PIMPINELLA CRETICA

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Pimpinella. A medieval name of uncertain meaning.

Cretica (L) From Crete, Cretan.

General description:- Slender, slightly hairy or hairless annual

Stems:-

1) To 10-30 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, long-petiolate;

a) blade, orbicular to broadly ovate, c. 15 x 15 mm, cordate, crenate-dentate. or

shallowly lobed.

2) Upper cauline, pinnate or 3-sect with linear, entire segments.

Flowers:-

1) Rays, (2-)5-10, filiform

2) Bracts and bracteoles, absent.

3) Petals, white.

Fruit:-

1) 1·5 mm, ovoid. with short, appressed, white hairs. grey-green. ridges

inconspicuous.

Key features:-

1) Base of stem slender, without fibres.

2) Rays, 5-12.

3) Fruit with short, appressed hairs.

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Habitat:- Coastal habitats, rocky outcrops with dry open shrubby vegetation,

gorges, abandoned terraces. 0-1050 m.

Distribution:- In Greece restricted to the Aegean area. - Scattered in S Anatolia

and Syria, common in Palestine, extending to Sinai and probably further south. On

Crete mainly in the east and west, lacking in the central region.

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Christopher Cheiladakis