Opopanax persicus Boiss. & Heldr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Plant tall, erect to 2 m

Morphology Stem

Stem stiff, terete, sulcate or striate, glabrous or sparingly pilose below, corymbosely branched above Stem leaves similar but smaller, segments ovate-elongate, broadest near base and tapering above with a regularly serrate, cartilaginous border, largest terminal, which may be up to 10 × 4.5 cm, and occasionally lobed on one or both sides near the base; lower pinnae with 1or rarely 2 pairs of pinnules; some or all segments decurrent along the main axis

Morphology Branches

Branches terete, glabrous, the lower alternate, the upper opposite or verticillate

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves bipinnate, deltoid-ovate, to 60 cm long, long-petiolate Leaf surfaces, including veins of lower surface, almost or quite glabrous Uppermost leaves reducing to sheaths

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petioles of lower leaves with dense papillate hairs, which are very sparse on the rhachis of upper leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels several, with 14–20 glabrous rays, rays 1.5–5 cm Partial umbels 10–12-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts and bracteoles few, small and caducous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Fruiting pedicels 3–6 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit ovoid, 9–12 × 6–7 mm, glabrous, valleculae with 1 or 2 broad, dark vittae, those of the commissural face more conspicuous

Disc

Disk much flattened, crenulate-edged

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles very short, glabrous, closely deflexed upon and subequalling the disk.

Ecology

By roadside in the mountains, on banks of irrigation canals; alt. 800–850 m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: Jun.

Distribution

Occasional in the SE sector of the lower forest zone of Iraq. Turkey (E Anatolia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, NW, C & S Iran.

Note

Probably not distinct from O. hispidus. The Edinburgh sheet of Haines 509 has scattered hairs on the lower leaf surfaces and along the veins, while the Kew sheet is quite glabrous. Insufficient fruiting material has been seen to judge the reliability of the fruit characters given by Boissier; population studies in both species are needed.