Family |
Boraginaceae
Solenanthus stamineus
(Desf.) Wettst.
Solenanthus stamineus (Desf.) Wettst.
≡ Cynoglossum stamineum Desf. ≡ Solenanthus tournefortii DC.
(First published in Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss., Wien. Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 50: 88; 1885. Treated in Nouv. Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, p. 60, Pl. XXX nº 4; 1984)
• Life-form & habit: Velvety-canescent, leafy, robust perennial 30 – 60 cm tall; stems short-branched above, briefly paniculate.
• Leaves: Three-nerved; lower leaves oblong, obtuse, long-attenuate at base, distinctly petiolate; upper cauline ones semi-amplexicaul.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Cymes dense, short, and much accrescent after anthesis. Calyx tomentose, white, with oblong-linear lobes. Corolla slightly longer than the calyx, purplish-violet to bluish; lobes triangular. Filaments very long and rigid, giving the plant its characteristic aspect.
• Fruit: Nutlets without distinct margins, covered with glochidiate spines.
• Phenology: Flowers May – June.
• Habitat & elevation: High-mountain slopes and alpine regions.
• Lebanese distribution: Khan Sannine, Jabal Kneissé, Ehden, Les Cèdres, Moukhada near Laqlouq; upper slopes of Mount Hermon.
• Native range: Dzoungaria, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Caucasus, Central Asia.
• ⚠️ Taxonomic note: Closely allied to Solenanthus circinnatus Ledeb., from which it differs by its lower leaves long-attenuate at base, rigid filaments, and shorter, denser inflorescences. Represents the typical high-mountain form of Solenanthus in Lebanon.