Lutzia cretica

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Lutzia cretica is a species of herbaceous plant endemic to the Aegean Islands of Greece. It is the only species in the genus Lutzia, which belongs to the cabbage family Brassicaceae.

Lutzia cretica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lutzia
Gand.
Species:
L. cretica
Binomial name
Lutzia cretica
Synonyms[1]
  • Alyssoides cretica (L.) Medik.
  • Alyssoides tomentosa Moench
  • Alyssum creticum L.
  • Alyssum oocarpum Gand.
  • Alyssum paniculatum Desf.
  • Lutzia fruticosa Gand.
  • Scleroptychis cretica (L.) Degen
  • Vesicaria cretica (L.) Poir.
  • Vesicaria paniculata (Desf.) Desv.

Prior to a 2015 reappraisal based on molecular phylogenetic data, the plant was most commonly included in the genus Alyssoides as Alyssoides cretica.[2]

Lutzia cretica grows into a characteristic spherical bush. Its leaves are greyish-white and tomentose (covered in soft dense hairs). It produces large yellow flowers between February and April, and the fruits can remain on the plant until June.[3]

It grows in the crevices of limestone cliffs and ravines, from sea level up to 400 m, less frequently as high as 800 m. It is found on the islands of Crete (mostly the central and eastern parts and on some small offshore islets), Kasos, Karpathos, and Astypalaia.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Lutzia cretica". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. ^ Španiel, Stanislav; Kempa, Matúš; Salmerón-Sánchez, Esteban; Fuertes-Aguilar, Javier; Mota, Juan F.; Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A.; German, Dmitry A.; Olšavská, Katarína; Šingliarová, Barbora; Zozomová-Lihová, Judita; Marhold, Karol (2015). "AlyBase: database of names, chromosome numbers, and ploidy levels of Alysseae (Brassicaceae), with a new generic concept of the tribe". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 301 (10): 2463–2491. Bibcode:2015PSyEv.301.2463S. doi:10.1007/s00606-015-1257-3.
  3. ^ a b Tan, Kit (2002). "Lutzia Grand.". In Strid, Arne; Tan, Kit (eds.). Flora Hellenica. Vol. 2. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag. p. 199. ISBN 3904144928.