Limonium graecum
Greek sea lavender Αμάραντο
Plumbaginaceae - Plumbago family Dicot.
Limonium graecum
Greek sea lavender Αμάραντο
Plumbaginaceae - Plumbago family Dicot.
The tiny translucent, purple flowers of Limonium graecum are surrounded by papery bract which persist after the flowers have withered. They are arranged in one sided spikes on fine, rigid, woody stems, surrounded by the skeletons of last years flowers. The spathulate leaves are grey-green with purplish tinge and form a crowded rosette at the base of the plants.
Limonium graecum is one of a small group of sea lavenders from the eastern Mediterranean which are similar to but can be differentiated from the common sea lavender, Limonium vulgare which is distributed along the coasts of western Europe. On Skopelos, Limonium graecum inhabits the rocks and cliffs of the shoreline, within reach of the salty spray of the sea. It is not found on littoral sands.
These small plants seem to go unnoticed by passing humans but gained the attention of insects. In 1 hour of observation one clump was visited by 2 butterflies, 5 hummingbird hawk moths and 1 black bee( see photo).
♉↕3-5mm,↨ 9-35cm JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC