Ebenus cretica

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Faboideae
Tribus: Hedysareae
Genus: Ebenus
Species: Ebenus cretica
Name

Ebenus cretica L., Sp. Pl. 2: 764 (1753).

Lectotype: Herb. Linn. No. 929-1 (LINN) (designated by Turland in Jarvis et al., Regnum Veg. 127: 44. 1993)

Synonyms

Homotypic
Anthyllis cretica (L.) Lam., Encycl. 1(1): 204 (1783).
Ebenidium creticum (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 180 (1891).
Heterotypic
Ebenus cretica var. microphylla Boiss., Fl. or. 2: 554 (1872).
Type locality: “Hab. in monte Scaros Cretae prope urbem Candia” (Heldreich).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Kriti.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 764. Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Ebenus cretica in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Feb 03. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Ebenus cretica. Published online. Accessed: Feb 03 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Ebenus cretica. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 03 Feb 2021.
Hassler, M. 2021. Ebenus cretica. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Feb 03. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Ebenus cretica in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Kretischer Ebenholzstrauch

Ebenus cretica, common name Cretan ebony, is a leguminous small shrub in the family Fabaceae.

Description
Plants of Ebenus cretica

Ebenus cretica can reach a height of 50–100 centimetres (20–39 in). This perennial flowering plant has composite pubescent leaves and bright pink or purple flowers, on 5–20 centimetres (2.0–7.9 in) long racemes. These flowers bloom from late March to June.
Distribution

This species is native to the Mediterranean island of Crete. It grows on rocky hillsides or on steep cliffs, at an elevation of 0–600 metres (0–1,969 ft) above sea level.
References

Encyclopedia of Life entry
"Ebenus cretica". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
J.C. Vlahos and M. Dragassaki Propagation of Cretan Silver Bush (Ebenus cretica L.), A Potential New Flower Crop