STAEHELINA PETIOLATA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Cretan gorge laurel

Synonyms:- Gnaphalium petiolatum

Meaning:- Staehelina. Meaning unknown.

Petiolata (L) Stalked.

General description:- Shrub.

Stems:-

1) Up to 100 cm, the branches sericeous, with rosettes of leaves at the apices.

Leaves:-

1) Ovate, entire, dark green and becoming glabrous above, sericeous beneath.

2) Rosette, 50-80 x 35-55 mm, petiole 50-80mm long.

3) Cauline, smaller, with shorter petioles or the upper sessile.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula in simple or compound corymbose cymes.

2) Involucre 15-20 x 5-7 mm.

3) Bracts glabrous to sericeous, brown.

4) Corolla pink.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 4 x 2 mm, oblong, ± ribbed, glabrous.

2) Pappus15mm, with branches about as long as the hair.

Key features:-

1) Leaves unarmed.

2) Pappus-hairs with branches about as long as the hair.

3) Achenes oblong, ± ribbed.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- A typical chasmophyte found in crevices of limestome cliffs, often in

semi-shade in gorges. (100-)300-800(1500) m.

Distribution:- Widely scattered Cretan endemic.

Flowering time:- June to mid-Aug

Photos by:- Steve Lenton