SCHENKIA SPICATA

Family and Genus:- See- GENTIANACEAE/Sect. SPICARIA

Common Name:- Spiked centaury

Homotypic Synonyms:- Centaurium spicatum, Chironia spicata, Erythraea

spicata. Gentiana spicata

Meaning:- Schenkia Meaning unknown.

Spicata (L) With a spiked inflorescence.

General description:- Erect annual or biennial.

Stem:-

1) 10-30 cm tall, usually with long, erecto-patent, slender, simple branches from

near the base or middle.

Leaves:-

1) Basal rosette, ± withered at anthesis.

2) Cauline, elliptical to lanceolate.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, spike-like, the flowers spaced and subsessile, along one side of

an elongate axis.

2) Calyx, teeth 5-8 mm, linear, subulate.

3) Corolla pink, tube equalling the calyx, lobes 4-5 mm, elliptic-oblong.

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Habitat:- Salines, damp sandy habitats and freshwater meadows near the sea,

occasionally some distance inland to 150 m.

Distribution:- Coastal areas throughout Greece. Mediterranean region and SW

Asia, eastwards to Afghanistan. Mainly coastal areas of W. & E. Crete. Not

common.

Flowering time:- (Apr-)May to early August.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis