Species name :

Daucus lopadusanusTineo
Published in Pl. Rar. Sicil. [Ed. 2]. 3: 38 (–39) (1846)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Daucus carota var. lopadusanus (Tineo) Onno

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [WFO] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Apiaceae Lindl. (The Carrot Family) Previously included in Umbelliferea
34 species from the Apiaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Lampedusa Carrot

Maltese name(s) :

Zunnarija ta' Lampedusa

Status for Malta :

Subendemic. Found in Malta and neighbouring territories such as in Sicily, Lampedusa, Pantelleria, and other islands.

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Germination type [info]: Dicotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Hemicryptophyte ( perennial herbaceous plants with vegetative buds close to the ground )

Legal Protection :

Protected by law: Schedule III of [S.L. 549.44] (Conservation requires the designation of SAC)

Red List (1989) :

Threatened status for the Maltese Islands and has been listed in the Red Data Book (1st ed.)

Flowering Time :

May – July

Colour of Flowers:

White

Toxicity:

Not particularly toxic

Name Derivation :

Daucus: ()

lopadusanus: ()

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines

Remarks :

The taxonomy of this species is debatable but recent studies are placing it in Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis. Some authors persist that it deserves its own species rank, considering the differences to be very distinct. D. lopadusanus is distinct from other species in the daucis carota complex by being a smaller plant with a prostrate to slightly ascending habit, seldom more than 20cm above ground. It has smaller leaves and umbels which become slightly funnel-shaped when in fruit. Further investigations should be carried out on this species in relation with the other infraspecific taxa (related species) of D. carota.