Limonium corinthiacum (Boiss. & Heldr.) Kuntze

 Οικογένεια: Plumbaginaceae

Limonium corinthiacum (Boiss. & Heldr.) Kuntze

Οι Erben & Brullo στη μελέτη τους έχουν περιγράψει 85 είδη Limonium στην Ελλάδα, τα περισσότερα ενδημικά. Ανήκει στο Limonium ocymifolium group ― The species of this group are characterized by having green, smooth to scabrous stems and leaves. The leaves are fleshy and broadly spathulate. The stems have few or no sterile branches. The inflorescences are rigid (not fragile) with spikelets arranged in dense to lax spikes. The inner bracts are variable in length (2.8–5.5 mm). The karyological examination of the species revealed them as apomictic, with Phytotaxa 240 (1) © LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE) 2016 Magnolia Press • 15 chromosome complements of 2n = 27, 34 or 43. This is a small but taxonomically significant group of species, whose distribution ranges are well documented. L. ocymifolium occurrs on Milos, Sifnos and Sikinos, L. corinthiacum near Korinthos, L. aphroditae is found on Kythira, L. helenae on Chios and Psara, L. isidorum on Samos, and L. archaeothirae on Thira. In contrast, L. aucheri is widely distributed, occurring on numerous central and southern Aegean Islands.

Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15–45 cm tall, with several ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 1–5 cm long, branched; living leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves fleshy, greyglaucous, flat, smooth, 15–70 mm long and 4–15 mm broad, spathulate, apex obtuse to round, mucronulate, normally with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 12–42 cm long, slightly flexuous, smooth, branching mostly begins above the lower third of the stems. Sterile branches mostly absent. Fertile branches 2–15 cm long, slightly arched to straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 30°–50°, branched in the upper half. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Spikes 7–20 mm long, straight to slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards to spreading. Spikelets 4.5–5.3 mm long, composed of 1–4 flowers, densely arranged with 5–7 per cm, laterally slightly curved near the base. Outer bract 1.4–2.0 mm long and 1.7–1.9 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.6–2.0 mm long and 1.2–1.3 mm broad, elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 3.7–4.0 mm long and 2.9–3.2 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 2.5–3.0 mm long and 1.7–2.0 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.6–0.8 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 3.8–4.2 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0–1.2 mm; calyx tube more or less sparsely long hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes c. 0.4 × 0.7 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Το ξεχωρίσαμε λόγω του μεγέθους του (ύψος 15-20 εκ), της πρόωρης άνθησης (μέσα Μαίου ενώ τα άλλα ξεκινάνε απο τέλη Ιούνη), και των φύλλων. Η επιβεβαίωση της αναγνώρισης απο τον Στάθη Αποστολόπουλο, μελετητή του γένους στην Ελλάδα. Κινδυνεύον ενδημικό, μόνο σε Στερεά και Πελοπόννησο. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στη Φυτολόγιο, Flora of Greece.

Limonium corinthiacum 

Limonium corinthiacum 

Limonium corinthiacum 

Limonium corinthiacum