BUPLEURUM KAKISKALAE

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Bupleurum (Gr) Ox-rib, an ancient name used by the Greek physician

and poet Nicander.

Kakiskalae (L) After the locality of Kakiskala, at the western head of

the Samaria gorge.

General description:- Long-lived, monocarpic perennial with a tap root.

Stems:-

1) Flowering, 30-70(-100) cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, in a tight rosette of 15-30, up to 25 cm long. oblanceolate, glaucous or

grayish-green.

2) Cauline, somewhat clasping, with conspicuous parallel veins.

Flowers:-

1) Umbels, rather small, lax, with c. 6 rays.

2) Bracts, much shorter than the rays;

a) bracteoles, 5-9 nerved, herbaceous, c. 3 mm long, obtuse or blunt, ligulate or

spathulate.

3) Petals, yellow.

4) Ovaries, pruinose, smooth.

Fruit:-

1) 5-6 mm, broadly oblong, with prominent ridges.

Key features:-

1) Monocarpic perennial herb.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Known only from the limestone cliffs in Lefka Ori. 1450-1750 m.

Distribution:- A very rare local endemic known only from limestone cliffs in lefka

Ori on both sides of the Samaria gorge.

Flowering time:- July-Sept.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis & Giorgos Palimetakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Endangered according to the Red

Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (1995)

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981,

Bern Convention, EU Dir.1992/43 (Ann.II*/IV), Convention C.I.T.E.S.

Comments:-

Extract from "The Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece" 1995.

The species is particularly susceptible because of its reproductive biology it is

monocarpic, but passes through a long sterile period first. Pronounced fluctuations

in population size are therefore bound to occur. If the population drops below a

certain level, the chance of cross pollination is so heavily reduced that in the long

term, extinction becomes almost inevitable. This point may be reached at any time,

although it is unlikely that the population was much larger in the recent past.

For more information see: https://top50.iucn-mpsg.org/species/17?

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