Flora-Fauna

Alcea damascena (Mouterde) Mouterde

(Nouv. Fl. Liban Syrie 2: 507, 1970; Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 507; Pl. CCXVII nº 2; 1969)

• Life-form & habit: Erect perennial, usually with a simple stem, reaching or exceeding 1 m, cylindrical, covered with appressed greyish tomentum.

• Leaves: Distant, long-petioled, densely covered with stellate hairs, especially beneath; lamina not exceeding 5 cm, variably lobed, often deeply, margins denticulate, veins prominent below.

• Inflorescence & flowers: Loose raceme; flowers solitary or paired, shortly pedunculate, lower ones axillated by floral leaves. Calicule with 4–6 lobes, not exceeding one third of the calyx; calyx distinctly striate, slightly pubescent. Petals white, 2–4 cm, obcordate, slightly bearded at the base.

• Fruit: Carpels densely tomentose-stellate, with obtuse margin, elegantly reticulate on the sides, faintly furrowed dorsally. Seeds smooth.

• Phenology: Flowers May–September.

• Habitat & elevation: Dry ground under subarid Syrian climate, often near habitations, steppe edges.

• Lebanese distribution: Ouadi Fou’ara (Mount Lebanon), Hermel, Qaa, Baalbeck, Ras Baalbeck, Chara de Baalbeck.
• Syrian distribution:  Between Homs and Hama; Ma‘aret-en-No‘mane; Teftenaz; Chaizar; north of Massiaf; Mount Qasyoun; ‘Adra; Anti-Lebanon (Ouadi el-Qarn, Ouadi Houreiré).
• Native range: Endemic to Lebanon and Syria