Κάρθαμος ο οδοντωτός υποείδ. ο κόκκινος
Etymology of Carthamus dentatus subspecies ruber
The name Carthamus is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "qartam," which means "to paint," referencing the deep orange-red dye (carthamin) that can be extracted from the flowers of certain species in this genus, like safflower. The specific epithet "dentatus" is Latin for "having teeth", which refers to the toothed margins of the plant's leaves. The subspecies name "ruber" is Latin for "red," highlighting the reddish tint, especially noticeable in parts like the flowers or stems of the plant.
Geographical distribution
Carthamus dentatus subsp. ruber is a native of the eastern Mediterranean region. Its distribution includes the Balkans, Anatolia (Turkey), and Crete, as well as Cyprus.
Habitat
This subspecies is a therophyte, meaning it is an annual plant that completes its life cycle in a single growing season. It thrives in various disturbed and open habitats. Its typical habitats include cultivated fields, fallow land, roadsides, vineyards, olive groves, and other ruderal (waste) ground, often in temperate and sub-Mediterranean grasslands.
Physical characteristics
Carthamus dentatus subsp. ruber is an erect and rather rigid annual herb that can grow up to 100 cm tall. Its stems are branched, pale or whitish-green, and conspicuously winged with unequal, straight, and golden-yellow rigid spines along the edges. The basal leaves are oblong-obovate and pinnatifid, while the stem leaves are alternate and sessile. The flower heads are oblong to narrowly ovoid, with pinkish-mauve or pale purplish florets.
Carthamus dentatus subspecies ruber in Cyprus
It is a summer plant found in the western half of Cyprus, excluding the Akamas region. It appears between altitudes of 275 – 1375 meters. Its flowering period is usually between July and September.
How to identify Carthamus dentatus subspecies ruber
Carthamus dentatus subspecies ruber looks very similar to Carthamus tenuis subspecies foliosus. Here are their key differences that assist us distinguish the one from the other:
The most noticeable differences are in their overall size and the structure of their flower heads and the surrounding bracts. Carthamus dentatus subsp. ruber is typically a more robust and rigid plant, with stems that are conspicuously winged and spiny. Its flower heads are relatively large, and the outer bracts are long, spreading, and very spiny, giving it a fierce, thistle-like appearance. In contrast, Carthamus tenuis subsp. foliosus is generally a more delicate, slender plant. Its flower heads are smaller, and the bracts surrounding them, while spiny, are less aggressive in appearance. The bracts are also often described as being barely broadened at their base. Additionally, in Cyprus, ssp. foliosus is said to appear up to a maximum altitude of 25 meters above sea level, whilst ruber is found in entirely different altitudes, between 275 – 1375 meters.
