Asperula pontica
Asperula pontica
Kaçkar belumu
Low perennial, forming close mats. Stems prostrate at base; branches 5-10 cm, quadrangular, ascending, shortly hispid to glabrous. Leaves shiny, bright green, strongly nigrescent when dried; basal 2-4 x 0.6-0.8 mm, oblanceolate to oblong, apiculate to aristate, with awns to 0.4mm, somewhat scabrid to glabrous; upper 6-8 x 0.5-1 mm, linear-subulate, acuminate to aristate, with awns to 0.4 mm and ± revolute margins, ± glabrous, scabrid only along margins. Bracts to 6 mm, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate to aristate, with hyaline apex to 1 mm and flat margins. Flowers mainly in head-like cyrnose inflorescences of 3-10. Calyx inconspicuous, margin-like, lobulate. Corolla deep pink, rarely snow-white, 5-6 mm, infundibular, with c. 1.5 mm, spreading, cucullate lobes and puberulent to glabrous tube. Ovary papillose to verrucose. Mericarps c. 3 mm. Fl. 7-8. Alpine turf pastures, among limestone outcrops, scree or rock crevices, 1500-2650 m.
Georgia . Euxine element.
