DAPHNE OLEOIDES

Family and Genus:- See- THYMELAEACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Daphne buxifolia

Meaning:- Daphne (Gr) Old name for bay-laurel.

Oleoides (Gr) Olive or olive oil-like.

General description:- Much-branched, bushy, semi-evergreen shrublet

Stem:-

1) 30-40(-60) cm tall, often forming neat cushions.

Leaves:-

1) 8-25 x 3-9 mm, oblanceolate to elliptical, obtuse, often mucronate, coriaceous,

subglabrous.

Flowers:-

1) Subsessile in small, terminal heads of 3-6, sometimes covering the whole

bush.

2) Perianth tube, 6-8 mm, short-pubescent;

a) lobes, ± equalling the tube, triangular-lanceolate, sharply acute, white, cream or

rarely pinkish.

3) Hypanthium, 6-8 mm, hairy.

4) Sepals, 5-7 mm, narrowly triangular, acuminate.

Fruit:-

1) Drupe, red, downy, included in the hypanthium till ripe.

Key features:-

1) Sepals, narrowly triangular, acuminate.

2) Flowers, in small, terminal heads of 3-6.

3) Leaves, 8-25 mm, obtuse.

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Habitat:- Meadows and rocky outcrops, sometimes in open woodland, on various

substrates. (200-)900-1200 m.

Distribution:- Fairly common in the mountains throughout the Greek mainland an

Peloponnisos. - Mediterranean region and Anatolia, eastwards to N Iran. On Crete

known from the three main massifs.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Yannis Zacharakis