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Trees- ShrubsMalcomia (Μalcolmia flexuosa)
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This species belongs to the Brassicaceae Family which contains annual, biennial and perennial species, often with alternate leaves. The leaves are entire, obovate or oblong. The flowers are usually pinkish or a pink and purple mix. They form into clusters. The fruit is found in a pod called a siliqua and after its maturation, the carpels open upwards and the membraneous septum appears, carrying the seeds. The seeds are oily, including a big embryo and, very rarely, an endosperm (1).
It is an annual species and it blooms from February through to April (2).
It is usually found growing on rocks near the sea, especially in sandy places. It can also grow on walls or on cliffs (2) (3). It is occasionally found inland of Maquis scrub (3).
It can be found in Greece, in Turkey and in Cyprus (4).
Not mentioned in the Red List of IUCN (5).
Description translated by Natasa Palaiogewrgou (2009)
1) Γ.Π. Σαρλής (1999), Συστηματική Βοτανική-Εφαρμογές Κορμοφύτων, εκδ. Σταμούλη
2) Γ. Σφήκας (1999), Αγριολούλουδα της Κρήτης, εκδ. Efstathiadis Group, Ελλάδα
3) Blamey. M., and Grey-Wilson. C. (1993) Mediterranean Wild Flowers, Harper Collins, London
4) Polunin. O., and Huxley. A. (1970) Flowers of the Mediterranean, Chatto and Windus, London.
5) IUCN (2009) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [online] Available:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [date accessed: 10/08/2009]
