CAMPANULA SAXALITIS

Campanula saxatilis subsp. saxatilis is an endemic plant of Crete, found mainly in coastal areas of the western part of the island. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows in crevices and fissures of rocks and gorges and, occasionally, on the walls of ruined castles and monasteries, at altitudes of up to 400 m. from sea level. It flowers from April to early June. It is listed in The Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece as Vulnerable (VU), due to its small total population and the limited area occupied by its subpopulations. On the islands of Kythira and Antikythira occurs another subspecies, Campanula saxatilis subsp. cytherea, which differs by its larger and broader tubular flowers. The distribution of the species indicates a close phytogeographical relationship between Crete and these two islands.