Torilis leptophylla (L.) Rchb.f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect or decumbent-erect annual, (5–)15–40 cm

Morphology Stem

Stems very thinly furnished with downwardly appressed strigulose hairs, terete, finely striate, with few to numerous branches from the base upwards

Morphology Leaves

Leaves all similar, bi- to subtri-pinnate, the ultimate segments short and narrow, 1.5–4 × 1 mm, upwardly appressed-hairy; lower leaves with a 2–5 cm petiole, lamina elliptic- or deltoid-oblong in outline, the upper more deltoid and sessile; all with rather long, expanded, white-margined sheaths

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucre absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Partial umbels 6–8–flowered, the pedicels short, (0–)1–4 mm Umbels many, leaf-opposed, the peduncle about equalling or shorter than, rarely exceeding, the subtended leaf, 1.5–3(–8) mm; rays 2–3, somewhat unequal, (2–)4–15 mm, thinly appressed-hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucel of ± 6 lanceolate-ovate bracteoles, rather shorter than the pedicels

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white or pinkish, small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 4–6 × 1.5–2 mm, linear-oblong, surmounted by the persistent, rather conspicuous calyx teeth, the secondary ridges furnished with long (longer than the diameter of the mericarps) whitish to purplish glochidiate spines There is a single sessile fruit at the centre of each partial umbel which usually has considerably shorter spines than the remainder and is clearly visible owing to the length of the pedicels of the outer fruits.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma sessile or style very short

Ecology

On the mountains in grassy patches among scrub Quercus, on limestone crags in Pinus woods, stony hillsides, in valleys, in a shady ravine, on limestone, on stony clay hills, dry steppic hilltops on the plains, also as a weed in a field; alt. (50–)400–700(–1400) m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: Apr.–Jun.

Distribution

Very common, locally abundant, in the lower forest zone of Iraq, occasional in the steppe region and on the irrigated alluvial plain in the desert region. W & Mediterranean Europe, Crete, Aegean Isles, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, N & NE Egypt, Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, C Asia (Turkmenistan to Tian Shan), India, China, N Africa (Libya), Macaronesia.

Vernacular

LIZZAIJ (“clingweed”, Ir.-Tal Kochak, Gillett 10815); ?SIVIR HŌR (Kurd.-Dohuk, Makki Beg 3247); ?NUSAKA (Kurd.-Aqra, Rawi 11339).