Species of plant
Bryonia cretica 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 with some reports of its increasing occurrence in the UK .[ 4]
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 LibyaBryonia cretica subsp. dioica (Jacq.) Tutin – central and southern Europe, Great Britain, and North AfricaBryonia cretica subsp. marmorata (E.Petit) Jauzein – Corsica and Sardinia
References
^ a b "Bryonia cretica L." Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 14 September 2024 .^ 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 . ^ "Bryony / RHS" . www.rhs.org.uk . Retrieved 2024-09-14 .^ "Index of Common Names" , The Vascular Plants of Iowa , University of Iowa Press, pp. 259– 296, doi :10.2307/j.ctt20fw8f7.8 , retrieved 2024-09-14
