Pteranthus dichotomus  Forssk.

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Flowering Time: Feb-May.

General Appearance

Pteranthus dichotomus Forssk.,  it is a fleshy annual herb; stems 10-20 cm, procumbent to ascending, articulate at the nodes. Leaves linear, sub verticillate; stipules minute, lanceolate. Flowers sessile, in groups of 3, situated at the apex of an oblanceolate, swollen, hollow, compressed peduncle, the 2 lateral flowers sterile; each flower situated between 2 minutely glandular bracts with spirally arranged curved spines. Petals absent; stamens 4; styles 2. Capsule indehiscent, 1-seeded, enclosed in the spiny bracts and borne on the persistent, compressed, inflated, wing-like peduncle, the whole ‘fruit’ 12-20 mm. Seeds 2.3–2.5 x 1–1.3 x 0.65–0.70 mm, obovate-oblong, mucronulate, plano-convex, flattened, dull, straw-colored to orange, testa minimally papillate on the cotyledonary face; Papillae only visible under high magnification (>40x). Chalaza region stained black.

Life Form

Th

Phytochoria

SA+IT. The native range of this species is SE. Spain to SW. Pakistan and Arabian Peninsula.

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jafarah Plain:  Sabrata 2008

Zliten-Misurata Plain:  Kaam area 2005

Sirte Plains:  (4 km) W. Bugrain 1975

Jabal Nafusa:  Wadi Malah, (10 km) from Nakut 1972  Aboghilan 1976   Wadi Kaam 2017  Gharyan (Sedrores Mountains) 2020   Wadi Kaam (Dam & lake, Main course) 2022

Al-Jabal Al-Akhder:  Wadi Zaza 2003  S. of AL-Marj 2011

Marmarica Plateau:  Marmarica (north-eastern part of Libya) 2002

Al-Qibla area:  

(14 km) from Mizda to Al-Ghariat 1977 Wadis South of Mizda 2013

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S.M.H. & El-Gadi, A. (1977) Flora of Libya, Illecebraceae Vol. (37) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya. Page. 3.

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

Almushghub, F., Ahmed, D., Sharaf El-Din, A., Shaltout, k. (2022) Vegetation analysis of Wadi Kaam at northwest Libya. Journal of Basic and Environmental Sciences, 9 (2022) 20-37. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357516127_Vegetation_analysis_of_Wadi_Kaam_at_northwest_Libya, https://jbes.journals.ekb.eg/article_372060_558ee8095e2cf97881a8a3cc705aa126.pdf

Vegetation analysis of Wadi Kaam at northwest Libya.2022

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

An-updated-checklist-and-quantitative-analysis-of-the-Marmarica-Plateau-flora-مضغوط

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://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

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).

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

FLORA AND VEGETATION ON SOUTH EL-MARJ ZONE SOUTH EL-JABAL EL-AKHADAR.2011

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).

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).

El-Barasi, Y. M., EI-Sherif, l. M. & Gawhari, A. M. H. (2003) Checklist and analysis of the flora and vegetation of Wadi Zaza at AI-Jabal AI Akhdar (Cyrenaica, Libya). Bocconea 16 (2): 1091-1105. 2003. – ISSN 1120-4060. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ahmed-Gawharihttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/281559070_Checklist_and_analysis_of_the_flora_and_vegetation_of_Wadi_Zaza_at_AI-Jabal_AI_Akhdar_Cyrenaica_Libya

Flora and vegetation of Wadi Zaza at Al-Jabal AI Akhdar 2003-مضغوط

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

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