Halocnemum M.Bieb.

First published in Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 3: 3 (1819)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Medit. to Mongolia and Pakistan, Sahara to Arabian Peninsula.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Small halophytic glabrous shrub with shoots of current year’s growth jointed, succulent, with opposite leaves and branches
Morphology Leaves
Leaves connate around stem, all reduced to fleshy cups, lamina virtually obsolete
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence spike-like, terminal on stem and branches; bracts free; flowers 3 together in leaf axils, hermaphrodite
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth segments 3, free or usually shortly fused below
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamen solitary, anterior, connective not appendiculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary ovoid; style short but distinct; stigmas 2, filiform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit ovoid, enclosed within perianth, with a delicate pericarp; seeds with mamillatetesta, perisperm present, embryo arcuate, vertical.
Note
Lectotype of the genus: H. strobilaceum.
Distribution
A genus of two species, but some populations of H. strobilaceum in Arabia are distinct in some characters.
Etymology
Halocnemum (from Gr. ἄλς, hals, salt, κνεµις, knemis, sheath).
[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
  • 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.
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. 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 2025. 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