Syn.: Paronychia capitata subsp. macrosepala (Boiss.) Maire et Weiller, Paronychia insularum Gand., Paronychia euboea Beauverd et Topali
Family: Caryophyllaceae Juss.

Paronychia macrosepala

Distribution: Eastern Mediterranean – Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Sicily, and perhaps Malta and Israel.

Ecology: It grows on coastal sands and dunes, on the rocks and cliffs, from the coast to an elevation of about 2400 m. It flowers from February to June.

Paronychia macrosepala

Description: Perennial herb, only 2–10 cm tall. Stem prostrate, much-branched, red. Leaves opposite, elliptical to oblanceolate, about 5 mm long, entire. Flowers in terminal or axillary clusters, over 10 mm in diameter, bracts 4.5–6 mm, scarcely concealing the flowers, calyx-lobes very unequal in length, lanceolate. The fruit is an achene with membranous pericarp (utricle).

Note: There are three varieties of this species – P. m. var. macrosepala and var. insularum from the coastal areas, P. m. var. cretica from the higher elevations.

Paronychia macrosepala
Paronychia macrosepala

These images were taken in Cyprus, Petra Tou Romiou (March 31, 2010).