Family |
Papaveraceae
Hypecoum imberbe
Sm.
Hypecoum imberbe Sm.
(J. Sibthorp & J.E. Smith, Fl. Graec. Prodr. 1: 107, 1806; Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 70; Pl. XXVIII nº 2; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Annual, 10–35 cm tall, glabrous to glaucous, with several stems arising from a slender taproot; stems ascending to erect, branched towards the summit.
Leaves: Basal leaves spreading, 2-pinnatisect, with narrow linear lobes; cauline leaves smaller, sessile, also divided.
Inflorescence & flowers: Dichasia, many-flowered. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, entire, caducous. Petals conspicuous, yellow to orange-yellow; external petals broadly obovate-triangular, divided into three nearly equal rounded lobes; internal petals deeply trifid, the entire portion very short. Stamens 4, filaments broadly dilated at base.
Fruit: Loment linear, elongated, articles tardily caducous.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowers February–May.
Habitat & elevation: Fields, waste ground, steppe habitats; often on sandy or calcareous soils.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Saïda, Beirut, Kaftine, Beit Méri, Akkar, Ehden, Dimane, Bcharré, Hasroun, Maasser el-Chouf Cedars, Yammouneh, Mejdel Anjar.
Syrian distribution: Baalbeck, Deir el-Ahmar, Talia, Ouadi el-Harir, Rachaya, Ouadi el-Qarn, Bloudane, Yabroud, Barzé, Mayssaloun, Damascus plain, Harasta, Slenfé, Alaouites, Aleppo, Jabal Sema‘ane, Deir Baalbé, Tell Abou Maqbara, Palmyra, Qala‘at Jendel, Soueida, Aqareb, Salamiyé.
Native range: Rare in the western Mediterranean; widespread in the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia (Mouterde).
⚠️ Diagnostic note: Distinguished from Hypecoum procumbens by its larger flowers (up to 15 mm), broadly obovate-triangular external petals with nearly equal lobes, and tardily caducous fruit articles