ADONIS CRETICA

Family and Genus:- See- RANUNCULACEAE/Sect. ADONIS

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Adonis microcarpa ssp. cretica

Meaning:- Adonis (Gr) For the Greek God, Adonis.

Cretica (L) From Crete.

General description:- Erect hairless annual with feathery leaves.

Stems:-

1) 10-25(-50) cm.

Leaves:-

1) 3- or 4-pinnate, the segments linear, mucronate.

Flowers:-

1) 5-8, sub-erect, concave, oblong, 10-35 mm. Æ.

2) Sepals, glabrous, ovate, patent.

3) Petals, 12-17 mm, suberect, concave, oblong, somewhat longer than the sepals,

usually yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, 3.5-4.5 mm with the beak usually outward-curving, hump truncate,

concave or slighly convex.

Key features:-

1) Upper projection on the inner margin of the achene close to the beak.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Seasonally damp, open habitats, roadsides, fallow fields, archaeological

sites. 0-400 m.

Distribution:- Probably endemic to Crete and adjacent small islands. Fairly rare,

scattered around coastal regions.

Flowering time:- Mid-Mar to late Apr.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton