Flora

Launaea capitata (Spreng.) Dandy

Family: Asteraceae

Flowering Time: Feb-Mar.

General Appearance

Launaea capitata (Spreng.) Dandy it is a biennial, rosetted herb, erect or ascending, ± scapiform, glabrous, up to (5-) 15-25 cm. Stem 1-few, simple or 2-forked in the upper half. Leaves mostly basal, forming a ± thick cushion. Basal leaves 50-100 (-150) mm. oblong in outline, runcinated pinnatifid to layrate, attenuate at base into a ± winged or lobed, short petiole; margins white. pectinate. callus toothed; lobes ovate, acute; terminal lobe largest. Cauline leaves absent or 1-2, sessile. Capitula yellow, sub globose to oblong cylindrical, terminal ones clustered, the lateral ones 1-2 in the axil of a brad, sessile or shortly peduncled. Bracts up to 2 mm, ovate, acute, clasping the stem. Peduncles when present up to c. 5 mm. Involucre 8-10 x 5-8 mm, oblong-cylindrical. Outer involucral bracts 2.5-4 x 2-3 mm. broadly ovate, obtuse, with c. 1.5 mm broad, white, scarious margin and narrow, central herbaceous green part. Inner involucral bracts 5-10 x 4-4.5 mm. ovate to oblong-ovate, obtuse, with 1-1.5 mm wide, white, scarious margins. Cypsela clay-coloured, up to 4.5 mm. ± flattened, 4-angled, lateral and inner angle winged; dorsal surface somewhat convex to flattened, longitudinally ribbed, transversely finely rugose; lateral wings prominent, c. 0.5 mm wide, somewhat thickened; pappus c. 6 mm. white, silky hairy, attached with minute, stalk below the brown annular ring, deciduous.

Life Form

Phytochoria

SS. The native range of this species is Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Lanzarote) to NW. India

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jafarah Plain: Sabratha 2019

Zliten-Misurata Plain: Misurata 2006

Sirte Plains: Reported from Wadi Faegh and Maatan Risan by Pampanini Sirte 2015, 2016

Benghazi Plain: Between Slouk and Al-Abiar 2016

Jabal Nafusa: Taruna (Whedat, Terghlat) 2018 Gharyan (Sedrores Mountains) 2020

Al-Jabal Al-Akhder: S. of AL-Marj 2011

Al-Qibla area: Reported from Wadi Faat S. of Mizda by Durand & Barratte Wadi Nesma region 2009 Wadis South of Mizda 2013

Al-Jufra area: Hun 2008 EL-Jufra 2018 Al-Jufra region 2020

Fezzan area: Al-Abyad 1973

Ghat area: Barkit 1976 Ghat (Between Acacus and Tassili Mountains) 2004 Wadi Tanezzuft 2012

Tibesti area: Reported from Tibesti by Durand & Barratte, by Corti

Notes

Wild in Libya, in sandy ground.

Link of images: https://www.teline.fr/en/photos/asteraceae/launaea-capitata, https://flora.org.il/en/plants/laucap/, https://www.floraofqatar.com/launaea_capitata.htm

For more information

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:228995-1, https://www.ipni.org/n/228995-1, http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000007824, https://www.gbif.org/species/3144728, https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/specie/96672/launaea-capitata-spreng-dandy, https://www.ksanature.com/plants/launaea_capitata/, https://www.floraofqatar.com/launaea_capitata.htm, https://flora.org.il/en/plants/laucap/

Bibliographic References

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S. M. H. & El-Gadi, A. (1983) Flora of Libya, Asteraceae Vol. (107) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya.

Second: Researches and PhD theses, master theses, Sorted by Newest:

El-Ahmir, S.M., Mahklouf, M.H., Shanta, M.B., Abo-Jaafer, H.A. (2020) Floristic Study of Sedrores Mountains in Gharyan District-Libya. J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology. Volume 8 / Issue 1. ISSN: 2348-7313. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sh-Hoob-El-Ahmir, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf

Floristic Study of Sedrores Mountains in Gharyan District – Libya. 2020

Khalifa, S.M. & Bader, B.M. (2020) Floristic analysis of the family Asteraceae in Al-Jufra region, Libya. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies-2020- Vol. 8, Issue 6, Part A. https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/?year=2020&vol=8&issue=6&part=A&ArticleId=1223, https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2020/vol8issue6/PartA/8-6-2-621.pdf

Floristic analysis of the family Asteraceae in Al-Jufra region, Libya. 2020

Saed, Z.H. S., Abohbell, H.A., Mahklouf, M. H. (2019) Floristic Analysis of the Family Asteraceae in Sabratha city- Libya. American Journal of Life Science Researches 2019; 7(1): 18-25 Published online January, 2019.

