RICOTIA CRETICA

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- Ricotia

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Ricotia. Meaning unknown.

Cretica (L) Cretan, from Crete.

General description:- Low to short, somewhat glabrous annual.

Stem:-

1) Several, slender, ascending, 10-30 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, bright green, temate or pinnate.

2) Leaflets, obovate, entire or obtusely lobed.

3) Cauline, small.

Flowers:-

1) Racemes, lax, usually 3-10-flowered, ± secund in fruit.

2) Petals, 10-12 mm; limb obovate, deeply emarginate, lilac to bright rose-pink with

a yellowish base.

Fruit:-

1) Siliculae, pendent, strongly compressed, oblong, 25-45 x 7-9 mm, not winged,

not winged, brownish.

2) Seeds, 3-5 in each loculus.

Key features:-

1) Petals, 10-12 mm.

2) Fruit, 5-8 times as long as wide, not winged.

Habitat:- Limestone screes, rock ledges and rocky slopes in gorges, occasionally

road- sides and field margins. 0-1300 m.

Distribution:- Endemic Crete. Mainly in E & W. Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton