First described from Rhodes in 2001, the name "cornutula" refers to it's size and this is indeed very small. It's a member of the large "oestrifera" group and it's range overlaps with several other ot the group's species, particularly around the Aegean basin.
The biggest single clue to it's identity is it's very small size though it may still be very easily confused with the small flowered variety of "cerastes" referred to as variation "miniscula".
"Cornutula" is a relatively spindly, lax flowered plant but may contain up to 15 flowers, which
again may be a pointer to identification as "cerastes" is a fewer flowered, slightly more solid
looking specimen. Sepals are typically triangular as per photograph 1, but this is far from being
diagnostic and it should always be borne in mind that along with "ceto", "cerastes", "crassicornis"
and "oestrifera" a degree of non species genetic influence may have been exerted.
A feature that does tend to be fairly constant is the speculum which is usually complex and can
often cover a large area of the median lobe.
It is an early flowerer and can appear in bloom during the first weeks of March in a good year.
The photographs here are all from the area of Mount Hymettus to the north of Athens and are
dated in the last week of March 2008.
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