Centaurea bimorpha Viv.

Common Name: Bla’ala.
Family: Asteraceae
Flowering Time: Mar-Jun.

General Appearance

Centaurea bimorpha Viv.̸  Syn. Centaurea dimorpha Viv., it is a perennial whitish pubescent to densely arachnoid-hairy. Stem (5-) 20-30 (-50) cm, winged, branched from the base, stem sometimes reduced with a center large capitulum in the center of leaf rosette, lateral branches ascending, monocephalic, winged; wings up to 5 mm wide, dentate or bidentate; teeth soft. spinulescent. Basal leaves usually rosetted. Basal & lower cauline leaves long petiolate, pinnatipartite lyrate to pinnatisect; with lobes regularly serrate-spincent, sparsely toothed spinescent to smooth entire with apices only spinescent. Cauline Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, pinnatipartite to entire, sessile, decurrent, margins serrate-spinescent or sparsely toothed spinescent. Capitula radiate, mauve-pink, purple, violet or occasionally white, 35-50 (-60) mm in diam. Involucres 20-25 mm long, 12-15 mm in diam. (exclude, spines) broadly ovate. Involucral bracts coriaceous, without distinct nerves, greenish; margins often scarious, whitish or hyaline papillose-glandular, appendages corky coriaceous, brownish: usually reflexed, villous. with variable number of spines arranged in 1-2 or 3 palmate rows. Outer most involucral bracts 7 x 2 mm (include. spines) ovate, coriaceous throughout villous at the back; appendages deeply 3-fid. spinescent. Involucral bracts of the sub outer most row 7.5 x 2.25 mm, similar to the preceding; with 5 spines, 4 in the outer row one at1 the back. Involucral bracts of the 2nd row 3.5 x 2.5 mm (include. appendages & spines) ovate, villous; appendages with spines, 4-5 mm long: spines 6-5 in the auteur row and one at the back. Involucral bracts of the 3rd row 3.5-3.75 x 2-2.5 mm (include. appendages & spines), ovate, glabrous, with very thin scarious margins; appendages long villous, with 7-9 spines in 2 (-3) rows. Involucral bracts of the 4th row 4.5 x 3 mm (exclude, Appendages & spines) similar to the preceding ones; appendages somewhat articulated, spines 10 (-11) in ± 3 rows. Involucral bracts of the 5th row 6 x 3 mm (exclude, Appendages & spines) ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, with distinct, scarious margins; appendages articulated, with 10 spines in ± 3 rows. Involucral bracts of the 6th row 8 x 3 mm (exclude, appendages & spines) lanceolate, with whitish scarious margin; appendages distinctly articulated, strongly reflexed, with 12 (-13) spines in ± 3 rows. InvolucraI bracts of the 7th row 10-11.5 x 3.5 mm (exclude, appendages & spines) linear-lanceolate. glabrous, with scarious, hyaline margins; appendages strongly reflexed, articulated, with 13-14 (-15) spines arranged in 3 rows; Involucral bracts of the 8th row 12-14 x   3.5-3.75 mm (exclude, appendages & spines), similar to the preceding; appendages articulated, reflexed, with 12-13 spines arranged in 2(-3) rows. Involucral bracts of the 9th row 17 x 3.5 mm, linear, with 0.25 mm wide. hyaline, scarious margins; appendages articulated, with 10 spines arranged in 2 rows. Involucral bracts of the 10th row 19-20 x3 mm, linear, margins scarious; appendages narrowly scarious al margins, with 7-9 spines arranged in 1 (-2) rows. Involucral bracts of the 11th row 19-20 x 3 mm, linear, margins scarious; appendages with wide scarious, fimbriate margins, the coriaceous part prolonged into 3 spinules; spinules reflexed. Involucral bracts of the 121h row 16-19 x 1-2 mm linear, with appendages membranous, ± circular in outline with enfolded, fimbriated margins, espinescent. Cypsela 5-5.25 x 2-2.25 mm, brownish with white spots, sparsely silky hairy; pappus up to 4.5 mm.

Life Form

H

Phytochoria

SA. The native range of this species is N. Africa.

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jafarah Plain:

Tripoli 1970  (6 km) from Ras Ejader 1976  Sabrath 2008  El-Zawia 2015  Al-Hdaba Treatment Plant Tripoli 2016   Sabratha 2019  Sabratha region 2020  Coastal of Tripoli 2020  Researches Station of Agriculture Faculty, University of Tripoli 2021

Zliten-Misurata Plain:

Kaam area 2005  Misurata 2006, 2015  Misurata (Sassu Valley) 2016

Sirte Plains:

Gluf of Sirte, between Misurata and Bugrain 1970   (7 Km) SE of Sitre City 2008  Sirte 2015, 2016  Wadi Al-Hamar Region 2020

Benghazi Plain:

Sidi Abdelati area, Sidi Sultan area 2006  Between Slouk and Al-Abiar 2016   Wadi El-Enaghar 2021   Soloq (Beir Bullerjam) 2022

Jabal Nafusa:

Sharshara 1978  Msallata (Shaafeen) 2008  Msallata National Park (Shaafeen) 2013  Msallata (Shaafien) 2017  Tarhuna (Arabeen, Dawoon, Msaaed, Terghlat, Zurgan) 2018  Msallata- Garaboulli Province 2020   Gharyan (Sedrores Mountains) 2020

Notes

Wild in Libya, widely distributed in the pre-desert zone of Libya.

