Flora-Fauna

Aethionema stylosum DC.

(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. XXXIV nº 9; 1966)

• Life‑form & habit : Woody‑based, compact perennial with short, tufted stems only 5–15 cm tall.
• Leaves : Ovate‑lanceolate, 10–17 mm long, sub‑acute; those at the stem base shortly petiolate, the upper ones sessile.
• Inflorescence : Dense racemes carried at the stem tips, each flower on a comparatively long pedicel.
• Flowers : Sepals obtuse, yellow‑green; petals pale pink, 6–8 mm; the longer staminal filaments fused at their bases.
• Fruit : Slender silicles edged by shallowly crenulate wings and surmounted by a distinctly protruding style.
• Phenology : Plants are in bloom from late spring to early summer (collections and photographs made in June).
• Habitat : Rocky substrates at high elevations; the species is generally scarce.
• Local distribution : Recorded in Lebanon at Hasroun, Tannourine, Sir‑ed‑Dennié, the Makmel summit ridge, Jabal Sannine and Rahoué.
• Native range : Now considered endemic to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey