Falcaria vulgaris Bernh.

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

Morphology General Habit

Glaucous perennial, 30–100 cm, branched from somewhat above the middle into a spreading compound inflorescence

Morphology Stem

Stem and branches wiry and tough, subterete, striate

Morphology Leaves

Radical leaves petiolate, biternate or ternate-pinnate, segments up to ± 30 × 2 cm, the segments long, linear-lanceolate or broadly linear, regularly sharply serrate with forward directed, long-acuminate, cartilaginous-margined teeth; upper leaves decreasing in size, pinnate or biternate to ternate, upper reduced and sessile; all leaves ± sheathing, glabrous or minutely puberulous on lower surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Partial umbels usually with 8–10 flowers, pedicels 2–12 mm, exceeding bracts of the involucel, which are similar in number and form to those of the involucre Umbels very numerous, (5–)8–10(–15)–radiate, rays 0.8–2.5(–3) cm; bracts of involucre 4–8, linear-subulate, much shorter than the rays

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers ± 2.5 mm in diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles 2–4 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit linear-oblong, 3–4 × 0.75–1 mm, glabrous or somewhat puberulent when young

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles slender, ± 1 mm, spreading or reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits Vittae

Vittae solitary in the valleculae, 2 on the commissure.

Ecology

Mountain slopes and valleys among Quercus forest, in fields and on waste land, in a Populus plantation; alt. 250–1650 m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: Jun.–Sep.

Distribution

Occasional in the forest zone of Iraq, less common in the moist-steppe zone. C Europe (France to Greece and W Russia), Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, C Asia (Kazakhstan, Siberia), Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, N Africa.

Note

ASYĀGH (Ir.-Arbil province, Radhi 3871 – “grazed by animals”); but Guest noted that it had been reported in Kut province as poisoning sheep, affecting their eyes and causing temporary blindness, being known there as ZAND AL-AL’ARŪS – a general name in Lower Iraq covering various white-flowered umbellifers. These two reports on the palatability of the plant are incompatible. It now seems probable that the plant on which Guest’s note was based had not been correctly determined since no specimen of F. vulgaris can now be traced from Lower Iraq, nor would this species of the mountains and foothills be likely to occur so far south as on the alluvial plain in Kut province. Nevertheless Radhi’s note requires confirmation before F. vulgaris may be assumed to be a wholesome forage plant.