Armeria pungens

Armeria pungens, common name spiny thrift, is a rare plant of the genus Armeria of the family Plumbaginaceae.

Armeria pungens
Plants of Armeria pungens in Sardinia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Plumbaginaceae
Genus:	Armeria
Species:	A. pungens
Binomial name
Armeria pungens (Brot.) Hoffmanns. & Link

Description

Armeria pungens grows in small shrubs, reaching heights of about 80 centimetres (31 in). The stems are lignified at the base, robust, highly branched. Leaves are glabrous, linear to lanceolate, pointed, about 60–150 millimetres (2.4–5.9 in) long and about 1–3.5 millimetres (0.039–0.138 in) wide. Flower heads are pale pink, gathered in globose inflorescences at the top of long pedicels. Flowering period extends from May through July.

Distribution

This plant is endemic to Italy (Sardinia), France (Corsica), Portugal and Spain.

Habitat

This small shrub grows in coastal sand-dunes and beaches, at an elevation of about 0–1 metre (0.0–3.3 ft) above sea level.

Synonyms

• Armeria fasciculata var. intermedia Daveau
• Armeria fasciculata var. pungens (Link) Arcang.
• Armeria fasciculata (Vent.) Willd.
• Armeria maritima subsp. pungens (Link) Bernis
• Reverchonia fasciculata (Vent.) Gand.
• Reverchonia pungens (Link) Gand.
• Statice fasciculata var. pungens (Link) Samp.
• Statice fasciculata Vent.
• Statice pungens Brot.

Gallery

• 
  Armeria pungens in Sardinia, Italy

References

• Pignatti S. 1982 - Flora d'Italia. Bologna – Vol. II, pag, 301
• Piñeiro R, Fuertes Aguilar J, Munt DD, Nieto Feliner G. - Atlantic-Mediterranean disjunction in the sand-dune shrub Armeria pungens (Plumbaginaceae) - Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid, CSIC
• Anthos

External links

• "Armeria pungens". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
• Schede di Botanica