Family |
Primulaceae
Lysimachia loeflingii
F.J.Jiménez & M.Talavera
Lysimachia loeflingii F.J.Jiménez & M.Talavera
First published in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 199: 571 (2022).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, pp. 4–5, Pl. III, 2–3; 1983)
Description
Synonyms: Anagallis caerulea L.; Anagallis arvensis var. caerulea (L.) Gouan; Anagallis latifolia L.
Life-form & habit: Annual with glabrous, four-angled, prostrate or ascending stems and diffuse branching, described by Mouterde within Anagallis arvensis.
Leaves: Opposite, entire, oval, 5–20 × 3–9 mm. Mouterde notes that the regional material he examined lacked discernible hairs and black glands.
Inflorescence & flowers: Solitary axillary flowers on stalks 1–2.5 times as long as the leaves, becoming curved. Calyx divided nearly to the base into pointed linear lobes. The blue-flowered var. caerulea has a deep azure corolla, spreading and equal to or slightly longer than the calyx, with more or less toothed and fringed margins.
Fruit: Many-seeded capsule, 4–5 mm, opening by a transverse lid.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Almost throughout the year, in Mouterde’s combined Anagallis arvensis account.
Habitat & elevation: Disturbed ground, cultivation margins and sandy places, in Mouterde’s combined account.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Specifically under var. caerulea: Saida, Haret Hreik, Borj Brajne, the Akkar plain, Bir Hassan, Beirut, Bouar, Nahr Beirut, Asfouriye, Jamhour, Qornet Chehwan, Dimane and Ehden.
Syrian distribution: Specifically under var. caerulea: Damascus, Deraa, Hamme, Homs, Deir ez Zor, Tell Bouada and between Homs and Tell Kalakh.
Recorded locations: Kornet Chehwan.
Native range: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central European Russia, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Madeira, Morocco, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Northwest European Russia, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, South European Russia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and West Himalaya.
Introduced into: Japan, Mauritius, Mexico Central, New Caledonia, New Zealand North, New Zealand South and Réunion.
⚠️ Taxonomic note:
Kew places Anagallis arvensis var. caerulea and A. latifolia within Lysimachia loeflingii. Mouterde combines the blue- and red-flowered plants under A. arvensis; the localities above are specifically those of his blue-flowered var. caerulea. Shared morphology, flowering and habitat are attributed to his broader account.