Reaumuria alternifolia (Gintzburger et al., 2003)
| Reaumuria alternifolia (Gintzburger et al., 2003) |
Reaumuria alternifolia (Labill.) Britten
Local name:
- Russian: Реомюрия кустарниковая, иссек - reomjurija kustarnikovaja, issek
- Uzbek: Issek
Description and morphology: Dwarf shrub (height up to 80 cm), glaucous, uneven stiff, sometimes prickly, branches. Leaves: leathery or fleshy, small (scale-shaped), alternate, perforated, light green. Flowers: bisexual; actinomorphic, interrupted spikes, small, with nectariferous disk; 4–10 (rarely 12–14) stamens accreted at base. Pollen grains 2-celled, 3– 4-colpate. Ovary superior with numerous ovules. Ovule anatropous, bitegmic, crassinucellate.
Reproduction: Sexual. Anemophilous. Fruit: cartilaginous capsule dehiscing with 5 valves. Seed: fleshy, erect embryo and undeveloped endosperm, covered by long unicellular hairs.
Pastoral importance: Seeds and leaves grazed by gazelles in summer, possibly as a source of salt.
Habitat: Xero-halophyte. Occurs on saltmarshes and saline flats (solonchak-alkaline soils).
Distribution: Irano-Turanian region (western Turkmenia, Central Karakum, Kyzylkum and Aral region).
