BUNIUM FERULACEUM

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Bunium (Gr) A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides.

Ferulaceum (L) Fennel-like.

General description:- Erect or ascending perennial.

Stem:-

1) 15-40 cm, sparingly and ± divaricately branched.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 2-pinnate with linear segments.

Flowers:-

1) Umbels, lax, with 7-15 spreading rays,

2) Pedicels, almost as thick as the fruit.

3) Bracts, 0-2, lanceolate; bracteoles 3-6, lanceolate.

4) Sepals, absent or minute.

5) Petals, small, white.

6) Styles, about as long as the stylopodium.

Fruit:-

1) c. 5 mm, oblong-cylindrical, with prominent ridges.

Key features:-

1) Rays, 6-15.

2) Primary ridges, of the fruit thick.

3) Bracts, 0-2.

4) Sepals, 0 or minute.

5) Styles, about as long as the stylopodium.

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Habitat:- A perennial weed of traditional managed fields and vineyards,

occasionally in dry open shrubby vegetation, open pinewoods and other semi-

natural habitats. 0-800(-1300) m.

Distribution:- Mainly Balkan and Aegean region, Greece, Crete. Widespread and

common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton