Echium creticum, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 99

13. E. creticum L. , Sp. PI. 139 (1753) .

Erect, hispid biennial 25-90 cm, with 1 to several flowering stems. Basal and lower cauline leaves 60-180 x 10-25 mm, narrowly oblanceolate, with sparse to dense, patent setae; cauline leaves usually narrowly elliptical or oblong. Inflorescence more or less branched, paniculate. Calyx 7-9 mm at anthesis, 12-19 mm in fruit. Corolla 15^40 mm, infundibuliform, persistently reddish-purple, or pink-carmine turning blue or bluish-purple, with 1-2 stamens exserted; filaments sparsely hairy or glabrous. Roadsides and grassy slopes. W. Mediterranean region, S. Portugal. BI Co Ga Hs?It Lu Sa.

1 Plant usually with a single, little-branched stem; corolla 23-35 mm, reddish-purple (a) subsp. creticum

1 Plant with several, usually branched, flowering stems; corolla 15-30 mm, usually bluish-purple or bluish

2 Bracts much longer than the calyx (c) subsp. algarbiense

2 Bracts shorter than or equalling the calyx (b) subsp. coincyanum