CREPIS TYBAKIENSIS

Family and Genus:- See- COMPOSITAE/Sect. NEMAUCHENES

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Crepis flexicaulis

Meaning:- Crepis (Gr) A name used by Greek philosopher Theophrastus.

Tybakiensis (L) For the locality in S Crete Timbaki (Timpaki).

General description:- Perennials.

Stems:-

1) Several, up to 15 cm, simple.

Leaves:-

1) Up to 7 x 1 cm, all basal, numerous, oblong to obovate-lanceolate,

subentire to pinnatisect.

2) Lateral lobes, triangular, acute, remotely denticulate.

3) Terminal, ovate-hastate, glabrous or with a few eglandular hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Capitulum, solitary, shortly setulose.

2) Involucre, 6-12 x 5-8 mm.

a) outer bracts, lanceolate. c.1/3 as long as the inner.

b) inner bracts, linear-lanceolate, with eglandular and shorter glandular hairs

or glabrescent.

3) Ligules, yellow, reddish-purple on outer face.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, fusiform, of 2 kinds:

a) marginal, 6-8 mm, strongly curved, the body equalling the beak, with densely

spinulose, obscure ribs.

b) inner, 10-12 mm, the beak 2½ times as long as the body and extremely

slender, with 10 spinulose ribs.

Key features:-

1) Stems, numerous, each with a single capitulum.

2) Achenes, less than 12 mm.

3) Inner achenes, 2-7·5(-9) mm.

4) Cauline leaves, filiform, bract-like.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- In a variety of dry, open, rocky and stony habitats, dolines, etc. 0-1500

Distribution:- Endemic to Crete and Karpathos. Widespread on Crete.

A report (2014) from the foothills of Mt Kerkis in Samos may cast some doubt on

this.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to June.

Photos by:- Zacharias Angourakis

Status:-

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