ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base
Vicia cretica
--- CONTENT ---
Vicia cretica is a vet species in the subfamily of butterfly flowers (Faboideae). It is widespread in the Aegean region.
Description
Vicia cretica is an annual herbaceous plant. She is sparsely haired and grows 10–30 cm tall. The foliage leaves are feathered in pairs, usually 6 to 8 elongated elliptical feather leaves being formed, which are pointed in a grain-like manner. At the end of the leaf are tendrils. The ancillary leaves are full-length.
The inflorescence is a grape with 1–5 flowers. The chalice is basically somewhat bulbous, the chalice teeth are unequal and can be shorter or longer than the chalice tube. The crown is 9–20 mm long, white or yellowish, with a violet tip. The plate of the flag is bent back. The flowering period extends from February to May.
The 2–3 cm long sleeves are bare and short beaked. They contain 4–5 seeds.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 14.
Dissemination and location claims
Vicia cretica is found in the Aegean Islands, especially Crete, Cyprus and Turkey.
It grows in the phrygana, in hedges and on rocky ground.
Systematic classification
The species Vicia cretica belongs to the section Panduratae from the subgenus Vicilla in the genus Vicia. It was described in 1849 by Pierre Boissier and Theodor von Heldreich.
Two subspecies are distinguished:
Vicia cretica subsp. cretica: grape of the same length or shorter than the leaves, chalice 3–5 mm long, crown 9–16 mm long. All over the distribution area except for most of the Cyclades islands.
Vicia cretica subsp. aegea : grape longer than leaves, chalice 5-8 mm long, crown 18-20 mm long. The distribution area is the Cyclades.
Evidence
Literature
Individual evidence
Weblinks
Vicia cretica in Flora of Greece
Vicia cretica in plants of Turkey
Thomas Meyer, Michael Hassler: Mediterranean and Alpine flora.
Vistaches
Cretica