ACANTHOLIMON ANDROSACEUM

Family and Genus:- See- PLUMBAGINACEAE

Common Names:- Prickly thrift

Homotypic Synonyms:- Acantholimon creticum, Acantholimon echinus,

Acantholimon ulicinum

Meaning:- Acantholimon (Gr) Thorny - Linonium

Androsaceum (L) Androsace - like (the pink and brown cap of the

horse hair fungus).

General description:- Spiny, cushion-forming shrubs.

Leaves:-

1) 10-20 x c.1 mm, linear, subulate-triquetrous, distally, pungent, glabrous or

puberulent

2) Peduncle, up to 4 cm, shorter than or somewhat exceeding the leaves,

puberulent.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence (1-)3- to 7-flowered.

2) Calyx, 14-16 mm, the

a) tube, about twice as long as the limb, puberulent towards the base, white with

purplish veins.

3) Petals, shorter than or exceeding the calyx by c. 3 mm, long-clawed, purple.

Fruit:-

1) Narrowly cylindrical.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and stony calcareous slopes, with Astragalus creticus, Berberis

cretica, Sideritis syiaca, etc. (500-)1400-2000(-2400) m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the Lefka Ori and Psiloritis massifs.

Flowering time:- May-July

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis