Bupleurum L.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial glabrous herbs, or more rarely shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple and entire, sometimes perfoliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels compound, of few to many often very unequal rays

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucre and involucel present or involucre absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx teeth obsolete (very rarely obvious, and not in Iraqi species)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers yellow or yellowish, petals with tips inflexed, cucullate, variable in shape, smooth or occasionally finely papillose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Mericarps with 5 prominent primary ridges, fruit laterally compressed, usually ovoid to oblong, rarely subglobose, commissure broad

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits Vittae

Vittae in valleculae 1–5, variously developed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Endosperm

Commissural face of endosperm flat or shallowly excavate, rarely more deeply excavate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stylopodium

Stylopodium depressed, flat, margin usually entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles short, reflexed.

Distribution

Some 150 species in Europe, Asia, Africa and N America; nine species in Iraq.

Note

Bupleurum (Gr. name of plant from βους, bous, ox, πλευρα, pleura, rib, used for a plant of this affinity by Nicander; Hare’s Ear, Thorow-wax or Throw-away etc. (Eng.). Bedevian gives the name UDHN AL-ARNAB (“hare’s ear”, Ar.) which appears to be merely an Arabic translation of the English common name.