Floristic Analysis of the Family Asteraceae in Sabratha city- Libya. 2019

EL-Barasi,Y.M., Bader, B.M., Barrani. M.W., EL-Hashani, N.M. and Alamrouni, A.O. (2018) Ecological studies on EL-Jufra Desert Depression. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323990883_Ecological_studies_On_EL-Jufra_Desert_Depression

Ecological studies on EL-Jufra Desert Depression. 2018

Mahklouf, M.H. Sherif, A.S, Betelmal, A. G. (2018) Floristic Study for Tarhuna-Libya. Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem, 2018, 46 (3), 337-364. http://www.hjbc.hacettepe.edu.tr/journal/volume-46/issue-3/floristic-study-for-tarhuna-libya/index.html

Floristic Study for Tarhuna–Libya. 2018

Elsayed, N. (2016) Relationship between Vegetation and Soil Seed Bank at Protected Versus Unprotected Sites at Coastal Habitats in Libya.CATRINA (2016), 15 (1): 59-68. https://scholar.google.com.eg/citations?user=mSAskW0AAAAJ&hl=en , https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18337_76652686b5c99f5fd479aebab87fbcb4.pdf

Vegetation and Soil Seed Bank at Protected Versus Unprotected Sites at Coastal Habitats in Libya. 2016

Raheel, RO. M., El-Borasi, Y. M., El-Barrani, M. W., El-Hassi, S. (2016) Study of Flora and vegetation cover of the semi-desert area between Salouq and Al-Abyar-the first high of Jabal Al-Akhdar-Libya, Fourth Scientific Conference for Environment and Sustainable Development In dry and semi-arid areas. Ajdabia. Libya. (In Arabic) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebeh-Rahil

دراسة الفلورا والغطاء النباتي للمنطقة الشبه صحراوية الممتدة بين مدينتي سلوق والابيار . 2016

Elsayed M. A. N. (2015) Floristic Composition of the Plant Cover at Surt Region in Libya. Catrina (2015), 12 (1): 63-71-2010 By the Egyptian society for environmental SCIENCES. https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18403_37c687e375b9144800a15704e68ebad7.pdf

Floristic Composition of the Plant Cover at Surt Region in Libya. 2015

Mohamed, F.J. (2013) A Taxonomic Study of Wadis Flora South of Mizda at the intersections with Mizda-Sebha Highway. Master Thesis. Department of Botany-Faculty of Science-Sebha University. Libya. (In Arabic).

Mukassabi, T.A, Ahmidat, G., Sherif, I.M., ELMogasapi, A. (2012) Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya. Biological Diversity and Conservation – 5 / 3 (2012) https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/biodicon/issue/55888/765799

Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya. 2012

EL-Barasi, Y. M., Barrani, M. W., Abdelsalam, O. EL-Amrouni, N., Mohamad, F. (2011) Check list of flora and vegetation on south EL-Marj zone: south EL-Jabal EL-Akhadar. Libya. Annals of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara-International Journal of Engineering. Tome IX (Year 2011). Fascicule 3. ISSN 1584-2673, 141-146. http://annals.fih.upt.ro/pdf-full/2011/ANNALS-2011-3-24.pdf

FLORA AND VEGETATION ON SOUTH EL-MARJ ZONE SOUTH EL-JABAL EL-AKHADAR.2011

Bahri, N.M. (2009) Study of the vegetation covers of Wadi Nesma region, northwest of Libya. Master Thesis, Department of Botany, College of Science, Sebha University, Libya. (In Arabic).

Baayo, Kh. A. (2008) Floristic composition of Sahara Area in Libya. Catrina (2008), 3(3):37-53.

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18541_f0ebe9187acd58ae16701b93a9bf9cc2.pdf

Al-Dana, S. M. M. (2006) Taxonomic study of wild flower plants in some areas of Misrata. Master Thesis, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Misurata University (7 October previously) Misurata, Libya. (In Arabic).

Ahmidat, Gh. (2004) Study of the vegetation cover of the area between the Acacus Mountains and the Tassili Mountains (Ghat). Master Thesis. Department of Botany.College of Science. Sebha University. Libya. (In Arabic).