SCLERANTHUS ANNUUS subsp. POLYCARPUS

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Scleranthus (Gr) With hard thorns or spines.

Annuus (L) One year, annual.

Polycarpus (Gr) Many fruited.

General description:- Small annual or occasionally biennial.

Stems:-

1) 5-15 cm.

Leaves:-

1) 5-10 mm, linear, ciliate at the base.

Flower:-

1) Subsessile in the terminal and axillary clusters.

2) Sepals, 1.5-2.5 mm, equal, erecto-patent, equalling or longer than the

perigynous. zone, acute, with with narrow membranous margins.

3) Petals, lacking.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlet, indehiscent, 1-seeded, crowned by persistent sepals.

Key features:-

1) Sepals, 1.5-2.5, equal, erecto-patent, with narrow membranous margins.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy and gravelly places, pastures, streambeds, fallow fields. 200-1800

Distribution:- Fairly common on mainland Greece; scattered in Peloponnisos. -

Most of Europe and SW Asia. Rare on Crete, currently known from only one

location in the Lefka Ori W Crete.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Len Worthington