Name: cressa, Greek, based on kris or kriti, “from Crete”, a Cretan woman.
Region: Mediterranean part of Europe, northern and central Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and western Asia as far east as India and Sri Lankanorthern and central Africa, southern Europe and western Asia, southeastern Asia and Australia.
Habitat: halophyte; in salty parts of oases, in depressions in sandy areas that become wet seasonally, in salt marshes and beside temporary pools.
Use: traditional medicine.
BotanySubshrub; densely branching; about 38 cm tall.
Leaves: small, stubby, obtuse; clad in silky hairs.
Inflorescence: in groups in the axils of the upper leaves.
Flowers: white; the back of the reflexed corolla lobes are hairy near the tip.
Fruits: ovoid, pointed capsules; usually containing a single seed.