CHAENORHINUM IDAEUM

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Chaenorhinum minus ssp. idaeum, Crorrhinum

idaeum.

Meaning:- Chaenorhinum (Gr) Gaping-nose (analogy with Antirrhinum)

Idaeum (L) From Mount Ida in Crete.

General description:- Annual, with several slender branches between spreading

and erect, the whole plant ± glandular-pubescent.

Stems:-

1) Up to 2-5 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Opposite below and alternate above, 5-35 x 1-5(-8) mm, linear to oblong-

lanceolate, obtuse.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, diffuse, occupying most of the plant.

2) Bracts, leaf-like.

3) Pedicels, 5-15 mm, filiform, erect or ascending.

4) Calyx, 2-2.5 mm; divided almost to the base, with linear-spatulate lobes up to 5

mm, obtuse.

5) Corolla, 5 mm; pale yellow,

a) spur, 1·5-2·5 mm, more or less cylindrical, obtuse.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, subglobose, shorter than or equalling the calyx, 3-4 mm.

2) Seeds, 0·5-1 mm, with smooth or minutely denticulate ribs.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 5-9 mm; pale yellow.

2) Capsule, subglobose, shorter than or equalling the calyx,

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Clay and gravel in dolines 1700-2300 m.

Distribution:- A rare endemic of dolines at high altitude in the Psiloritis and Dikti

Massifs.

Flowering time:- Jun-July

Photos by:- Zacharias Angourakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (V) according to IUCN

1997.

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