Anthemis  (Anthemis filicaulis)

Anthemis filicaulis flower

Facts

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Asterales
Family Compositae
Genus Anthemis (1)
Size Stem length: 2 – 14 cm (2)

Status

Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species 1997 (1).

Description

This small herb has very slender, appressed-hairy stems with alternating leaves and, like all Composit plants, possesses distinctive head-like inflorescences known as capitulums (2) (3). These capitulums usually resemble a single flower, but are in fact made up of numerous small individual flowers known as florets (2) (3). In this Anthemis species, these compact clusters of small florets are a vivid yellow colour, and could easily be mistaken for a single flower head (3).

Range

Endemic to the Greek Island of Crete (2).

Habitat

Found near calcareous rocks (2) along the sea shore (4).

Biology

The biology of this plant is poorly understood. The outer florets of the capitulum are female in Anthemis species, while the inner florets are hermaphrodite, having both male and female reproductive organs (2). The fruit produced after fertilisation is single-seeded (3), but little else has been recorded for this species.

Threats

The threats facing this species are unknown.

Conservation

There are currently no conservation measures in place that target this species.

Further Information

Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. & Valentine, D.H. (1976) Flora Europaea: Vol. 4, Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Glossary

Appressed: Lying flat or pressed closely against something, as hairs on certain plant stems.
Capitulum: A compound flower head, consisting of many tightly packed flowers.
Endemic: A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
Inflorescence: The reproductive shoot of the plant, which bears flowers.

References

  1. Walter, K.S. and Gillett, H.J. (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. IUCN (The World Conservation Union), Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
  2. Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. and Valentine, D.H. (1976) Flora Europaea: Vol. 4, Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  3. Heywood, V.H. (1978) Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  4. Crete TOURnet (April, 2006)
    http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Flora-is-29-en.jsp