Flora

Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (Moric.) Piirainen & G.Kadereit

Common Name: Balbal-Jemal

Family: Amaranthaceae

Flowering Time: May-Sept

General Appearance

Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (Moric.) Piirainen & G.Kadereit / Homotypic Synonyms: Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) K.Koch / Heterotypic Synonyms: Arthrocnemum glaucum (Moq.) Ung.-Sternb., it is a very branched perennial shrub species that can reach more than 1.5 metres in height. Branches and young shoots are glabrous, articulated, with succulent parts, more or less cylindrical or clavate. Leaves with the blade barely visible, reduced to a short sheath with a hyaline margin. Fertile branches are also succulent, solitary or grouped in terminal inflorescences. Hermaphrodite flowers housed in threes at the base of each of the segments of the flowering branches, with no partition between them. Stamens, 2 in each flower, with the anthers, long, exserted; pistil provided with 2 stigmas, maturing later than the stamens. Seeds c. 1.25 x 0.9 x 0.55 mm, with a broadly obovate outline, compressed, orange-brown to reddish brown, almost black towards the periphery. Lateral surfaces slightly concave towards the hilum; central cells elongated, convex, with anticlinal walls ±sinuous, peripheral cells shorter, papillose. Dorsum with ±isodiametric, conical or truncated-columnar cells.

Life Form

Phytochoria

MED+SA. The native range of this species is Macaronesia, Medit. to S. Pakistan and Senegal, Angola, Arabian Peninsula.

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jafarah Plain:

(2 km) after Sorman 1975 Mallaha Wetland Tripoli 2016 Coastal of Tripoli 2020

Zliten-Misurata Plain:

Misurata 2006, 2008

Sirte Plains:

Road between Bugrain and Al-Buayrat 1967 (80 km) from Ras Lannouf 1977 Sirte 2015,2016

Benghazi Plain:

(5 km) before Benghazi 1976 Beach sand dunes in Karkurah 2021

Al-Jabal Al-Akhder:

Birccess 2011 S.AL-Marj 2011 Susa-Derna 2016

Marmarica Plateau:

Reported in Marmarica north-eastern part of Libya by Pampanini 1930 Tobruk 1977 From Tobruk to Egyptian Border 1999 Marmarica (north-eastern part of Libya) 2002

Qibla area:

Wadis South of Mizda 2013

Notes

Wild in Libya, medicinal plant.

For more information

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77161606-1, https://www.ipni.org/n/77161606-1, https://www.gbif.org/species/9417609, https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/specie/238095/arthrocaulon-macrostachyum-moric-piirainen-g-kadereit, https://www.atlasdesemillasdecanarias.org/atlas/ficha.php?ID=131, https://www.actaplantarum.org/flora/flora_info.php?id=958, https://www.maltawildplants.com/AMAR/Arthrocnemum_macrostachyum.php, https://www.floraofqatar.com/arthrocnemum_macrostachyum.htm, https://dryades.units.it/floritaly/index.php?procedure=taxon_page&tipo=all&id=509, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=239181 , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthrocaulon_macrostachyum

Bibliographic References

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S. M. H. & El-Gadi, A. (1978) Flora of Libya, Chenopodiaceae Vol. (58) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya.

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

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

Saaed, M.W.B., EL-Barasi, Y.M. & Rahil, R.O. (2021) An updated checklist and quantitative analysis of the Marmarica Plateau flora, in the north-eastern part of Libya. Phytotaxa 509 (1): 001-055. https://phytotaxa.mapress.com/pt/article/view/phytotaxa.509.1.1

Mahklouf, M.H. (2020) Biodiversity of the coastal flora of Tripoli Province. Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 58: 13-19, 2020. BRC http://www.brc.amu.edu.pl ,

http://brc.amu.edu.pl/Issue-58-2020,9131 , http://brc.amu.edu.pl/pdf-127341-54763?filename=Biodiversity%20of%20the.pdf

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

Hegazy, A.; Kabiel, H.; AlRowaily, S.; Lovett-Doust,L. and AlBorki, A. (2016) Plant communities and reproductive phenology in mountainous regions of northern Liby. Journal of Forestry Research. July 2017, Volume 28, Issue 4, pp 741–761, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11676-016-0345-8

Mahklouf, M.H. &Al-Sghair, F.G. (2016) Floristic and Inventory Study of Mallaha Wetland Tripoli – Libya. American Journal of Life Science Researches, Oct 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4.PP(119-123) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310898871_Floristic_and_Inventory_Study_of_Mallaha_Wetland_Tripoli_-_Libya

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

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)

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

Hegazyi, A.K., Boulos, L., Kabiel, H.F. and Sharashy, O.S. (2011) Vegetaion and species altitudinal distribution in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar landscape, Libya. Pak. J. Bot., 43(4): 1885-1898, 2011.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hanan_Kabiel/publication/249011161_Vegetation_and_species_altitudinal_distribution_in_Al-Jabal_Al-Akhdar_landscape_Libya/links/58171d7c08ae90acb24128b9.pdf

Baayo, Kh. A. (2008): Floristic composition and Phytochorological Analysis of Misratah area, Libya, Assiut Univ.J. of Botany 37(2), P-P. 33-78 (2008)

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)

Eldoumi, F.; Elsaedi, O. and Zunni, S. (2002) Study of Al-Jabal Al-akhdar’s plant cover. Final report in Arabic. University of Omar Al mokhtar. El-Bieda; Libya.

El-Shaary MS. 2002. The Natural Vegetation in Marmarica plateau (North-eastern Libya). First ed. Tobruk (Libya): Published by the local Authority. (In Arabic)

Al-Habony MEE 1999. Vegetation and flora of a sector along Mediterranean Coast of Libya from Tobruk to Egyptian border. MSc. Thesis. Department of Botany. Faculty of Science. Benghazi University. Benghazi. Libya.