Hedypnois cretica (L.) Dum.-Cours.                        =Rhagadiolus cretica   Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)   E. Mediterranean    Fragrant Rhagadiolus   Crete Hedypnois

                                                  April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Low annual, branches diffuse or spreading, 1-3 dm. long; basal lvs. petioled, often lobed, the cauline oblanceolate, 3-10 cm. long, serrate; peduncles rather long, mostly naked; invol. 8-10 mm. high; inner phyllaries strigose with short stiff bristles; ligules yellowish with purple tip;  aks. cylindric, ribbed, not beaked, 6-7 mm. long; pappus-paleae 2 mm. long, the bristles 5 mm. long.

Habitat:  Local but rather widespread weed below 750 m.   March-May.

Name:  Hedypnois, a name given by Pliny to a kind of wild endive. (Hickman, Ed. 276).   Latin, creticus, of the island of Crete.  (Jaeger 70).

General:  Occasional in the study area, having only been found in the Santa Ana Heights area and at the top of the Castaways Bluffs.  Also found in the creek bed at 23rd St. in 1993 and on the bluff top on the westerly side of the bay in 2005.  (my comments).      The pappus of the inner achenes in double series; the inner set composed of bristles, the outer of short scales, or sometimes none.  (Robbins et al. 471).        Delfina Cuero, a Kumeyaay or Southern Diegueno Indian, made the following comment about Hedypnois cretica in her autobiography:  "The whole seeds (not ground) are boiled for tea to drink for stomach trouble".  (Shipek 91).       A small genus of Medit. region.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 182).

Text Ref:  Abrams, Vol. IV 588; Munz, Calif. Flora 1302; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 182; Robbins et al. 469.

Photo Ref:  April 1 83 # 9,11; March-April 86 # 21,22; April 2 87 # 14A,17A; April 2 93 # 21A,22A.

Identity: by F. Roberts.  

First Found:  April 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 180.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/8/05.

                           April Photo                                                                      April Photo