Flora-Fauna

Chaerophyllum libanoticum Boiss. & Kotschy

(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 585; 1969. First published in Diagnoses Plantarum Orientalium, ser. 2, 6: 89, 1859)

• Life-form & habit: Biennial with a thick tuberous root; stem tall, 50–100 cm, striate, glabrous, erect.

• Leaves: Large, bright green, bipinnatisect into lobulate segments, thin in texture; upper leaves smaller.

• Inflorescence & flowers: Umbels with 12–20 rays. Involucral bracts deciduous, slightly membranous; bracteoles also membranous. Flowers white, with outer petals conspicuously radiating.

• Fruit: Cylindrical, glabrous, 10–15 mm long, broadened toward the apex, hispid on surface; styles divergent.

• Phenology: Flowers in summer (July–August).

• Habitat & elevation: Fertile woodland soils and montane slopes.

• Lebanese distribution: Montane localities of North and Mount Lebanon: Bcharré (type), Dimane, Hasroun, Tannourine-el-Foqa.

• Syrian distribution: Coastal ranges of Lattaquié (Slenfé).

• Native range: Amanus, Alaouites, Lebanon.