Flora

Aizoanthemopsis hispanica (L.) Klak

Common Name: Ghassoul- Malha

Family: Aizoaceae

Flowering Time: Jan-Jun

General Appearance

It is an annual succulent plant that reaches heights of 5 to 25 centimeters. The above-ground parts of the plant are densely covered with papillae. The branched stems are fragile.

Leaves

The lower leaves are alternate, the upper ones opposite. The sessile and semi-stem leaves are elongated-lanceolate with a blunt upper end.

Flowers

The flowers are small, single, axillary (1.5 cm wide), green on the outside, white on the inside, the flower surround is five-lobed.

Fruits

5 to 15 stamens and an ovary with 5 locules giving a pentagonal fruit capsule containing 2 brown seeds in each locule.

Life Form

Phytochoria

MED+IT The native range of this species is Macaronesia, Medit. to Iran and Arabian Peninsula.

Distribution in Libya

Sirte Plains:
(4 km) W. Bugrain, (75 km) from Al-Weshka 1975
Al-Jabal Al-Akhder:
Wadi (Valley) Stowah region 2007
Zliten-Misurata Plain:
Al-Karareim 1968 Misurata (Sassu Valley) 2016 Zliten (Wadi EL-Zekr) 2022
Jabal Nafusa:
Wadi Malah, (10 km) from Nalut 1972 Msallata National Park (Shaafeen) 2013
Benghazi Plain:
Between Slouk and Al-Abiar 2016 Wadi El-Enaghar 2021 Beach sand dunes in Karkurah 2021
Marmarica Plateau:
Reported in Marmarica north-eastern part of Libya by Pampanini 1930 From Tobruk to Egyptian Border 1999

Notes

Wild in Libya, species of sandy and stony ground.

For more information

Bibliographic References

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S. M. H. & El-Gadi, A. (1977) Flora of Libya, Aizoaceae Vol. (26) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya.

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

El-Karnawdy, F.O.M. & Swaisy, A.S.M. (2022) Current status of floristic structure in Wadi EL-Zekr, Zliten City, Libya. Middle East International Conference on Contemporary Scientific Studies-VII-Beirut Arab University, Lebanon-March 3-4, 2022. (https://www.middleeastconference.org/_files/ugd/614b1f_77fabd66c5054350a95423613bc913b6.pdf , https://www.middleeastconference.org/conference-books
Alteerah, M.A., El-Barasi, Y.M., Ali Alwerfally, A. (2021) Vegetation cover composition and seed bank study of beach sand dunes in Karkurah coastal area, east of Libya. Sustainability, Agri, Food and Environmental Research.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Munay-Alteerah
Omar, N., El-Mghrbi, N.G., Rahil, r.O., Alaib, M.A., Alzerbi, A.K.(2021) Floristic Composition and Plant Diversity of Western Part of Wadi El- Enaghar, Libya. Species-22 (70), 2021. Pp. (204-2017)
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362558684_Floristic_Composition_and_Plant_Diversity_of_Western_Part_of_Wadi_El-Enaghar_Libya)
Aljarroushi, M.M. & Almedham, K. E. (2016) Geographical distribution and Life form of plants in Sassu Valley, Misurata area, Libya. Al-satil Vol. 10 No. 15 March 2016
(http://al-satil.misuratau.edu.ly/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/E005.pdf)
Raheel, O. 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/publication/318055059_drast_alflwra_walghta_alnbaty_llmntqt_alshbh_shrawyt_almmtdt_byn_mdynty_slwq_walabyar_balmstbt_alawly_baljbl_alakhdr
Al-Masalati, N. A. A. (2013) Plant diversity across the altitudes of the Msallata National Park Reserve Mountains. Master Thesis. Botany Department-College of Science-University of Benghazi-Libya. (In Arabic)
Nawras, A. M. B. (2007) A study of the vegetation cover in the Wadi (Valley) Stowah region. Master Thesis. Botany Department-Faculty of Science-Garyounis University-Libya. (In Arabic).
EL-Habony, A.M. (1999) Vegetation and flora of a sector along Mediterranean cost of Libya from Tobruk to Egyptian border, M.Sc. Thesis, Botany Department-Faculty of Science-Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya. (In Arabic)