Periploca laevigata, Aiton

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 70

2. P. laevigata Aiton , Hort. Kew. 1: 301 (1789).

Stems T5-3 m, erect, sometimes twining at apex. Leaves 1 -3-5 x 0-2-0- 6 cm, subsessile, linear, acute or obtuse, cuneate at base, glabrous, coriaceous. Cymes few-flowered. Corolla c. 1 cm in diameter; lobes oblong, obtuse, green outside, green, purple-brown and white inside; margins not deflexed at anthesis. Awns of corona deflexed, green. Anthers smooth. Follicles 5-8 (-10) cm. Seeds c. 7 x 3 mm; coma c. 40 mm. Dry, rocky places. S.E. Spain; small islands of C. & E. Mediterranean. Cr Hs Si. (Islas Canarias, N. Africa, Syria.)

The European representatives belong to subsp. angustifolia (Labili.) Markgraf , Bot. Jour. Linn. Soc. 64: 375 (1971) ( P. angustifolia Labili. ). The type subspecies occurs in Islas Canarias.

Subfam. Asclepiadoideae

Anthers adnate to the stigma, opening apically; pollen in pollinia. Translators consisting of 2 arms and a claw.