Flora

Suaeda vermiculata Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel

Common Name: Shefshaf

Family: Amaranthaceae

Flowering Time: Jan-Apr.

General Appearance

Suaeda vermiculata Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel, it is a shrubby perennial, somewhat woody and glabrous below, papillose or minutely pubescent to almost glabrous above or on younger parts, up to 50 cm tall, much branched. usually turning black when dried except the branches which remain whitish or greyish. Leaves 3-10 x 1-4 mm, succulent, lower obovate-oblong, upper nearly globular, obtuse, very shortly petiolate with articulation to almost sessile or obscurely petioled, obtuse or rounded at apex, with rounded margins, often ± reflexed or deflexed. Bracts short, leaf-like, equaling or slightly exceeding the axillary, sessile, 1-3-flowered cluster, forming a loose, short, spike-like inflorescence. Flowers small, hermaphrodite or female. c. 3 (-4) mm across; perianth segments 5, obtuse, c. 1 mm in diam., ovoid, curved; stamens 5, included; filaments subulate; anthers c. 1 mm. ovoid, Stigmas 3, free, subulate. Pericarp membranous; seed c. 1 mm in diam., vertical or horizontal, not beaked, reniform, shining.

Life Form

Phytochoria

SS+SZ. The native range of this species is Canary Islands, S. Medit. to Sahara and Arabian Peninsula, India, SriLanka.

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jafarah Plain:

Between Zilten and Abu-Kammash, after Zwara 1976

Zliten-Misurata Plain:

Misurata 2006

Sirte Plains:

(55 km) befor Sirte 1977

Benghazi Plain:

Slouk-Masus road 2000 Beach sand dunes in Karkurah 2021

Al-Jabal Al-Akhader:

Barce 2016

Marmarica Plateau:

From Tobruk to Egyptian Border 1999 Marmarica (north-eastern part of Libya) 2002 Dafna region (Tobruk to Msaid) 2008

Al-Qibla area:

Wadis South of Mizda 2013

Ghat area:

Wadi Tanezzuft 2012

Gebel Al- Uweinat:

Gebel Uweinat 1968

Notes

Wild in Libya, medicinal plant.

For more information

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:167589-1, https://www.ipni.org/n/167589-1, https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000437561, https://www.gbif.org/species/3755896, https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/specie/26365/suaeda-vermiculata-forssk-ex-j-f-gmel, https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.flora.flos001116, https://botany.cz/cs/suaeda-vermiculata/, https://www.floraofqatar.com/suaeda_vermiculata.htm, https://www.ijsciences.com/pub/pdf/V92020022268.pdf,https://www.teline.fr/en/photos/amaranthaceae/suaeda-vermiculata#photo-1

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

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

Barrani, M. W. (2008) A study of environmental degradation factors in the semi-desert Dafna Region-Libya. Master Thesis-Department of Science and environmental Engineering-Postgraduate Academy Benghazi branch. (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)

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

El-Kady, H.F. (2000) Vegetation analysis along Sluk-Msus Road in southeastern Benghazi, Libya, El-Minia Scienve Bulletin, Volum. 13(1), pp.61-71. 2000.

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.