Amaranthaceae

Halocharis Moq.

First published in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 13(2): 201 (1849)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Iraq to Central Asia and Pakistan, Arabian Peninsula.

Descriptions

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2016) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 1: Elatinaceae to Sphenocleaceae.

Morphology General Habit
Annuals, branched, with prostrate or ascending stems, thickly clothed with barbellate hairs and straight hairs with conical base
Morphology Leaves
Leaves linear, alternate but appearing whorled, somewhat succulent, sessile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite, borne in clusters in axils of leaves, occasionally solitary, arising from a tuft of crimped hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals 5, free, membranous, not accrescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5; connective brightly coloured and inflated at apex; anther vesicles sessile or with short stalk
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style ± deeply divided, sometimes subentire, equal to stigmas
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit enclosed in persistent perianth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds lacking perisperm; embryo spiral, vertical.
Distribution
About 10 species distributed mainly in SW & C Asia.
Recognition
Halocharis share with Halanthium the terminal inflated staminal vesicles, the adaptive significance of which is unclear but can be connected with entomophyly. This organ provides useful characters to differentiate the species .
Etymology
Halocharis (from Gr. ἄλς, hals, salt and χα´ ριςcharis, grace)
[FIQ]

Sources

  • 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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. 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 2026. 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