PLANTAGO CRETICA

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE/Subgen. PLANTAGO

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Plantago (L) Foot-sole-like, (reference to the way the leaves lie flat on

the ground).

Cretica (L) Cretan, from Crete.

General description:- Low hairy annual, with one or several leaf-rosettes.

Leaves:-

1) In a basal rosette,.2-7(-10) x 0·1-0·5 cm, linear-lanceolate, entire or remotely

denticulate, 3-veined, laxly to densely villous more or less patent

Flowers:-

1) Scapes, often more than 10, up to 2·5 cm, much shorter than the leaves, with

dense, long hairs, becoming arcuate-recurved, and thickened in fruit so that the

whole plant becomes a wind-dispersed ball.

2) Spikes, up to 1 cm.

3) Sepals, up to 3·5 mm.

4) Corolla-lobes, orbicular-ovate, acuminate.

5) Stamens, exserted c. 5 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule c. 2·5 mm.

2) Seeds, 2, c. 1·75 mm, narrowly cymbiform.

Key features:-

1) Seeds, less than 4 mm.

2) Leaves, in a basal rosette.

3) Scapes, with patent hairs usually more than 1 mm; arcuate-recurved and

thickened in fruit.

4) Sepals, unequal, the anterior 4-5 mm.

5) Corolla-lobes, orbicular-ovate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal flats, dry open shrubby vegetation, fallow fields and other

dry, open habitats. 0-600(-1000) m. sometimes gregarious and forming low mats.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region from Greece through S Anatolia to Cyprus, W

Syria, Palestine and Iraq. Fairly widespread across Crete, but lacking in the central

region.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton