Zilla spinosa (L.) Prantl 

Family: Brassicaceae
Flowering Time: Mar-May.

General Appearance

Zilla spinosa (L.) Prantl /  Infraspecifics: Zila spinosa. ssp. spinosa,   Zilla spinosa  ssp. macroptera (Coss.) Maire & Weiller / Homotypic Synonyms: Zilla macroptera Coss., it is a small shrub, up to 1.5 m tall. densely branched above with spine-lipped branches, almost dome-shaped. Basal leaves ± rosulate, obovate-oblong, narrowed below into a stalk, obtuse, sinuate dentate to lyrate-pinnatifid. Cauline leaves oblong, obovate-linear, sessile, sub auriculate at the ba.se, entire or sparsely or vaguely dentate; all leaves ± fleshy, deciduous. Flowers c. 1.5 cm across, violaceous or lilac, few and distant on spine-lipped branches (inflorescences); pedicels up to 5 mm in fruit, thickened. Sepals 7-9 x 2-2.5 mm. Petals 15-20 x 3-3.5 mm. Stamens 6-9:7·10 mm; anthers sagittate 2-3.5 mm. Siliculae ovoid to sub globose, 6-12 mm long with 11 2-7 mm long beak, ± smooth, wrinkled, or conspicuously with shield-like outgrowths on the surface, very variable, 2-seeded. Seeds c. 3 x 2-2.5 mm, ellipsoid, brownish.  

Life Form

N.Ph

Phytochoria

SA. The native range of this species is E. Medit. to Sudan and Iraq.

Distribution in Libya

Zliten-Misurata Plain:  Misurata 2006   Misurata (Sassu Valley) 2016

Sirte Plains:  (2 km) E.Bugrain 1967  (128 km) before Sirte 1969   Wadi Soofejeen 2017

Benghazi Plain:  Slouk-Msus road 2000  Msus-Al-Ajramia zone 2004

Jabal Nafusa:   Reported from Bin Ulid, Mizda by Durand & Barratte  Gebel Nefousa 1971

Marmarica Plateau:  Reported in Marmarica north-eastern part of Libya by Pampanini 1930  Al-Tamimi 1975 From Tobruk to Egyptian Border 1999   Marmarica (north-eastern part of Libya) 2002   Al-Makhili 2007   Dafna region (Tobruk to Msaid) 2008

Al-Qibla area:  Wadi Nesma region 2009  Wadis South of Mizda 2013

Al-Hamada Al-Hamra:  Al-Hamada Al-Hamra Region 2020

Ghadames area:  Reported from Ghadames by Durand & Barratte   (184 km) from Nalut to Ghadames 1975

Al-Jufra area:  (35,43 km) from Weshka, between Sokna to Hun 1975  (20,100 km) from Hun to Bugrain, near Sokna, Wadi Weshka 1976  EL-Harouge mountain 2012   EL-Jufra 2018

Fezzan area:  Between Sebha & Hun 1973

Ghat area:    Ghat (Between Acacus and Tassili Mountains) 2004   Wadi Tanezzuft 2012

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Ali, S.I. & Jafri, S.M.H. (1977) Flora of Libya, Brassicaceae Vol. (23) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya. Page. 73.

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

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

Al-Shaibani, I., Al-Barasi, Y., Al-Tajouri, B. and Al-Wafi, M. (2020) An Introductory Study of the Geography & Geology of Al-Hamada Al-Hamra Region in Western Libya and Some Perennial Plants. Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology. Vol, 2 No. 2 Dec, 2020. (In Arabic).

جغرافية وجيولوجية منطقة الحمادة الحمراء غرب ليبيا وبعض النباتات المعمرة بها 2020

EL-Barasi,Y.M., Bader, B.M., Barrani. M.W., EL-Hashani, N.M. and Alamrouni, A.O. (2018) Ecological studies on EL-Jufra Desert Depression., https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323990883_Ecological_studies_On_EL-Jufra_Desert_Depression

Ecological studies on EL-Jufra Desert Depression. 2018

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 .

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. (In Arabic) https://search.mandumah.com/Record/813441

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

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. (2012) Factors affecting natural vegetation on EL-Harouge Mountain, Central part of Libyan Desert (Sahara). Bocconea 24: 199-211. 2012. -ISSN 1120-4060. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manam-Saaed-2https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323991132_Factors_Affecting_Natural_vegetation_on_EL-Harouge_mountain_Central_part_of_Libyan_desert_Sahara

Factors affecting natural vegetation on EL-Harouge Mountain. 2012

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

Bahri, N.M. (2009) Study of the vegetation covers of Wadi Nesma region, northwest of Libya. Master Thesis, Department of Botany, College of Science, Sebha University, Libya. (In Arabic).

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).

Atet Allah, E.H., Alfitory, M.Y., Khaled, S.A., Mohammed, S.K, Hasan, A.A. (2007) Adaptation of some plant communities Halophytes and Xerophytes in East Libya. Al-Mukhtar for Science, Issue Sixteen, 2007 (In Arabic) https://omu.edu.ly/journals/index.php/mjsc/issue/view/43

أقلمة بعض المجتمعات النباتية الملحية والصحراوية بشرق ليبيا. 2007

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).

El-Jetlawi A.O.(2004) Study of vegetation and soil seed bank of a range desert zone (Msus-Al-Ajramia), Master of Science Thesis, Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya (In Arabic).

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).

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.

EL-Habony, A.M. (1999) Vegetation and flora of a sector along Mediterranean cost of Libya from Tobruk to Egyptian border, M.Sc. Thesis, Botany Department-Faculty of Science-Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya. (in Arabic).

Leave a Reply

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