Cistus L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 282-283

1. Cistus L. 4

Shrubs. Flowers 2 cm or more in diameter, white to purplish-red. Ovary usually 5-, rarely up to 10-locular; placentation axile; ovules orthotropous, the funicle filiform.

Hybrids occur involving species 1, 2, 5, 7-13, some being frequent. Hybrids between species 6, 8,9, and species of Halimium also occur.

All species are plants of dry scrub or open woodland.

Literature: P. Dansereau, Boissiera 4: 1-90 (1939). M. Martin Bolanos & E. Guinea, Jarales y Jaras ( Cistografia Hispanica ). Madrid. 1949.

1 Sepals 5

2 Style filiform, as long as the stamens

3 Petals white; flowers in unilateral cymes 6. varius 3 Petals purplish-pink or -red; flowers not in unilateral cymes

4 Leaves sessile, with 3 ± parallel veins

5 Leaves not undulate; pedicels 5-20 mm 1. albidus

5 Leaves undulate; pedicels 1-5 mm 2. crispus

4 Leaves petiolate, pinnately veined

6 Leaves usually 20-50 mm, variable in shape, the veins impressed above; sepals ovate-lanceolate, longacuminate 3. incanus

6 Leaves 5-20 mm, elliptical, the veins not or scarcely impressed above; sepals ovate, acute 4. heterophyllus

2 Stigma sessile or subsessile

7 Petals pink; leaves grey-tomentose, at least beneath 5. parviflorus

7 Petals white; leaves green

8 Leaves sessile or subsessile

9 Leaves subsessile, elliptical, narrowed to a cuneate base

9. albanicus

9 Leaves sessile, not or scarcely narrowed at base

10 Leaves linear-lanceolate or linear; outer sepals broadly cuneate at base 7. monspeliensis

10 Leaves oblong; outer sepals cordate at base

8. psilosepalus

8 Leaves distinctly petiolate

11 Leaves 10-40 mm, rugose and scabrid above, rounded or cuneate at base 10. salvifolius

11 Leaves 40-100 mm, smooth above, cordate at base

11. populifolius

1 Sepals 3

12 Leaves at least 6 mm wide; linear-lanceolate to ovate or spathulate; flowers at least 5 cm in diameter

13 Inflorescence usually 4- to 8-flowered; ovary 5-locular 12. laurifolius

13 Flowers solitary; ovary 6- to 10-locular

14 Leaves linear-lanceolate; ovary 10-locular

13. ladanifer

14 Leaves oblanceolate to spathulate; ovary 6-locular 14. palhinhae

12 Leaves not more than 4 mm wide, linear; flowers not more than 3 cm in diameter

15 Peduncles, pedicels and calyx clothed with long, white hairs 15. clusii

15 Peduncles, pedicels and calyx subglabrous 16. libanotis