GALIUM VERTICILLATUM

Family and Genus:- See- RUBIACEAE/Sect. KOLGYDA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Galium (Gr) Milk.

Verticillatum (L) Having whorls, verticillate.

General description:- Slender annual.

Stems:-

1) 5-20 cm, solitary or several from a common base, simple or very sparingly

branched, suberect, rather stiff, ± patent-pubescent

Leaves:-

1) In whorls of 4 to 6, or the uppermost in pairs, reflexed, 3-7 mm, oblong to

narrowly elliptical.

Flowers:-

1) In condense, few-flowered cymes in the leaf axils.

2) Inflorescence, narrowly cylindrical, occupying much of the stem.

3) Fruiting pedicels, suberect to patent, shorter than the mericarps.

4) Corolla, c. 1 mm, cupuliform, cream.

Fruit:-

1) Mericarps, c. 1 mm, oblong-reniform, with uncinate setae or sometimes

glabrous.

Key features:-

1) Fruiting pedicels, suberect to patent, shorter than the mericarps.

2) Floral leaves, deflexed.

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Habitat:- Dry, open, rocky and stony habitats, sometimes fallow fields and

roadsides. 0-1200(-2000) m.

Distribution:- Mainland Greece, but lacking in the west, Peloponnisos.

Widespread in the Mediterranean region and SW to C Asia. Distribution rather

limited on Crete, mainly to west and Dikti Massif area in the east..

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Zacharias Angourakis