SARCOPOTERIUM SPINOSUM

Family and Genus:- See- ROSACEAE

Common Names:- Thorny burnet

Homotypic Synonyms:- Poterium spinosum, Sanguisorba spinosa

Meaning:- Sarcopoterium (Gr) Fleshy-drinking-cup.

Spinosum (L) Spiny, with spines.

General description:- A dense, much-branched spiny shrub to 60 cm; shoots

densely hairy when young,

Branches:-

1) Interwoven, the lateral ones leafless and terminating in a spine.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, small, with 4-6 pairs of oblong-roundish leaflets 2-5 mm, serrate with

1-4 teeth on each side.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, a globose head or short spike up to 30 mm;

a) upper flowers, female, without petals, with feathery purple styles.

b) lower male, with 10-30 projecting stamens, and. with white yellow petals.

2) Sepals, 4, greenish.

3) Petals, lacking.

4) Fruiting hypanthium, ± spherical, becoming red and fleshy or spongy,

enclosing 2 achenes.

Fruit:- Bright red, little fleshy berries.

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Habitat:-Common constituent of dry open shrubby vegetation, often dominant in

coastal areas and on abandoned terraces. 0-700(-1400) m.

Distribution:- C. and E. Mediterranean from Sardinia eastwards. Widespread and

common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton