The Pink Jewel of the Central Apennines

Habit: A small, compact tufted perennial 7-15 cm tall, with a woody base wrapped in persistent sheaths. Leaves: Linear and slender, 2-4 cm long, with 1-3 veins and a slightly rolled blade; leathery yet flexible, adapted to intense solar radiation. Flowers: Borne in a spherical head inflorescence (2-2.6 cm in diameter) made up of 70-80 small flowers enclosed by pink or whitish bracts at the top of the scape. Fruits: Diclesia (capsule) containing a single seed. Flowering: July-August.

Chorological type: Italian endemic. Distribution: Endemic to central Italy, occurring exclusively on the peaks of the Abruzzo and Lazio Apennines. Habitat: Calcareous rocky pastures and rupestrian grasslands, in windy, sun-exposed environments between 1800 and 2900 m above sea level.

Generic name (Armeria): Derived from Celtic roots (ar = near, mor = sea), in reference to the coastal habitat of some related species within the same genus. Specific name (gracilis): A Latin term referring to the plant’s particularly small size and delicate habit. Subspecific name (majellensis): Refers to the Majella, the Abruzzo mountain massif where this subspecies was discovered.