Centaurea-pumilio_6

Description:

Centaurea pumilio L. syn.: Aegialophila pumila (L.) Boiss, Crocodilium pumilio (L.) N.Garcia & SusannaDE: Zwerg-FlockenblumeSlo.: no name (pritlikavi glavinec?)Dat.: April 23. 2016Lat.: 35.50443 Long.: 23.57719Code: Bot_948/2016_DSC1589Habitat: maritime sand dunes, occasionally in the rich of salt water spray, almost flat terrain, full sun, elevation 5 m (15 feet); average precipitations ~ 960 mm/year, average temperature about 18 deg C, Mediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: maritime sands.Place: Falassana beach, West Crete, Greece EU.Comment: Centaurea pumilio is a very rare plant. For long time it was known only from two small islands in Ionian Sea, from far west Crete (Elafonisos island and Falassarna beach (see pict.7) for example) and from some beaches of northeast Africa and Syria. But 20 years ago about 500 plants were found also in southeast Italy. I found these rare and protected plants considered endemic to east Mediterranean region by pure chance. The plants are fascinating by its relatively large flowers of tender violet hues growing directly from plain sands. Interestingly, some of these plants can be more than 50 years old (Ref.:3). Because of their unusual habitus and habitat I had (apparently) no difficulties with its determination.However, there were some differences to descriptions in literature observed. According to Ref.2 leaves should be undivided and heart-shaped to oval (cordate-ovate) or lyre-shaped (lyrate) and according to Ref.1 they should be undivided to pinnatifid (cleft or lobed half the distance or more to the midrib, but not reaching it). The observed leaves seem to be more lanceolate to oblanceolate in overall shape and deeply pinnatifid with distinctly unequal lobes. Some lobes are further moderately lobed. Only some leaves show larger terminal lobe (a characteristics of lyrate leave shape). Also, Ref.1 states indistinctly toothed (dentate) edge of bracts. This doesn't seem to be the case on my pictures (see picture 2). I don't know how important these discrepancies are. But, because of the unusual overall habitus, which fits well to published pictures and the place where I found these plants I still believe the pictures show Centaurea pumilio in spite of the fact that there exists about 400 species of genus Centaurea and that they are mostly Mediterranean plants. Conservation status: on the IUCN Red Data List in the category of threatened plants.Protection status: threatened species; Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981; also on The Red list of Italy.Ref.:(1) I. Schnfelder, P. Schnfelder, Kosmos Atlas Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora, Kosmos, (2002), p 238.(2) www.cretanflora.com.(3) www.researchgate.net/publication/267392724_Persistence_of...(4) www.google.si/search?q=centaurea+pumilium&ie=utf-8&am...