SPECIES DESCRIPTION
PETRORHAGIA CANDICA
Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. PSEUDOTUNICA
Common Names:- None
Synonyms:- Dianthus candicus, Fiedleria candica.
Meaning:- Petrorhagia (Gr) Rock-bursting.
Candica (L) From Crete, Cretan
Stems:-
1) Up to 20 cm.
Leaves:-
1) Narrow and parallel-sided to tapering from the base to the apex. 3-veined.
Flowers:-
2) Pedicels, up to 20 mm.
3) Calyx, 3-4·5 mm.
sometimes weak.
veins.
Fruit:-
1) Seeds, 1·5 mm; black, smooth with thin margins.
Key features:-
1) Calyx-teeth triangular-oblong, ± acute or mucronate; 3-veined, the lateral veins
sometimes obscure near the apex.
2) Petals white, with dark violet veins beneath.
3) Seeds c. 1·5mm, black, smooth.
Habitat:- Rocky and gravelly slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation and open
coniferous woodland, dolines. (0-)300-1500 m. mainly on limestone.
Distribution:- Endemic Crete
Flowering time:- May-July, occasionally later.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED
Acute:- Sharp, sharply pointed, the margins near the tip being almost straight.
Calyx:- A Collective name for the sepals - the outer whorl of organs in most
flowers.
Calyx-teeth:- Tip of a calyx lobe or division.
Emarginate:- Distinctly notched at the apex.
Glabrous:- Without hairs, hairless.
Glandular pubescent:- Hairs tipped with small glands that secrete oil or some
other liquid often making the leaves and stems sticky.
Inflorescence:- The flowering branch or branches, flowers and bracts above the
uppermost leaves on a stem. Inflorescences are very variable from one species to
another.
Mucro:- A sharp terminal point.
Mucronate:- Of or having a mucro; ending abruptly in a sharp point.
Oblanceolate:- Inversely lanceolate, broadest towards the apex and tapering to
the stalk.
Oblong:- Rectangular with rounded ends - used to describe a leaf or petal shape.
Obtuse:- Blunt, not pointed, ending in an angle of between 90 - 180o
Ovary:- The female organ containing the ovules.
Ovate:- Broad and rounded at the base and tapering toward the end.
Petal:- The inner perianth segments when they clearly differ from the outer - often
Spatulate:- Paddle-shaped, shaped like a small paddle, oblong with an extended
basal part.
Sepal:- A member of the outer perianth whorl in most flowers. The sepals
collectively make up the calyx.