Gymnocarpos sclerocephalus (Decne.) Dahlgren & Thulin / Homotypic Synonyms: Sclerocephalus arabicus Boiss., it is an annual, sub erect, up to 15 cm tall, glabrous herb with articulate stem. Leaves sessile, linear-terete, up to 2.5 cm long, mucronate; stipules interpetiolar, triangular-ovate, c. 3-4 mm long, acute-acuminate, entire, membranous, white. Inflorescence a spherical, capitulum-like head of dichasial cymes, c. 1-1.5 cm in diameter, involucral leaves slightly longer than flowers, indurated and spiny in fruit. Flowers green, c. 4 mm long; receptacle cupular, c. 1.5 mm long, crisped hairy. Bracts membranous, c. 3 mm long, acute. Sepals linear-lanceolate, erect, c. 2.5 mm long, margins membranous, cucullate at the apex, densely crisped hairy outside, persistent. Stamens shorter than sepals, anthers sub globose, didymous, yellow. Seeds obovate-reniform. 2.5-3 x 1.5-2 mm, compressed, glabrous.
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