-

1) 30-100cm. Much-branched, crispate pubescent.

Leaves:-

1) Glabrous or sparsely arachnoid-hairy beneath; lobes narrowly triangular to linear-

triangular, with stout apical spine 7-11(-15) mm.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula numerous, in a much-branched panicle or corymb, with 8-12 squarrose-

spiny subtending leaves 2-4 times as long as capitulum.

2) Involucre (15-)20-25 X 17-30 (-35) mm, sparsely arachnoid-hairy to -lanate, rarely

subglabrous.

3) Bracts patent, the middle ones gradually narrowed to the nearly smooth apex,

with apical spine 1-2 mm.

4) Corolla 20-26 mm, white.

Fruit:- Pappus 16-20 mm.

Key features:-

1) Capitula with 8-12 squarrose-spiny subtending leaves, 2-4 times as long as

capitulum.

2) Involucre (15-)20-30 x 15-30 mm; bracts erecto-patent to recurved, obviously

divided into a wide basal and a narrow apical part, middle bracts with apical

spine 1-2 mm.

3) Plant not more than 100 cm.

4) Mature pappus 15-20 mm.

5) Leaves strongly undulate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and stony calcareous slopes in open dry shrubby vegetation and

especially in clayey dolines. 1000-2300 m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic, confined to the three main massifs, not common.

Flowering time:- Mid-June to early Aug, occasionally later.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare (R) according to IUCN 1997

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981