Androsace maxima L.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb 2–15 cm high

Morphology Stem

Stems stiffly erect, solitary or up to 8, pilose

Morphology Leaves

Leaves rosulate, broadly to narrowly ovate, 5–35 × 2–20 mm, ± pilose, sessile or stoutly petiolate, base cuneate, apex cute or obtuse, margins denticulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts leafy, about as long as pedicels or longer, obovate, denticulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in umbels of up to 10

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 5–10 mm, pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx urceolate-campanulate, 5–7 mm, accrescent, lobed to about middle; lobes ovate-deltoid to lanceolate, 4–5 mm, acute, denticulate, pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white or pink, annulate; tube ± 4 mm, lobes ± 1mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± 4 mm in diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, angular, ± 1.5 mm long.

Ecology

Open hillside, stony and gravelly slopes, open Poa bulbosa steppe, edges of cultivated fields, on loamy soils; alt. 100–1450 m

Phenology

Mar.- April.

Distribution

Caucasus, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran. Common and widespread in Iraq.