Flora-Fauna

Tanacetum densum (Labill.) Sch.Bip.

≡ Pyrethrum densum Labill.; Chrysanthemum densum (Labill.) Steud.
(First published in Tanaceteen: 48; 1844. Treated in Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, p. 423; Pl. CCXXXVI nº 3; 1983)

• Life-form & habit: Perennial, multicaule, arising from a strongly lignified, non-creeping root; stems green or whitish-yellow, densely villous-tomentose. Sterile shoots numerous at the base, densely leafy.
• Leaves: Pale green, tomentose, oblong (2–5 cm), attenuate at both ends, pinnatisect into closely spaced, linear segments further divided into confluent lobules. Cauline leaves progressively smaller.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Corymbs few-headed; peduncles longer than capitula. Capitula hemispheric-ovoid, c. 5 mm; involucre tomentose, tightly appressed; inner bracts hyaline, laciniate. Ligules oblong-spatulate, trilobed, very pale yellow.
• Fruit: Achenes with a very short crown.
• Phenology: Flowers June–August.
• Habitat & elevation: Rocky mountain slopes, montane to subalpine belts.
• Lebanese distribution: Hermon (Labill., Boiss., Mouterde, coll. Aar, Dinsm., Pb).
• Syrian distribution: Anti-Lebanon (above Zebdani, Ma‘loula, Jabal Halimé, Zebdani range, Bloudane).
• Native range: Lebanon, Syria, Turkey. (POWO)