Family |
Asteraceae
Anthemis cretica subsp. cassia
(Boiss.) Grierson
Anthemis cretica subsp. cassia (Boiss.) Grierson
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, Pl. CCXXII nº 1 a & b; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Silky, whitish perennial with branched rhizome producing sterile leaf shoots and ascending flowering stems, 10–30 cm tall, generally simple.
Leaves: Basal leaves petiolate, ovate in outline, pinnatisect on each side into three short, linear, 3–5-toothed or parted segments, somewhat acute and decurrent along the rachis.
Inflorescence & flowers: Capitula small, 8–10 mm; involucre nearly glabrous with brown-margined bracts, outer bracts triangular-lanceolate, inner oblong. Ray florets sometimes absent (var. discoidea Post), otherwise white and equal in length to the disc. Receptacle convex.
Fruit: Angular achenes topped with a short crown, outer ones punctate-rugose.
Phenology: Flowers from May to July.
Habitat & elevation: High-elevation regions.
Lebanese distribution: Mi. Bhannès (Roman spring), Bikfaya, Mayrouba, east of Douma, Dhour Choueir; Mm. Cèdres de Maasser, ‘Ain Zehalta Cedars, Jabal Barouk, above Falougha, east of Ehmej, Laqlouq, Col de Zahlé, Jabal Kneissé, Khan Sannine, route to Tannourine, Hadchit valley, Qannoubine–Hasroun, Bcharré to the Cedars, Ehden and its forest, Qamou‘a forest.
Native range: lebanon, Syria and Turkey