SPECIES DESCRIPTION
GYPSOPHILA NANA
Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Common Name:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Gypsophila achaia
Meaning:- Gypsophila (Gr) Lover-of-chalk
Nana (Gr) Very small, dwarf.
General description:- Small, tufted (caespitose), somewhat woody-based
perennial; whole plant glandular-pubescent on the stem and lower leaves.
Stems:-
1) Generally 4-10 cm, flowering stems several, ascending to erect.
Leaves:-
1) 5-20 x 2-3 mm. broadly linear to oblanceolate, dull green to glaucous.
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescence, of lax, 3-10-flowered dichasia.
2) Pedicels, 1.5-4 times as long as the calyx.
3) Calyx, 3-4.5 mm campanulate.
a) tube, obscurely 5-veined;
b) teeth, ovate.
4) Petals, 2-2.5 times as long as the calyx, truncate or notched at the apex usually
pale pink with darker pink veins, occasionally white.lilac-pink, rarely white.
Fruit:-
1) Seeds, 1 mm with short acute, conical tubercles.
Key features:-
1) Inflorescence, lax, rarely with more than 10 flowers.
2) Pedicels, usually more than twice as long as calyx.
3) Leaves, not more than 20 mm long x at least 2 mm wide.
Habitat:- Crevices and ledges in cliffs of limestone or schist, screes, usually
somewhat damp in semi-shade. (900-)1400-2400 m.
Distribution:- Endemic to the mountains of Crete, Peloponnisos and Sterea Ellas
to Giona. Rare on Crete known only from the three main massiffs of Lefka Ori
Psiloritis and Dikti
Flowering time:- Late May to mid-Aug.
Photos by:- Lia Liakou
