Maerua crassifolia  Forssk. 

Family: Capparaceae
Flowering Time: Apr-Jun.

General Appearance

Maerua crassifolia Forssk., it is a small tree, up to 3-9 m tall, usually with flattish crown of branches. Leaves 5-15 x 2-8 mm, oblong-ovate, variable in shape, sub fleshy, glabrous or minutely hairy, shortly petioled. Flowers 1, sometimes 2-4. fascicled in the axils of the clustered leaves, c. 2 cm across, with petals absent. Calyx tube c. 5 mm long, lobes 5-7 (-9) x 3-4 mm oblong-ovate, obtuse, pubescent outside. Fruits (1-) 3-6 x 0.6-1 cm, markedly constricted into 1-6 globose, usually 1-seeded sections, often densely pubescent. Seeds c,4 mm in diameter.

Life Form

N.Ph

Phytochoria

SZ+SA+IT. The native range of this species is Sahara to Pakistan.

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jufra area:  Washka, (70 km) from Hun 1973  Wadi Weshka 1976  EL-Harouge mountain 2012

Jabal Al-Uwinat:  Gebel Uweinat 1968  Jabal Al-Uweinat region 2008

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Ali, S.I. & Jafri, S.M.H. (1977) Flora of Libya, Capparaceae Vol. (12) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya. Page. 8.

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

El-Barasi, Y.M. & Barrani, M.W. (2012) Factors affecting natural vegetation on EL-Harouge Mountain, Central part of Libyan Desert (Sahara). Bocconea 24: 199-211. 2012. -ISSN 1120-4060. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manam-Saaed-2https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323991132_Factors_Affecting_Natural_vegetation_on_EL-Harouge_mountain_Central_part_of_Libyan_desert_Sahara

Factors affecting natural vegetation on EL-Harouge Mountain. 2012

Alzwai, A.M.H. (2008) A study of the vegetation covers of the Jabal Al-Uweinat region in Libya. Master Thesis – Botany Department – College of Science – Garyounis University – Libya. (In Arabic).

 

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