ONOSMA GRAECA

Family:- BORAGINACEAE

Common Names:- Golden drops

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Onosma (Gr) Ass-smell (reputed to attract asses).

Graeca (L) Grecian, Greek.

General description:- Robust biennial, covered throughout with a harsh

indumentum of simple, patent bristles 5-8 mm long, mixed with much shorter and

thinner hairs.

Stems:-

a) 20- 40 cm tall.

b) multi-branched and with spreading (patent) hairs.

Leaves:-

1) Rosette:

a) 7-15 cm.

b) lanceolate to broadly linear.

2) Cauline:

a) much shorter, oblong-lanceolate.

Flowers:-

1) Corolla:

a) 14-15mm.

b) covered in soft hairs.

c) pale yellow when young, tuming orange-brown.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets:

a) 6-7 mm.

b) with small, wart-like projections (tuberculate).

Key features:-

1) All bristles (setae) simple.

2) Corolla 8-15 mm.

3) Nutlets 6-7 mm, tuberculate.

4) Corolla c. 1½ times as long as calyx.

5) Anthers shorter than filaments.

Habitat:- Rocky and stony slopes in low open scrubland, gorges, fallow terraces,

olive groves, 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- S Greece, S Aegean Is. and Crete. Widespread and common on

Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-June

Photos by:- Steve Lenton