Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajagopal

Family: Asteraceae
Flowering Time: Mar-Apr.

General Appearance

Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajagopal , it is a biennial or perennial herb, up to (8-) 15-40 (-50) cm, slender,  ascending, sub erect with spreading branches or decumbent . Stems few to several (rarely solitary), dichotomously and divaricately branched, and loosely corymbose above; branches usually virgate. nearly leafless. Leaves almost all basal, rosetted, (33-) 40-80 x (10-) 15-30 mm. linear-oblong in outline, runcinate-pinnatiparlite; lobes inner, oblong to lanceolate, obtuse or acute, margins sinnate-toothed; teeth with a ± cartilaginous, white callus. Cauline leaves 1-few, similar to the basal leaves but smaller and sessile, subauriculate, usually confined to the lower fork only. Upper most cauline Leaves usually ± scale-like, minute, ovate, subauriculate. Capitula yellow, lateral and terminal in a lax corymb, nodding in fruiting. Peduncle (0.5-) 2-5 cm. slender, with 2-3 (-5), minute. ovate, scaly peduncular bracts. Involucre 5-8.5 (-10) x 3-4 (-5) mm. cylindrical. Outer involucral bracts 2-3.5 (-5) x 2-3 mm. ovate to nearly orbicular, obtuse with a small, white callus tip; margins not distinctly searious. Inner involucral bracts 5-8.5 (-10) x 2.5-3 (-3.5) mm. linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong, obtuse, with a small, whitish, membranous, ± inflated apical appendage; margins 0.25·0,5 mm wide. scarious white. Marginal cypsela 3-3.5 x 0.5-0.75 mm. weakly incurved, slightly compressed on the dorsal face, ± 4 angled, weakly tapered at both ends, black or very dark brown, 5-6 ribbed; ribs strongly rugose, papillose; inner cypsela 4-4.5 x 0.5 mm. straight, ± calendric, truncate at both ends, 5-6 ribbed; ribs ± smooth or finely, transversely rugose; pappus in all cypsclas 6-7.5 mm, white, cottony or silky, with a basal, annular, brown ring, caducous or easily removable with a slight pressure.

Life Form

H

Phytochoria

SA+IT. The native range of this species is Egypt to Central Asia and Myanmar, Arabian Peninsula.

Distribution in Libya

Zliten-Misurata Plain:  Misurata 2006

Sirte Plains: (4 km) W. of Bugrain 1975

Jabal Nafusa: Misallata (Shaafeen) 2008  Wadi Kaam 2017  Msallata-Garaboulli Province 2020

Al-Qibla area:  Wadis South of Mizda 2013

Al-Jufra area:  Wadi Soda 1973  (240 km) from Sebha to Hun, Gara Al-Tifrani, (23 km) from Weshka 1975   Al-Jufra region 2020

Ghat area:  Al-Barkit 1976    Ghat (Between Acacus and Tassili Mountains) 2004   Wadi Tanezzuft 2012

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:

Khalifa, S.M. & Bader, B.M. (2020) Floristic analysis of the family Asteraceae in Al-Jufra region, Libya. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies-2020- Vol. 8, Issue 6, Part A. https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/?year=2020&vol=8&issue=6&part=A&ArticleId=1223, https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2020/vol8issue6/PartA/8-6-2-621.pdf

Floristic analysis of the family Asteraceae in Al-Jufra region, Libya. 2020

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

Floristic Study and Species Diverisy of Msallata-Garaboulli Province. 2020

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://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 .

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).

Mukassabi, T.A, Ahmidat, G., Sherif, I.M., ELMogasapi, A. (2012) Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya. Biological Diversity and Conservation – 5 / 3 (2012) https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/biodicon/issue/55888/765799,   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259357995_Checklist_and_life_forms_of_plant_species_in_contrasting_climatic_zones_of_Libya

Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya. 2012

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).

Ahmidat, Gh. (2004) Study of the vegetation cover of the area between the Acacus Mountains and the Tassili Mountains (Ghat). Master Thesis. Department of Botany.College of Science. Sebha University. Libya. (In Arabic).

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