Centaurea pumilio

Centaurea pumilio is a rare sand-loving species of the eastern Mediterranean. In Crete it is found only on the beaches of Elafonisi, Tigani to Balos on the Gramvoussa peninsula and Falasarna. It flowers in April and May.
It is closely related to Centaurea aegialophila but C. pumilio is a larger plant.

Centaurea pumilio is included in the IUCN Red Data List in the category of threatened plants.

You can click on the pictures to enlarge.