Acantholimon oliveri (Jaub. & Spach) Boiss.

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

Morphology General Habit

Loosely caespitose glaucescent shrublet, finely mottled, branches long, leafless in their lower parts

Morphology Leaves

Leaves linear, narrow, slightly triangular in transverse section, up to 35 × 1 mm, slightly prickly; lower leaves shorter and wider than upper ones, usually recurved; upper leaves vertical-divergent, margins finely serrulate, broader towards base forming a sheath with scarious margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Scape

Scape short, thin, glabrous or slightly puberulent, with scattered calcareous glands; spike lax, simple; rachis straight, few-flowered, slightly curved between one flower and the other; spikelets 1-flowered, with 3 bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Outer bract glabrous, green at base, dorsal surface pale yellow, narrowly whitish-margined, attenuate into a mucro, projecting from inner bracts and exceeding calyx tube; inner bracts oblong, veins green, apex short mucronate, glabrous or puberulent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx funnel-shaped, tube greenish, finely and densely pilose, limb three quarters of length of tube, pale brownish pink, veins greenish, pilose at base, turning the same colour as limb upwards, calyx limb slightly folded, almost truncate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla bright pink, with a short claw

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments compressed, adhering to lower part of petals including the claw

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary bottle-shaped, prolonged into a long pentagonal neck; styles filiform, smooth, stigmas capitate.

Ecology

Among Quercus on dry slopes; alt.: ± 1250 m

Phenology

Jun.

Distribution

Upper forest zone; very rare. W Iran.