Link of images: https://www.floramaroccana.fr/c.-bimorpha.html

 

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:

Omar, N., Adrees, A., Alhursh, A., Shuayb, M., Alajeeli, O., Alzerbi, A.K. (2022) Identification of the Most Important Weed Species in A Barley Crops in Beir Bullerjam Region-Soloq, Libya. Scientific Journal for the Faculty of Science-Sirte University Vol. 2, No. 1 April (2022) 15-22. https://journal.su.edu.ly/index.php/jsfsu/issue/view/5, https://journal.su.edu.ly/index.php/jsfsu/article/view/51/45

Al-Sghair, F.G. and Mahklouf, M.H. (2021) Vegetation Survey for Vascular Plants of Protected Area of the University of Tripoli-Libya. Species. Vol.22 (69), 2021. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf,  http://www.discoveryjournals.org/Species/current_issue/2021/v22/n69/index.htm,   http://www.discoveryjournals.org/Species/current_issue/2021/v22/n69/A1.pdf

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. (204-217). http://www.discoveryjournals.org/Species/current_issue/2021/v22/n70/index.htm, http://www.discoveryjournals.org/Species/current_issue/2021/v22/n70/A4.pdf

Al-khojah, H.M., Al-Yafour, L.A., Mahklouf, M.H. (2020) Floristic Study of Selected Districts in Sabratha region Libya. J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology Volume 7/Issue 4 ISSN: 2348-7313. https://zenodo.org/records/3830169, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2s5EMysAAAAJ&hl=ar, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf

Floristic Study of Selected Districts in Sabratha region Libya. 2020.

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://zenodo.org/records/3931997, 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

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

Mahklouf, M.H., Sherif, A.S., Betelmal, A.G. (2020) Floristic Study and Species Diversity of Msallata-Garaboulli Province in Libya. J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology Volume 7 / Issue 3 ISSN: 2348-7313. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341306643_Floristic_Study_and_Species_Diverisy_of_Msallata-Garaboulli_Province_in_Libya

Omar, N.O.I., Alaib, M.A., El-Mghrbi, N.G., Alzerbi, A.K. (2020) Checklist of Flora and Floristic Study of Wadi Al-Hamar Region in Libya. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Applied Science 6 (2), (2020) 20-24. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Naser-Omar

Checklist of Flora and Floristic Study of Wadi Al-Hamar Region in 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

Beit Al-Mal, A. G. & El-Hadar, I. A. (2018) An analytical study of vegetation (Case Study: Targhalat, Tarhouna Municipality, Libya.Special issue of the second annual conference on theories and applications Basic and Biological Sciences. 1 September 2018.

دراسة تحليلية للغطاء النباتي (حالة دراسية – ترغلات – بلدية ترهةنة-ليبيا) 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

Bahri, N.M. (2017) Identify, Limit and Determine the Vegetation Types of Wadi Ka’am Areas, Libya. Journal of Marine Sciences and Environmental Technologies-Volume (3) -Issue (2) (In Arabic) https://journals.asmarya.edu.ly/jmset/index.php/JMSET/article/view/95, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371282756_altrf_ly_alanwa_alnbatyt_lmnatq_wady_kam_whsrha_wthdyd_ashkal_nmwha

التعرف على الانواع النباتية لمناطق وادي كعام وحصرها وتحديد أشكال نموها. 2017 .

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. https://search.mandumah.com/Record/813441

Geographical distribution and Life form of plants in Sassu Valley, Misurata area. 2016

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

Mahklouf, M. H. &Al Sghair, F. G. (2016) Biodiversity and Floristic Study of Al-Hdaba Treatment Plant Tripoli-Libya. American Journal of Life Science Researches, Original Article, pag. (101-103). Jul 2016, Volume 4, Issue 3, DOI: 10.21859/ajlsr-040307. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf

Biodiversity and Floristic Study of Al-Hdaba Treatment Plant Tripoli–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

Al-Fiqi, A. M. & Abul-Qasim, R. (2015) Inventory of the vegetation cover surrounding Al-Zawiya University. The Libyan Journal of Science Volume 18, 2014/2015 .(In Arabic) https://uot.edu.ly/journals/index.php/ljs/issue/view/24

حصرالغطاء النباتى المحيط بجامعة الزاوية. 2015

Aljarroushi, M.M. & Almedham, K.E. (2015) Natural plant cover composition in Misurata area, Libya. Assiut Journal for Environmental Studies-42nd issue-July 2015. (In Arabic).

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

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).

Al-Aib, M. A. and El-Shakhy, N. O. (2008) Weed flora of great man made river agriculture project (sirte). Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development, Vol.102, Issue 3: 241-25. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohamed-Alaib,  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343655187_Weed_Flora_of_Great_Man-Made_River_Agriculture_Project_Sirte

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).

El-Yafour, L. A. (2008) Taxonomic study of the vegetation properties of Sabratha city Master Thesis. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Al-Zawiya University, Libya. (In Arabic).

Mohammed, S.A.H. (2008) A taxonomic and ecological study of the plants of the Shaafin Reserve in Masalatah. Master Thesis. Department of Biology-Faculty of Arts and Sciences-Al-Mirqab University. Al-Khums. Libya. (In Arabic).

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).

Al-Maghrabi A.S.S. (2006) Study of the vegetation and seed bank of the zone of Ghaminis and Agedabia (Slouk plain), Master of Science Thesis, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Graduated Studies, Benghazi Branch, Libya, 2006. (In Arabic).

Al-Shif, N. S. (2005) a taxonomic study of the plants of the Kaam region. Master Thesis, College of Science, Al-Marqab University, Al-Khums, Libya. (In Arabic).

PAMPANINI, R. (1914). Piantae Tripolitanae, ab auctore anno 1913 lectae et repertorium florae vascularis Tripolitaniae – Firenze: 254 – under: Centaurea bimorpha var. major Pamp.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Other Plants