PERIPLOCA ANGUSTIFOLIA

Family:- APOCYNACEAE

Common Names:- Silk-vine

Synonyms:- Periploca laevigata subsp. angustifolia

Meaning:- Periploca (Gr) Twisted-around.

Angustifolia (L) Narrow-leaved.

General description:- An erect shrubby deciduous plant.

Stem:-

a)1·5-3 m.

b) erect, sometimes twining at the apex.

Leaves:-

a) 1-3·5 x 0·2-0·6 cm.

b) almost stalkless (subsessile).

c) linear, acute or obtuse, wedge-shaped (cuneate) at the base.

d) hairless (glabrous), leathery (coriaceous).

Flowers:-

1) Cymes:

a) few-flowered.

2) Corolla:

a) c. 1 cm diam.

b) lobes oblong, obtuse, green outside, green, purple-brown and white inside.

c) margins not deflexed when in full bloom (at anthesis).

d) awns, deflexed, green.

3) Anthers:

a) smooth.

Fruit:-

1) Follicles:

a) 5-8 (-10) cm.

b) spreading horizontally, not united (connate) at the apex.

2) Seeds:

a) c. 7 x 3 mm; coma c. 40 mm.

Key features:-

1) Stems 1·5-3 m, erect.

2) Leaves 1-3·5 ? 0.2-0·6 cm, somewhat coriaceous.

3) Corolla c. 1 cm diam.

Habitat:- Scrub in gorges and on rocky slopes, with Juniperus phoenicea, etc.

0-150 m.

Distribution:- A North African species extending locally to S. Spain, Sicily,

Lampedusa, Malta and W Syria. In the Aegean region known only from the

Southern Cretan islands of Gavdos, Gavdopoula and Chrysi. Rare.

Flowering time:- Apr-May, and sporadically at later times.

Photos by:- Daniel Didier