Zosima absinthiifolia (Vent.) Link

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

Morphology General Habit

Plant stout, erect, 20–50 cm, rootstock crowned with fibrous remains of previous years’ petioles

Morphology Stem

Stem deeply sulcate, densely covered, as are all vegetative parts, with a crisped white pubescence, corymbosely branched from near base and occasionally almost to the middle, with a foetid odour when bruised

Morphology Branches

Branches sulcate or coarsely striate, leafy only near base, greater part of each branch being the 10–35 cm umbel peduncle

Morphology Leaves

Upper leaves becoming more shortly petiolate or sessile, much reducing, becoming pinnate with toothed segments Basal leaves oblong-lanceolate in outline, greyish green, 12–30 cm long, bi- to sub-tripinnate into short, oblanceolate, 1–6 × 0.5–2 mm segments, long- petiolate (4–10 cm), often very similar to those of Artemisia absinthium, with somewhat expanded, striate sheaths

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels several, large for the size of this plant, with 15–30 pubescent unequal rays 2–11 cm long Partial umbels many- flowered, (12–25), flowers ± 4.5 mm in diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Outer petals slightly radiate; pedicels hairy, 4–10 mm in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle and rays sometimes thickened at the apex in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts and bracteoles similar, 12–15, lanceolate, white-margined

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit somewhat variable, normally ± round but sometimes inclined to oblong, 8–13 × 6–9 mm, moderately hairy to densely lanate with long white hairs, commissural face glabrous

Disc

Disk small, not exceeding the emargination of the fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles glabrous, slender and ± flattened, deflexed, 1.5–2 mm.

Ecology

On mountains, on high rocky ledges above a gorge, stony overgrazed slopes near village, among coppiced Quercus woods, on limestone; alt. (200–) 600–1350 (–2000) m

Phenology

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

Distribution

Common in the middle and lower forest zones of Iraq; very rare in the steppe and desert regions. Cyprus, Syria, Jordan, Sinai, Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, C Asia (Turkmenistan).

Vernacular

?DAKSI (Kurd.- Shaqlawa, Gillett 8055 – “fruit eaten when young”; “goat-grazed on dry slopes”, Haines W763). Aitchison (1888–94) mentioned several colloquial names for this plant in Afghanistan and noted it as “a very common and well-known herb of which the leaves and roots are eaten, both raw and cooked, by the people” of that country.