TULIPA CRETICA

Family and Genus:- See- LILIACEAE/Sect. ERIOSTEMONES

Common Names:- Cretan tulip

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Tulipa. Derived from the Persian word thoulyban, for a turban.

Cretica (L) From Crete, Cretan.

General description:- Low to short, hairless perennial.

Bulb:-

1) c. 2 x 1.5 cm, ovoid, usually not stoloniferous; tunics subcoriaceous, dark

brown to reddish-brown, prolonged into a short neck.

Stem:-

1) 4-12 cm, often purplish above.

Leaves:-

1) 2(-3), at ground level, patent-falcate or somewhat twisted, 0.5-2 cm wide, dull

green, often with purplish, glabrous or short-ciliate margins.

Flowers:-

1) 1(-3), 15-30 mm, opening widely.

2) Perianth segments, narrowly elliptic-oblong, acute, usually pale purplish-pink

on both sides or white above, with a yellow blotch at the inner base.

a) outer segments, 15-30 x 4-9·5 mm, elliptical, subacute,

b) inner, 16-32 x 6-11 mm, elliptic-oblong, subobtuse.

3) Stamens, hairy at the base of the filaments.

a) filaments, 5-8 mm.

b) anthers, 1·5-3 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 9-15 x 10-15 mm, globose.

Key features:-

1) Perianth-segments, not more than 30 mm. white, pink, purple or orange-brown,

usually with a basal blotch or zone inside.

2) Anthers, not more than 3 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open habitats and dry open shrubby vegetation in rich terra rossa, rocky

and stony mountain slopes. 0-1600(-2100). on various substrates.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Fairly widespread but not too common.

Flowering time:- Mar to mid-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton