Family |
Boraginaceae
Melanortocarya obtusifolia
(Willd.) Selvi, Bigazzi,
Melanortocarya obtusifolia (Willd.) Selvi, Bigazzi, Hilger & Papini
First published in Taxon 55: 915 (2006).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, p. 83, Pl. XLI, 4; 1983)
Description
Life-form & habit: Annual herb with diffuse, prostrate stems 20–40 cm long, green and covered with short, fine bristles on more or less swollen bases.
Leaves: Obovate-oblong and generally entire. Basal leaves blunt and narrowed into a stalk; stem leaves stalkless and shortly running down the stem.
Inflorescence & flowers: Axillary flowers, shorter than the leaves, form short, loose cymes. Calyx divided halfway into five lobes and nodding in fruit; pale-blue corolla barely exceeds it.
Fruit: Upright, slightly pointed nutlets, smooth and glossy with a very fine covering of hairs.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: February–April.
Habitat & elevation: Roadsides, cultivated land and shaded places.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Saida, Beirut, Nahr el Kelb, Ras Chekka to Hamate, Tripoli, Ghazir, Jabal Terbol, the Zahle pass, Ehden, Ibl es Saki and Sarada; also recorded at Bqaatouta.
Syrian distribution: Bhamra, Laqbe, El Beida, south of Hadidi, Slenfe, Kessab, Wadi Qandil, Kizil Dagh, Bassit, Tell Aqibrine, Homs, Khabab, Heite and Khisfine.
Native range: Bulgaria, Greece, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe.
Introduced into: Italy.
⚠️ Taxonomic note:
Mouterde describes this species as Nonea obtusifolia (Willd.) DC., with Lycopsis obtusifolia Willd. as a synonym. Kew confirms both names as synonyms of the accepted Melanortocarya obtusifolia.