PARONYCHIA MACROSEPALA

mily and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Paronychia capitata subsp. macrosepala

Meaning:- Paronychia (Gr) Beside-nail, a name used by the Greek physician and

botanist Dioscorides, for its former use to treat whitlows.

Macrosepala (Gr) With large sepals.

General description:- Low matted perennial.

Stems:-

1) 2-10 cm, much-branched.

Leaves:-

1) Grey-green, oval to oblong, pointed, hairy.

Flowers:-

1) Clustered, 8-10 mm, concealed by the silvery bracts.

2) Bracts, 5-6mm.

3) Calyx, all green; 2·5-3·5 mm.

4) Calyx-lobes, very unequal, the shortest 2/3-3/4 as long as the longest.

Fruit:-

1) Achene, with a membranous fruit wall that has developed from the ovary wall.

Key features:-

1) Calyx-lobes, very unequal in length; entirely herbaceous, not hooded or awned.

2) Bracts, scarcely concealing the flowers.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal habitats, dry, stony and rocky places in open dry shrubby

vegetation and open coniferous woodland. 0-900 m, occasionally to 2200 m.

Distribution:- Aegean area, just extending to W & S Anatolia. Widespread and

common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton