Romulea melitensis

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Romulea melitensis
Systematics
Class : Bedecktsamer (Magnoliopsida)
Monocots
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Iris family (Iridaceae)
Genre : Mock crocuses ( Romulea )
Type : Romulea melitensis
Scientific name
Romulea melitensis
Bég.

Romulea melitensis is a plant from the genus romulea ( Romulea ) in the family of the Iridaceae (Iridaceae). The species occurs exclusively in Malta and Sicily.

features

Romulea melitensis is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 15 to 40 centimeters. This geophyte forms tubers as permanent organs, these are small and egg-shaped and willingly form offshoots. The flower stem is shorter than the 5 to 10 centimeters long, firm leaves. The two bracts are herbaceous, only the upper one occasionally has a membranous leaf margin.

The flowering period extends from February to March. The inflorescences carry one to three flowers. The bracts are 15 to 22 millimeters long. They are dark purple to purple. The number of chromosomes is 2n = 60.

Occurrence

Romulea melitensis was long considered native to Malta only . In 2009, however, it was also found in Sicily. It colonizes dry, rocky subsoil.

Systematics and botanical history

The species was first described by Augusto Béguinot in 1907 , the species name melitensis is a Latinized form of the name "Malta" and refers to the home of the species. Romulea ramiflora is closely related , both species belong to the group around Romulea columnae .

proof

  1. ↑ a b c S.M. Haslam, PD Sell, PA Wolseley: A Flora of the Maltese Islands , Msida (Malta), 1977, p. 401
  2. ↑ Cristian Brullo, Salvatore Brullo & Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo (2009): Sulla presenza in Sicilia di Romulea melitensis (Iridaceae) specie critica della flora mediterranea. In: Simonetta Peccenini, Gianniantonio Domina (Ed.): Gruppi critici della Flora d'Italia. Comunicazioni. Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, La Sapienza Università di Roma, 30-31 ottobre 2009. Società Botanica Italiana, Palermo, ISBN 978-88-903108-2-9 ( PDF online )
  3. ^ Hans Christian Weber, Bernd Kendzior: Flora of the Maltese Islands - A Field Guide , ISBN 3-8236-1478-9 , p. 22