PARACARYUM LITHOSPERMIFOLIUM subsp. CARIENSE

Family and Genus:- See- BORAGINACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cynoglossum lithospermifolium subsp. cariense,

Omphalodes cariensis, Paracaryum cariense, Paracaryum lithospermifolium

var. cariense.

Meaning:- Paracaryum (Gr) Nut-like?

Lithospermifolium (L) Lithospermum = stone-seed, folium = leaved

Cariense (L) From the ancient region of Caria, SW Anatolia, Turkey.

General description:- Tufted (caespitose) perennial.

Stems:-

1) (2-)7-35(-50) cm, hirsute or villose.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 3-5 x 0·5-1 cm, lanceolate to spathulate, petiolate.

2) Cauline, smaller, sessile.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, 1·5-3 cm, terminal, dense, elongating up to 6-10(-30) cm in fruit.

a) pedicels, 0-4 mm, elongating in fruit.

2) Calyx, 2-4 mm.

a) lobes, linear-oblong.

3) Corolla, 3-5 mm, campanulate, blue-violet, style, included.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, 7-8 mm, suborbicular, glochidiate.

a) wing, spinulose-dentate.

Habitat:- Calcareous rocky slopes, crevices, screes and rubble dolines. 1700-2300

Distribution:- Widespread and variable in Anatolia. On Crete known only from the

Lefka Ori, W. Crete. Rare.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Philippa Dean and Andreas Loukakis