Turgenia latifolia (L.) Hoffm.

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

Morphology General Habit

Stout annual, 10–40(–60) cm, hispid throughout

Morphology Stem

Stem sulcate, branched, ribs with long scabrid bristles, both ribs and furrows with short, close pubescence

Morphology Leaves

Leaves all similar, simply pinnate with 3 or 4 pairs of lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, sharply incised-dentate to pinnatifid, 10–55 × 3–25 mm segments, indumentum of upper surface strigulose and closely appressed, beneath also with long scabrid bristles on principal veins; lower leaves long-petiolate, deltoid-oblong in outline, with broad, white-margined sheaths contracting rather abruptly into the petiole, auriculate; upper leaves shorter, broadly deltoid, sessile on shorter sheaths

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucre of 2 or 3(rarely 5) mostly scarious, oblong-lanceolate, ± caducous bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Partial umbel of 6–16 deep rose-coloured or white flowers, outer petals somewhat larger but not conspicuously radiant as in the next species, 3–5 fructiferous Umbels many, leaf-opposed on mostly 1–11 cm peduncles, 2–5-rayed, rays 1.5–8.5 cm, indumentum similar to that of stem

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucel of usually 4–6 ovate or lanceolate-ovate membranous, broadly scarious-margined bracteoles, very conspicuous in bud and early flower

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit on short (± 2–5 mm) pedicels, ellipsoid, large and firm, 10–15 × 3 mm excluding the stout-based prickles, of which there are mostly 5–8 on each vertical row; primary ribs with a single row of spines, secondary ribs with (1–)2 rows; all ribs clothed with white wary papillae between spines, as are the faces between ribs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles very short, rigid, divergent.

Ecology

On mountains, sometimes on stony slopes in denuded Quercus wood, more commonly in fields, vineyards, on steppic hills and plains often on wasteland, by roadsides etc.; alt. 200–1400(–1850) m

Phenology

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

Distribution

Common in the forest zone of Iraq, occasional in the steppe region. W, C & S Europe, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Caucasus.

Note

?KHUMMĀSH (Ir.-Arbil province, Radhi 3843 – “grazed by livestock”); LUZZAIJ (“clingweed”, Ir.-Tal Kaif) or KHENJER (dagger-weed”, no doubt referring to the prickly fruit, Kurd.-Tal Kaif, Mudir of Tal Kaif 3199 – “useful for sheep grazing”); ?SEPĀN DIRRI (Kurd.-Ain Sifni, Salim 2575 – “fodder plant”). Whether or not these unconfirmed colloquial names from the steppe region are valid, the general consensus of opinion indicates that the plant is considered to be of some value for grazing. Schischkin (1950) remarks it is a common weed in crops.