PLANTAGO MARITIMA subsp. CRASSIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE/Subgen. PLANTAGO/P.

coronopus group.

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Plantago crassifolia

Meaning:- Plantago (L) Foot-sole-like, (reference to the way the leaves lie flat on

the ground).

Maritima (L) Growing by the sea.

Crassifolia (L) With thick fleshy or leathery leaves.

General description:- Acaulescent perennial with a tough, woody taproot, usually

branched above, with a few leaf rosettes.

Leaves:-

1) Several, usually 5-15 cm x 3-5 mm, linear, rather fleshy, entire or indistinctly

dentate.

Flowers:-

1) Scapes, exceeding the leaves,subterete, appressed-pubescent.

2) Spike, usually 20-50 x 3-4 mm, cylindrical, dense.

3) Sepals;

a) anterior, with the narrow membranous margins of equal width.

b) posterior, with a broad wing on the narrow keel.

4) Corolla tube, hairy.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 2-locular.

2) Seeds, 2-4, c. 2 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Saline and brackish coastal swamps, (0-10(-40) m.

Distribution:- Coastal areas of W Greece. - Mediterranean region. Rare on Crete

known from only one location near Malia.

Flowering time:- May-August, occasionally at other times.

Photos by:- A. N. Otherl