Family |
Caprifoliaceae
Morina persica
L.
Morina persica L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 28 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, pp. 332–333, Pl. CLXIX, 1; 1983)
Description
Life-form & habit: Thistlelike perennial with a stout stem, 60–100 cm tall, ending in a long inflorescence of numerous flower whorls.
Leaves: Leathery, lance-shaped in outline and variously lobed, with rigid, long spines. Lower leaves are stalked; the others are stalkless, in whorls of three or four. Spiny floral leaves are joined at their bases.
Inflorescence & flowers: Nearly stalkless flowers cluster in the leaf axils. The hairy outer envelope bears long spines; the pink, hairy corolla has a long tube and a two-lipped opening. Two stamens are developed and two are rudimentary.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering May–August.
Habitat & elevation: High-elevation districts on fertile soils.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Ehden, Dimane, Denniye, Bcharre, the Cedars, Dimane–Hasroun, Afqa, Sannine, east of Douma, Jabal Kneisse and its western slopes, Ain Zehalta, Antoura in the Metn and Hazerta.
Syrian distribution: Draj plateaux in the upper Anti-Lebanon.
Native range: Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Iran, Lebanon-Syria, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, West Himalaya.