VERONICA THYMIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE/Sect. VERONICA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Veronica cretica, Veronica tymphrestea.

Meaning:- Veronica (L) For Saint Veronica, who wiped the sweat from Christ's

face.

Thymifolia (L) Thyme-leaves, with thyme-shaped leaves.

General description:- Perennial, with dense curled or ruffled downy-hairs (densely

crispate-pubescent) throughout.

Stems:-

1) Decumbent, matted, woody at the base.

Leaves:-

1) 4-6 x 1-2·5 mm, narrowly oblong to oblanceolate-spathulate, entire, with revolute

margins or pinnatifid.

Flowers:-

1) Racemes, 1-2, very short and few-flowered.

2) Pedicels, c. 2 mm, shorter than the bracts.

3) Calyx, 3 mm; segments, 4, oblong, obtuse.

4) Corolla, 7-8 mm diam, blue, lilac or pink.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 4 x 4 mm, obcordate, pubescent.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, entire or pinnatifid.

2) Racemes, not more than 2 cm in fruit, 2- to 6 (8)-flowered, corymbose or

capitate in flower.

3) Pedicels, not more than 3 mm.

4) Leaves and capsule, pubescent.

5) Capsule, at least as wide as long.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and stony calcareous slopes open coniferous woodland and above

timberline, thorncushion communities in dolines 1300-2300 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Greece; scattered in limestone mountains from Taigetos

to Timfristos. On Crete know from the Lefka Ori, Psiloritis and Dikti massifs.

This species was first collected by Sibthorp and Bauer in the Lefka Ori in the

summer of 1786.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to early

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981