VERONICA TRICHADENA

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cochlidiosperma trichadena, Veronica cymbalaria

ssp. trichadena, Veronica glandulifera

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

face.

Trichodena (Gr) With hairy glands.

General description:- Low sprawling, hairy annual; stems branched at the base.

Leaves:-

1) 5-15 mm, petiolate, reniform in outline, 5- to 9-subequal lobes the end lobe the

largest, 3-veined.

2) Pedicels, much exceeding leaves, all but the lower-most alternate, the lowest

opposite.

Flowers:-

1) 4 petalled, solitary in the leaf-axils.

2) Pedicels, much exceeding leaves.

3) Calyx-segments, 3-4 mm,obovate, obtuse, patent in fruit.

4) Corolla, 6-10 mm diam, white.

5) Sepals, cordate at the the base.

6) Style, c. 1·5 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, c. 4 x 4 mm, subglobose, shallowly 2-lobed, ciliate.

2) Seeds, c. 2 x 2 mm, suborbicular, cupuliform.

Key features:-

1) Flowers, in terminal racemes (sometimes also in axillary racemes below the

terminal) or solitary in leaf-axils.

2) Seeds, at least 2 mm.

3) Leaves, 5- to 9-lobed.

4) Calyx-segments, obovate, obtuse.

5) Capsule, ciliate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky slopes, gorges, cliff ledges, field margins. (200-)500-1200 m.

Distribution:- Scattered in the Mediterranean region from the Balearic Islands to

SW Anatolia. Rare on Crete known from only a few locations in the Sitia area and

two elsewhere.

Flowering time:- Mar-June

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis