TOLPIS UMBELLATA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Eye-of-Christ.

Synonyms:- Tolpis barbata subsp. umbellata.

Meaning:- Toplis. Meaning not known.

Umbellata (L) Umbelled, the inflorescence with branches arising from

more or less the same point on a common stem.

General description:- Somewhat pubescent perennial or biennial.

Stems:-

1) 30-100 cm. branched, the branches making a narrow angle with the main stem

and overtopping it.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, 5-20 cm, oblong-lanceolate to elliptical, entire to serrate or deeply

dentate, acute or subobtuse.

2) Upper cauline, similar but smaller.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula usually several; 11-16 mm diam., all florets a pale yellow.

2) Peduncles slightly thickened below the capitula.

3) Supplementary bracts absent, or few, small and usually appressed.

4) Involucre 6-8 mm.

a) outer bracts shorter than the inner.

b) all bracts linear-lanceolate, straight, appressed.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, all with pappus of 4-12 long hairs mixed with short hairs.

Key features:-

1) Stems with branches overtopping the main stem.

2) Pappus of 4-12 long hairs mixed with short hairs.

3) Mature leaves pubescent.

4) Branches making a narrow angle with the main stem.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal habitats, olive groves, open woodland, field margins. 0-800

Distribution:- Widespread in the Mediterranean region, eastwards to W Syria.

Limited distribution on Crete mainly to the central west and west with a few

locations to the far east.

Flowering time:- Apr to late June..

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis