CRUCIANELLA ANGUSTIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- RUBIACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Crucianella (L) Little-cross.

Angustifolia (L) Narrow-leaved.

General description:- Erect annual herb,

Stems:-

1) Up to 50 cm, simple or sparingly branched, glabrous

Leaves:-

1) In whorls of 6-8, subglabrous and ± glaucous.

a) lower, linear-lanceolate and equalling intemodes.

b) upper, linear, 5-15 x 0.5-1 mm, margins revolute, scabrid, bluish-green.

shorter than intemodes,

Flowers:-

1) In a dense terminal spike, 2-6 cm.

2) Bracts, and bracteoles free, lanceolate, 5-9 mm, with broad hyaline margins,

carinate, acute to acuminate.

3) Corolla, 3-5 x c. 0·6 mm, 4-lobed, pale yellow, not exceeding the bract.

Fruit:-

1) Mericarps, finely granulate.

Key features:-

1) Lowermost leaves, linear-lanceolate.

2) Bracts, narrowly lanceolate, free, similar to the bracteoles.

3) Corolla, 4-merous, shorter than or slightly exceeding the subtending bract

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Open woodland and scrub, rocky places in pastures. 0-1100 m.

occasionally to 1600 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout mainland Greece. - Widespread in the

Mediterranean and submediterranean areas eastwards to Anatolia and N Iran.

Moderately scattered across Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton