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.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to early

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

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

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

summer of 1786.