Image of Petromarula pinnata (L.) A. DC.

Description:

Slo.: no name - Habitat: vertical rocky face in a mountain ravine, humid and shady place; west aspect; elevation 730 m (2.400 feet); average precipitations ~ 960 mm/year, average temperature about 18 deg C, Mediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil in rock crevices. Comment: Petromarula pinnata is a very beautiful, quite large perennial plant endemic to Greek island Crete only. Structure of its flowers is unique and hence it is the only species of genus Petromarula. The genus belongs to the bellflowers family Campanulaceae and it visually resembles them on some way, although its petals do not form characteristic bells or tubes. Its corolla lobes are narrow, spreading and recurved. Rocky faces, cliffs and old stony walls are its typical habitat. Its Latin name very well describes plant's characteristic. Greek words Petra means rock, Marouly denotes salad (large ground leaves) and its species name describes the shape of the ground leaves, which are deeply pinnately-lobed. Ref.: (1) I. Schnfelder, P. Schnfelder, Kosmos Atlas Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora, Kosmos, (2002), p 210. (2) M. Blamey, C. Grey-Wilson, Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean, A & C Black, London (2005), p 432. (3) V. Papiomytaglou, Wildblumen aus Griechenland, Mediterraneo Editions (2006), p 39.