Lagoecia cuminoides L.

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

Morphology General Habit

Glabrous annual 20–25(–40) cm

Morphology Stem

Stem leaves all similar, reducing in size upwards, in outline linear-oblong, long-petiolate, pinnate with as many as 25 pairs of pinnae in the lower leaves; pinnae obscurely trilobed, the lobes deeply dentate, teeth minutely serrulate and terminating in a fine seta which is largest in the upper leaves Stem ivory, terete, lightly sulcate, alternately branched from about the middle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels nodding at first, later erect, globular, 15–18 mm in diameter when fully developed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts 10–12, 5–7 mm long, pinnate, with the pinnae denticulate all round and bi- or tri-furcate at the apex, each segment long-aristate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles pectinate, segments mostly bifurcate at the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals simply pectinate, exceeding bracteoles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Overall length of the petals (including aristae) ± 2 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit ± 2 mm long.

Ecology

Mountainsides, in denuded Quercus forest, on a steep limestone slope, dry steppic gypsiferous hills, fallow fields in foothills, bed of wadi; alt. 250–1500 m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: Apr.–May (–Jun.).

Distribution

Common in the middle and lower forest zone of Iraq, occasional in the steppe region. Mediterranean Europe (Spain, Italy, Balkans, Greece), Aegean Isles, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Iran, N Africa.

Vernacular

GIYĀ-I GHAZALAH (Kurd.-Ain Sifni, Salim 2562); GIYᾹ GUMINK (Kurd.-Dohuk, Makki 3286).