Torilis stocksiana (Boiss.) Drude

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, 15–40 cm

Morphology Stem

Stem terete, finely striate, thinly furnished with downwardly appressed strigulose hairs, branched from the base upwards

Morphology Leaves

Leaves all similar, appressed-hairy, bi- to subtri-pinnate, the ultimate divisions short, subacute, linearlanceolate, 2.5–6 × 0.75–1.5 mm; lower leaves with a 2–8 cm petiole, lamina elliptic- or deltoid-oblong in outline, the upper short, more pronouncedly deltoid, sessile; all with rather long, expanded, white-margined sheaths

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels many, leaf-opposed, the peduncles shorter than the subtending leaves, 0.8–6 cm; rays 2–3, thinly appressed-hairy, short, 0–12 mm, very unequal, the umbel appearing very dense, one partial umbel being generally subsessile Partial umbel 6–8-flowered, the pedicels short (to 2 mm, but several fruit often sessile)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucre absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucel of about 6 linear bracteoles, exceeding the pedicels

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white or pinkish, small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 3.5–4 × 1.5–1.7 mm, oblong, surmounted by the short, pale calyx teeth, the secondary ridges furnished with long (longer than the diameter of the mericarps) whitish or stramineous glochidiate spines

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles short, divaricate, rather longer than the stylopodia

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Endosperm

Endosperm more bluntly angled than in T. leptophylla.

Ecology

In the lower mountains by the edge of streams and on grassy river banks, in shady irrigated gardens, on the plains in shady hollows in fields, along ditches and irrigation channels, in orchards and date gardens, on damp waste ground; alt. 570–1400 m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: May–Jun. in the mountains, Mar.–Apr. (–May) on the plains.

Distribution

Occasional in the lower forest zone and steppe region of Iraq, quite common on the irrigated alluvial plain in the desert region. Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

Note

Quite a common weed in gardens and fields; LIZZAIJ (“clingweed”), Ir.-Baghdad/Ba’quba, Lazar 3895/Gillett & Rawi 7283). Although fruit spines’ colour in many umbellifer varies from white to purplish, spines in this species appear to be constantly pale.