KICKXIA LANIGERA

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Linaria lanigera, Linaria racemigera (sensu) Linaria

spuria var. racemigera.

Meaning:- Kickxia (L) For Jean Jaques Kickx (1775-1831) Belgian cryptogamic

botanist.

Lanigera (L) Softly hairy, woolly.

General description:- Procumbent, densely glandular-villous annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 90 cm, whitish, rigid.

Leaves:-

1) Broadly ovate:

a) middle and upper, often cordate, shortly acuminate.

b) lowest, sometimes obtuse, entire to dentate.

Flowers:-

1) Flowers, axillary, distant, subsessile, on short, bracteate, lateral branches,

pedicels, usually shorter than the subtending leaf.

2) Calyx, 2·5-3·5 mm;

a) lobes, linear-lanceolate, acute, accrescent and not concealing the capsule.

3) Corolla, 8-11 mm, whitish, with a violet upper lip and a blue-spotted palate.

a) spur, curved.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, c. 2·5 mm, depressed-globose, slightly emarginate.

2) Seeds, c. 0·75 mm, ovoid, alveolate.

Key features:-

1) Pedicels, usually shorter than the subtending leaf.

2) Corolla, white or cream with a violet upper lip.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy beaches, dry streambeds, roadsides, fallow ond harvested fields

and olive groves. 0-300 m.

Distribution:- Widespread in SW Europe, N Africa and SW Asia. In Greece,

previously known only from the islands of Rhodes, Kos and Chios. Recently

discovered on Crete by Popi Bormpoudaki near the village of Tylissos, Heraklion

26/09/2021.

Flowering time:- May- Sept-Oct.

Photos by:- Popi Bormpoudaki. ID confirmed by Ralf Jahn