SPECIES DESCRIPTION
PSEUDORLAYA PUMILA
Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE
Common Names:- Dune carrot, Pseudorlaya.
Homotypic Synonyms:- Daucus pumilus, Orlaya maritima, Pseudorlaya
maritima
Meaning:- Pseudorlaya (L) False Orlaya (Daucus).
Pumila (L) Very small, low, small, dwarf.
General description:- Annual or biennial, with a long, slender taproot; whole
plant pilose, with a characteristic smell.
Stem:-
1) 4~l5 cm, branched from the base, procumbent.
Leaves:-
1) Mostly basal, 2- or 3-pinnate, segments, divided into ovate lobes.
Flowers:-
1) Rays, 2-5, unequal.
2) Bracts, several, conspicuous, simple or trisect near the apex.
a) bracteoles, narrow, linear to lance-shaped.
3) Umbellules, few-flwered, dense.
4) Petals, small, white or purplish.
Fruit:-
1) 6-9 mm, ellipsoid; primary ridges ciliate; secondary ridges with glochidiate
spines confluent at the base.
Key features:-
1) Fruit, 6-9 mm
2) Primary ridges, ciliate; secondary ridges with glochidiate spines
confluent at the base.
Habitat:- A typical species of sandy beaches, rarely along roads, etc., a short
distance inland. 0-10(-50) m.
Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - SW & S Europe, N Africa, S Anatolia, Cyprus,
W Syria and the Black Sea coast of Turkey. On Crete widespread around the coast
areas.
Flowering time:- Mar-May(-June).
Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos & Steve Lenton
