RESEDA MINOICA

Family and Genus:- See- RESEDACEAE/ Sect. RESEDA

Common Names:- Garden mignonette

Homotypic Synonyms:- Reseda odorata

Meaning:- Reseda (L) Healer, a name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny for its use in the treatment of bruises.

Minoica Meaning unknown

General description:- Annual to perennial

Stems:-

1) 10-70 cm, decumbent to suberect, usually branched from the base.

Leaves:-

1) Oblanceolate to obovate, entire or 3(-5)-lobed, ± papillose-hispidulous on the

veins and margin.

Flowers:-

1) In a lax raceme.

2) Pedicels, erecto-patent, 3-7 mm at anthesis, to 12 mm in fruit.

3) Sepals and petals, 5 or 6.

a) upper petals, trisect with the lateral lobes further divided into linear-spathulate

segments.

4) Carpels, 3

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 7-12 mm, obovoid no ellipsoid, with short teeth.

2) Seeds, 1.6-1.8 mm, rugulose.

Key features:-

1) Capsule, 7-12 mm, obovoid no ellipsoid, with short teeth.

2) Seeds, 1.6-1.8 mm, verrucose-ridged.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Rocky places in dry open shrubby vegetation as well as roadsides and

ruderal habitats. 0-300(-1100) m.

Distribution:- A recently described species, in Greece, not recorded outside the

Aegean area. - also a few records from S Anatolia and Cyprus. very rare on Crete,

known only from Matala on the SW coast and the islands of Gavdopoula and

Gavdos. With a recent discovery 17/07/2020 on Katharo.

Flowering time:- Mid-Mar to May(-July) at higher altitudes

Photos by:- Steve Lenton