KNAUTIA INTEGRIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- DIPSACACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:-

Meaning:- Knautia (L) For Christian (Christoph) Knaut (1654-1716), German

botanist and author of Methodus plantarum genuina.

Integrifolia (L) With entire leaves.

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) 20-80 cm., hirsute below, subhirsute to subglabrous above.

Leaves:-

1) Peduncles usually eglandular.

2) Basal, in a rosette, dentate or crenate, glabrous or hirsute, undivided or lyrate-

pinnate with obovate or lanceolate, obtuse lobes, petiolate.

3) Upper, linear to lanceolate, more or less amplexicaul.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, hermaphrodite, c. 3 cm in diam, with 30-40 florets.

2) Female capitula, c. 1·5 cm in diam, with 20-30 florets.

3) Involucre, patelliform.

4) Bracts, in 2-3 rows, ovate at base, lanceolate-acuminate, with 3-5(-7)

inconspicuous veins, greyish velutinous, ciliate-hirsute, usually eglandular.

5) Calyx, cupuliform, 12- to 24-dentate, rarely with some teeth awned.

6) Corolla, violet;

a) marginal corolla,s with outer median lobe somewhat wider than the lateral.

b) tube, c. 3-5 mm.

Fruit:-

1) With equal involucel-teeth, or those on 2 angles much longer and distinctly 2-

horned.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, gorges, open dry shrubby vegetation, field margins,

grassy meadows, open wood- land. 0-1300 m.

Distribution:- Common throughout mainland Greece, Peloponnisos and Ionian

Islands. - widespread in the Mediterranean. Widespread across Crete, but more so

in the central and western areas.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton