Family |
Caryophyllaceae
Paronychia argentea
Lam.
Paronychia argentea Lam.
First published in Fl. Franç. 3: 230 (1779).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, p. 456, Pl. CLVI, 4; 1966)
• Life-form & habit: Perennial in Mouterde’s account, with hairless, prostrate stems reaching 50 cm.
• Leaves: Hairless, obovate-oblong and pointed, with papery stipules that can be strongly developed and almost exceed the leaves.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Very dense lateral and terminal heads. Pointed, oval bracts greatly exceed the flowers. Sepals short, with papery margins and hooded tips prolonged into a straight awn, often projecting horizontally.
• Phenology: March–May.
• Habitat & elevation: Various kinds of ground; frequent in Mouterde’s account.
• Lebanese distribution: Saida, Beirut and its surroundings, Tripoli, Abey, Ghazir, Broummana, Rayfoun, Douma, the Cedars of Hadeth, Qannoubine, Roueissat, Tlail, Qalaat ech Chekif, Marjayoun, Chtaura, Qabb Elias, Zahle, north of Rayak, Fraidiss and the Hasbaya area.
• Syrian distribution: Tartous, Bhamra, Kessab, Aleppo, Afrine, Homs, Hama, Jabal Qasyoun, Sahl es Sahra and Hassiyé.
• Recorded locations: Bekish.
• Native range: Algeria, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Western Sahara.