Asteraceae
Sphaeranthus

Sphaeranthus strobiliferus Boiss. & Noë

First published in P.E.Boissier, Diagn. Pl. Orient., ser. 2, 3: 6 (1856)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Central & SE. Iraq. It is an annual and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

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

Type
Baghdad, Noë 329. Boissier, Fl. Orient. 3: 216 (1875);
Morphology General Habit
Decumbent herbs 10–30 cm tall, with a bunch of thick smooth roots at base
Morphology Stem
Stems several, leafy up to and beyond the capitula, narrowly green-winged
Morphology Leaves
Leaves  sessile,  decurrent almost to the previous nodes, lanceolate, 2.5–5 × 0.5–0.9 cm, apiculate, margin entire or with distant sharp teeth, both surfaces almost glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Synflorescence
Synflorescences shortly (0.5–1 cm) stalked, ovate, the compound receptacle lanceolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Scales of capitulum ovate, 1.1 × 1.1 mm, acuminate to a subulate point; primary capitula 6-flowered, outer 4 florets female, fertile, 2 outer subtended by 2 curved scales, and 2 placed centrally, inner 2 apparently hermaphrodite but functionally male and becoming very corky
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes densely glandular.
Ecology
In fields, along ditches and at the edge of marshes in the alluvial plain; s.l.–35 m;
Phenology
flowering & fruiting: Aug.
Distribution
Uncommon in lowland Iraq. Endemic? Recorded for Iran (Davies, ms.) but not mentioned in Fl. Iranica.
[FIQ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Iraq

    • Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. (Eds). (2013-2019). Flora of Iraq, Volumes 5.1, 5.2 and 6.0. Kew Publishing
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0