SPECIES DESCRIPTION
HYPECOUM PROCUMBENS
Family and Genus:- See- FUMARIACEAE
Common Names:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Hypecoum glaucescens, Hypecoum ponticum.
Meaning:- Hypecoum (Gr) Rattle. A name used by the Greek physician and
botanist Dioscorides, making reference to the loose seeds in the flat curved pod.
Procumbens (L) Lying flat on the ground.
General description:- Glabrous annual, generally branched from base.
Stems:-
1) 10-30 cm tall.
Leaves:-
1) Mostly basal, several times pinnatisect; ultimate segments broadened into a
trifid apex.
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescence, decumbent to erect, with 1-7(-14) flowers.
2) Sepals, 2-7 x 1-2·2 mm, erose, entire or dentate.
3) Petals, lemon-yellow or yellowish-orange;
a) outer, 4-12 x 1·5-11·5 mm, unguiculate, rhombic to distinctly 3-lobed,
usually as long as or longer than wide, the lateral lobes flat;
b) inner, without black spots, the lateral lobes obovate, obtuse, varying in
length relative to central lobe; central lobe 2-5 x 1-3 mm, obovate, with a
truncate base.
4) Filaments of median stamens, narrowly ovate, pollen, yellowish-white.
Fruit:-
1) scarcely torulose, more or less arcuate, 1-3·5 mm at widest septa.
2) seeds, dark brown.
Key features:-
1) Filaments, of median stamens narrowly ovate.
2) Outer petals, distinctly unguiculate.
Habitat:- Stabilised maritime sand, sandy ruderal habitats, field margins, orchards,
open pinewoods. 0-200(-900) m.
Distribution:- Somewhat limited distribution across the Aegean area. - Throughout
the Mediterranean region and on W shores of the Black Sea. Limited distribution on
Crete. Fairly rare.
Flowering time:- Mar to mid June.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
