SPECIES DESCRIPTION
SESELI CRITHMIFOLIUM
Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE/Subgen. SESELI
Common Name:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Seseli gummiferum ssp. aegaeum
Meaning:- Seseli (Gr) Ancient Greek name
Crithmifolium (L) With leaves resembling those of Crithmum.
General description:- Stout perennial, sometimes monocarpic, with a thick
woody caudex,
Stems:-
1) Up to 100 cm, moderately branched in upper half.
Leaves:-
1) Rather rigid, ± 3-dimensional, glabrous or velutinous, somewhat glaucous,
2-pinnatisect into elliptic-lanceolate segments.
2) Lobes, (6-)10-30 x 2-5 mm, variable in shape.
Flowers:-
1) Rays, 20-40(-60), up to 50 mm, pubescent all round.
2) Bracts, 8-16, rarely 0;
a) bracteoles, connate at the the base.
3) Calyx-teeth, c. 0·5 mm.
4) Petals, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, white.
Fruit:-
1) 3-4 x c. 1·5 mm, oblong, puberulent, with low but prominent ridges.
Key features:-
1) Lower leaves, 2- to 4-pinnate; lobes various.
2) Bracts, (4-)5 or more, rarely replaced by 1-3 simple leaves.
3) Bracteoles, connate at the base
4) Lobes, (6-)10-30 x 2-5 mm, variable in shape.
5) Rays, densely puberulent all round.
6) Petals, glabrous or sparsely puberulent.
Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, generally in semi-shade. (10-)200-1100 m.
Distribution:- Endemic to the mountains of the E. Aegean Islands. On Crete, only
SE of Sitia and the Sideros peninsula W. Crete.
.
Flowering time:- June-Aug.
Photos by:- Yannis Zacharakis
Status:-
Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981
Threatened according MAICh.
