Bryonia cretica

Bryonia cretica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Bryonia
Species:	B. cretica
Binomial name
Bryonia cretica L. (1753)
[1]
Bryonia cretica subsp. acuta(Desf.) Tutin Bryonia cretica subsp. cretica Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica(Jacq.) Tutin Bryonia cretica subsp. marmorata(E.Petit) Jauzein

Bryonia cretica, also known as Cretan bryony or English mandrake is a perennial species of Bryonia . ^[2]

Its flowers bloom in the summer and usually grow between 3 and 5mm. Its fruit, which is not for human consumption, can normally be harvested at any time except in late winter. ^[3]

It is a common plant in most of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Turkmenistan.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are accepted. ^[1]

• Bryonia cretica subsp. acuta(Desf.) Tutin – Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Lampedusa
• Bryonia cretica subsp. cretica – eastern Mediterranean, from Greece to Turkey, the Levant, Egypt, and Libya
• Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica(Jacq.) Tutin – central and southern Europe, Great Britain, and North Africa
• Bryonia cretica subsp. marmorata(E.Petit) Jauzein – Corsica and Sardinia

References

1. "Bryonia cretica L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 14 September 2024.
2. Benarba, Bachir; Belhouala, Khadidja (2024-01-18). "The Genus Bryonia L. (Cucurbitaceae): A Systematic Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, and Biological Activities". Sci. 6 (1): 7. doi: 10.3390/sci6010007 . ISSN   2413-4155.
3. "Bryony / RHS". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-14.