Bryonia cretica, also known as Cretan bryony or English mandrake, is a perennial species of Bryonia.
Its flowers bloom in the summer and usually grow between 3 and 5mm. Its fruit are toxic. They have been used in traditional medicine.
It is a common plant in most of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Turkmenistan.
Subspecies Four subspecies are accepted. Bryonia cretica subsp. acuta – Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Lampedusa Bryonia cretica subsp. cretica – eastern Mediterranean, from Greece to Turkey, the Levant, Egypt, and Libya Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica – central and southern Europe, Great Britain, and North Africa Bryonia cretica subsp. marmorata – Corsica and Sardinia
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