SPECIES DESCRIPTION
FILAGO AEGAEA
Including subsp. aristata where the middle phyllaries have an arista 0.5-1 mm
(acute or with minute arista in subsp. aegaea); intermediates occur where the two
geographical races meet.1)
1) Arne Strid "Atlas of the Aegean Flora". Book 1 2016
Family:- COMPOSITAE
Common Names:- None
Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Filago (L) Thread.
Aegaea (L) From the Aegean region.
General description:- Plant greyish-white.
Stem:-
1) Up to 6 cm.
Leaves:-
1) Oblanceolate to spathulate.
Flowers:-
1) Capitula ovoid, subterete, in clusters of 5-15;
a) clusters 7-10 x 8-12 mm, not or scarcely overtopped by subtending leaves.
2) Involucral bracts ovate-lanceolate, more or less rigid, tomentose in the upper
part,
curved obliquely inwards in fruit.
3) Female florets 12-15, all but 0-5 marginal, the hermaphrodite 5-8.
Fruit:-
1) Achenes 0·7-0·9 x 0·4 mm, brown.
2) Pappus 1·5 mm.
Key features:-
1) Capitula in ± lax clusters of 3-30. ± terete (Aegean region).
2) Involucral bracts not in 5 distinct rows; ± rigid, the middle ones tomentose all
over, incurved in fruit.
Habitat:- Coastal habitats, open dry shrubby vegetation on rocky slopes, dolines,
usually on limestone. 0-700 (1300) m.
Distribution:- S. Aegean region, E. Aegean Islands and Cyprus. Widespread
across Crete.
Flowering time:- Apr to early June.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
