CONVOLVULUS ARGYROTHAMNOS

Family:- CONVOLVULACEAE

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Convolvulus (L) Entwined. A name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny.

Argyrothamnos (Gr) Silver-bush

General description:- Perennial shrub, woody at the base, with

silky, silver-coloured down.

Stems:-

1) 80 cm., moderately curved-pendent with the longest branches near the apex.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, simple, thread-like to narrow, parallel-sided, at 30mm long at the most,

silver-coloured like those of the olive-tree.

Flowers:-

1) Terminate in congested 2-6-flowered cymes.

2) Outside sepals x 3, inverted-lance-shaped, hairless internally, externally clothed

with long silky hairs.

3) Inner sepals, similar but a little wider.

4) Corolla 30-35 mm diam., white with 5 pink inconspicuous stripes.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule usually 4-seeded, 1- to 2-celled.

2) Pollen grains tricolpate; exine not spinose.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone in gorges. 450-650 m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Known only from two locations. Very rare.

Flowering time:- May-June.

Photos by:- Yannis Zacharakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Endangered (E) according to the

Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (1995).

According to IUCN 1997. Endangered (E)

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree. 67/1981,

Bern Convention, EU Dir.1992/43 (Ann.II*/IV).

European Directive 92/43 (‘Habitats Directive’).