|
|
click photo for larger file
Euphorbia acanthothamnos
Greek Spiny Spurge
|
Photographer: Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy
ID: 0000 0000 0516 1048 (2016-05-12)Copyright © 2016 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy
|
|
INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE PHOTO
|
date of photo Apr 26, 2016
latitude 35.36129 longitude 23.90723
View on Google Maps.
location
White Mountains, somewhat above the entrance to Samaria gorge, southeast side of Omalos plateau, West Crete (Crete, Greece)notes Habitat: light, mountain, cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens) wood, moderately steep mountain slope; south aspect, rocky, skeletal ground; in shade; elevation 1.030 m (4.100 feet); average precipitations ~ 1.250 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C (estimated ?), Mediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil. Comment: Euphorbia acanthothamnos is another member of the large group of grazing-resistant plants of Crete - thorny to perfection! It sometimes forms stands covering large areas of phrygana (a type of Mediterranean garrigue, an open community of dwarf evergreen shrubs). Numerous characteristically rounded, golden hummocks in bloom offer wonderful vistas. It can be found from sea level to montane elevations (up to 2.000 m on Crete). Euphorbia is a huge and very interesting genus. About 1.600 species are known spread all over the globe. Many of them are impressive from habitus aspect as well as capable to display wonderful and large scale color impressions. Plants are of very diverse habitus - from small herbs to trees and lianas. All of them have unusually shaped flowers not at all resembling 'traditionally' shaped having pistils, anthers, corolla and calyx. Male and female flowers are separate but in discrete groups (cyathia) set in a cup shaped involucre (whorls of special leaves - bracts- subtending flower cluster). Euphorbia acanthothamnos is a common plant but endemic to east Mediterranean and limited to Greece, Aegean islands, Crete and west Anatolian in Turkey. It forms low, rounded, intricately branched, regularly forked and dense shrubs. Its flowers stand in umbels with usually three to four branches. Next year these branches become woody and spine-tipped and die. However, they remain permanent weaponry against hungry sheep and goats. Ref.: (1) I. Schӧnfelder, P. Schӧnfelder, Kosmos Atlas Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora, Kosmos, (2002), p 106. (2) M. Blamey, C. Grey-Wilson, Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean, A & C Black, London (2005), p 118. (3) V. Papiomytoglou, Wildblumen aus Friechenland, Mediterrane Editions (2006), p 88. (4) I. Schӧnfelder, P. Schӧnfelder, Was blüht am Mittelmeer? Kosmos (2000), p 68.camera Nikon D700/Nikkor Micro 105mm/f2.8
contributor's ID # Bot_951/216_DSC1677 photo category: Plant - annual/perennial
|
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT
|
| common names
Greek Spiny Spurge (photographer)
View all photos in CalPhotos of Euphorbia acanthothamnos Check Google Images for Euphorbia acanthothamnos |
|
The photographer's identification Euphorbia acanthothamnos has not been reviewed. Click here to review or comment on the identification. |
|
Using this photo The thumbnail photo (128x192 pixels) on this page may be freely used for personal or academic purposes without prior permission under the Fair Use provisions of US copyright law as long as the photo is clearly credited with © 2016 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy.
For other uses, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy amadej.trnkoczy[AT]siol.net. (Replace the [AT] with the @ symbol before sending an email.) |
|
|