Rhagadiolus edulis Gaertn.

Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. & Hind, D. J. N. (Eds). (2019). Flora of Iraq, Volume 6: Compositae.Kew Publishing

Morphology General Habit

Erect or spreading, much-branched, 12–60 cm tall with ribbed stems, variably hispid especially in lower part

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves usually forming a rosette, oblanceolate in outline, 2.6– 11 cm long, green, lyrate, pinnatisect, often divided almost to midrib, terminal lobe much the largest, 1–3 cm wide, suborbicular (occasionally reniform), obtuse, minutely mucronate, sinuate or bluntly angled with a truncate to cordate base, lateral lobes few, remote, oblong and rounded or bluntly triangular, sparsely strigose on both surfaces, usually more densely so on veins beneath, but indumentum very variable Cauline leaves obovate, as basal leaves or with suborbicular to cordate terminal lobe narrowing into sinuate winged petiole, often clasping and auriculate, entire to shallowly toothed, reducing in size upwards, finally becoming lanceolate to linear, entire, obtuse and mucronate, 2.7–7(–10.5) × 0.3–3.8 cm

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole distinct, slender, hispidulous, 0.3–2.3 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence spreading, pedicels c. 0.8 cm or to 7.5 cm when terminal-Capitula cylindrical, c. 6 mm; outer phyllaries ovate, acute or acuminate, c. 1 mm long, with erose, scarious margins, glabrous; inner phyllaries oblong, (3–)5–7 × 1 mm, obtuse but with short incurved beak or spur at tip and scarious margins, glabrous, enclosing achene and thickening in fruit, especially at base

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule strap-shaped, 6–8 × 1 mm, truncate with 4–5 apical teeth, floret tube more than 1 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers cylindrical, appendages minute, oblong-ovate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Marginal achenes 5–6(–8), fusiform, straight, glabrous, equalling enclosing phyllary in length, 10–14 × 1–1.75 mm; inner achenes 1–3, occasionally 0, arcuate, hispidulous, 4–10 × 0.5–1 mm.

Ecology

Grassy patches among Quercus scrub, irrigated grassy pasture in mountain orchard, on moist black loam among rocks; alt. (± 50–)600–1000 m;

Phenology

flowering & fruiting: Apr.-May.

Distribution

Occasional in the lower forest zone of Iraq. Europe, Cyprus, Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Caucasia, Iran, N Africa (Morocco).