UMBILICUS HORIZONTALIS

Family:- CRASSULACEAE

Common Names:- Narrow navelwort

Synonyms:- Cotyledon horizontalis, Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var.

horizontalis, Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris subsp. horizontalis, Cotyliphyllum

horizontale, Umbilicus pendulinus var. horizontalis, Umbilicus rupestris

subsp. horizontalis, Umbilicus vulgaris subsp. horizontalis

Meaning:- Umbilicus (L) Naval, reference to the depression in the leaf surface

where the stem connects to the underside.

Horizontalis (Gr) Flat on the ground.

General description:- Herbaceous plant, erect and reddish, with a tuberose root.

Stem:-

1) 20-50 cm, erect.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, orbicular, peltate, concave above, sinusoidal, or sinuate-crenate,

2) Cauline leaves numerous and crowded, progressively smaller, mostly reniform,

margin, dentate, uppermost with many linear.

Flowers:-

1) Bracts, usually linear, about equalling the pedicels, but occasionally large and

leaf-like.

2) Pedicels, 3-9 mm.

3) Flowers, 7 x 3 mm, tubular, almost subsessile, horizontal; raceme fairly dense,

sometimes branched at the base, occupying not more than ½ the stem.

4) Sepals, ovate, acuminate.

5) Corolla-lobes, triangular, lanceolate, acuminate, dull crimson.

Fruit:-

1) Carpels tapered to a fairly long style.

Key features:-

1) Flowers horizontal.

2) Raceme occupying not more than ½ the stem.

3) Corolla-lobes lanceolate, acuminate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Shady rock ledges, stone walls between terraced fields, road

embankments. 0-1250 m. on various substrates.

Distribution:- C & E. Mediterranean from Spain to Crete, Greece and NW. Africa;

absent from Corsica and Sardinia. Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-May occasionally later.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton