Ruscus aculeatus L.
Synonymy
Taxon info
Ruscus aculeatus is a small, erect evergreen shrub, fairly common in scrub and woodland throughout Greece. The solitary or paired flowers seemingly appear on the upper surface of leaves, which are in fact flattened branchlets (cladodes). The fruit is a red, spherical berry; flowers and fruits are often found on the plant at the same time. Another species, R. hypoglossum, is rare in deciduous woodland in N Greece; it is a perennial herb with larger, non-spinose cladodes.A
A. Dimopoulos, P., Raus, Th., Bergmeier, E., Constantinidis, Th., Iatrou, G., Kokkini, S., Strid, A. & Tzanoudakis, D. 2013: Vascular plants of Greece: An annotated checklist. 31. – Berlin: Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem; Athens: Hellenic Botanical Society. p. 360
Distribution
(IoI NPi SPi Pe StE EC NC NE NAe WAe Kik KK EAe)
Greece (East Aegean islands present; East Central Greece present; Ionian Islands present; Kiklades present; Kriti and Karpathos present; North Aegean islands present; North Central Greece present; North Pindos present; North-East Greece present; Peloponnisos present; South Pindos present; Sterea Ellas present; West Aegean islands present)