The Libyan Journal of Science (An International Journal): Volume 18, 2014/2015

New Records for the Flora of Libya

Fathi B. Erteeb1* and Omar Sharashi2

1
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya
2
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Sebha, Sebha, Libya
*[email protected]

Abstract

Five genera and eleven species are added to the flora of libya. They are collected
and/or photographed in several trips throughout Libya from 1998 to 2014. These are:
Glinus (Molluginaceae), Allenia (Chenopodiaceae), Flaveria (Asteraceae), Sesbania
(Fabaceae), Citarexylem (Verbenaceae). The species also include, Populus
euphratica (Salicaceae), Chloris gayana (Poaceae), Picris echeoides (Asteraceae),
Ferula verticillata (Apiaceae), Antirrhinum ramosissimus (Scrophuloriaceae) and
Physallis philadeliphicus (Solanaceae).

‫المستخلص‬
‫أو تصوير خمس أجناس وأحدى عشرة نوع جديد لتضاف إلى موسوعة النباتات‬/‫تم في هذه الدراسة جمع و‬
:‫ وهذه االجناس هي‬.‫م‬4112 ‫ إلى‬1991 ‫الليبية وذلك من خالل عدة رحالت من‬
Glinus (Molluginaceae), Allenia (Chenopodiaceae), Flaveria (Asteraceae), Sesbania
(Fabaceae), Citarexylem (Verbenaceae).
:‫وتتضمن االنواع أيضا‬
Populus euphratica (Salicaceae), Chloris gayana (Poaceae), Picris echeoides
(Asteraceae), Ferula verticillata (Apiaceae), Antirrhinum ramosissimus
(Scrophuloriaceae), and Physallis philadeliphicus (Solanaceae).

Keywords: Flora of Libya; Molluginaceae; Chenopodiaceae; Fabaceae; Verbenaceae;

Salicaceae; Apiaceae.

Accepted for publication: 27/12/2015

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 Fathi B. Erteeb and Omar Sharashi

Introduction

Since 1986 when the flora of Libya project was completed and published in the
series of the "Flora of Libya" , edited by Ali et al. (1976-1987), about twenty
species were added (Siddiqi et al, 1986; El-Gadi et al, 1987).
Many others were encountered and not published officially in prominent
scientific journals. Some are mentioned in this paper. More, probably, uknown
species need to be collected and recorded.
Libya occupies a vast area of North Africa (more than 1.76 km2). It is
characterized by variable habitats ranging from plains and mountains in the north
to desert valleys and oasis in the south. Because of this wide area, remote habitats
and the long period (quarter of a century) since the publication of the series of the
Flora of Libya, there are still remote localities that need to be visited and, hence,
many taxa need to be recorded. In this paper five genera: Glinus (G.lotoides L.) in
the Molluginaceae, Allenia (A. autrani (Post) Zoh.) in the Chenopodiaceae,
Flaveria (F. bidentis (L.) Kuntze in the Asteraceae, Sesbania (S. sesban L.) Merr
(Fabaceae) and Citharexylem (Verbenaceae) are recorded for the first time from
Libya. The presence of these genera in Libya, is confirmed by specimens and
drawings. In addition, the following species are also newly recorded: Populus
euphratica Oliv. (Salicaceae), Picris echioides L. (Asteraceae), Chloris gayana
Kunth (Poaceae), Physallis philadeliphicus (Solanaceae), Ferula biverticillata
Thieb (Apiaceae), and Antirrhinum ramosissimus (Scrophlariaceae). These plant
taxa are not mentioned in the Flora of Libya series (Ghafoor, 1977; Jafri and Rateeb,
1978; Siddiqi, 1978; Jafri, 1980; Siddiqi, 1980; Qaiser, 1982; Alavi, 1983; Jafri,
1985; Sherif and Siddiqi, 1985, and Siddiqi, 1987). Brief description and scientific
drawings or photos are provided for all taxa included in this study. The voucher
specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of the Botany Department, Faculty of
Science, University of Tripoli (ULT).

Materials and Method

Several field trips were conducted to different parts of Libya, either with flora
students or along with other groups of reseachers. Sometimes, specimens were
collected, in other cases photographs were taken by camera. The locations of the
specimens collected or photographed are shown on Fig. 1.

Molluginaceae
Glinus L. Sp. Pl. 463 (175); Gen. Pl., ed. 5. 208. 1754.

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 New Records for the Flora of Libya

Annual herbs, tomentose, rarely glabrous, with alternate, exstipulate leaves.

Flowers are bisexual, clustered at the axils of leaves, almost sessile. Sepals 5,
imbricate, equal. Petals absent or indefinite. Stamens are 8-20, distinct or in groups.
Ovary superior, 3-5 loculed, each locule with many ovules. Styles 3-5. Fruit is a
capsule, 3-5 celled, opening by 5 valves. Seeds reniform with large strophules.

Glinus lotoides L., Sp. Pl. 463 (1753); Zohzry, Fl. Palest. 1.: 73. 1966.
Annual stellate-tomentose, branched at the base, up to 36 cm tall, decumbent to
ascending. Leaves semiwhorled, obovate-spathulate, variable in size (6-18 x 7-13
mm), petioles 4 mm or less. Flowers hermaphrodite, calyx 6mm long, and petals
absent. Fruit is a capsule, 5 mm long and 3-5 mm wide, pentagonal, and many
seeded. Seeds are 0.5 mm, almost kidney shaped, finely tuberculate, and brown
coloured with large appendages (strophile).
Specimens studied: A-3 Wadi Ka`am dam, Al Khums, flooded banks of the dam,
common 29. 12. 1994. This plant species is also observed in Wadi Imrawin, Messak,
south of Ubari (E-2) 2001, and Wadi Ashomer, southeast of Taknis, Jabal al Akhdar
(A-7) 2012 and Wadi al Mgenin (Fig. 2).

Chenopodiaceae
AelleniaUlbrich
Glabrous bluish green herb or shrub with long and loose branches. Lower leaves 1-
3(4) x 1.5-3 cm., linear. Bracteoles with a broad base, semicircular above, as long
as the perianth. Bracteoles triangular and shorter than the perianth. Perianth
segments 5, oval below, acuminate above, first membranous, later hardening, each
with a large wing (flowers 2 cm in diameter); the base pentagonal, with a swollen
margin and with 5 radial ribs above with sinuses between them. Stamens 5. Style
ovate semicircular, stigma 2, truncate above. Seed horizontal.

Aellenia autrani (Post.) Zohary, Fl. Palest. Vol. 1. 1966; Salsola autrani Post., Fl.
Syr. Pal. Sin. 690 (1883 – 1896).
Annual herb, somewhat succulent when young, branching from base; branches
effuse or pyramidal – paniculate. Leaves remaining during inflorescence, sessile,
somewhat expanded at base, linear, 1 to 5 cm long, obtuse, the floral oblong to
ovate. Flowers small, solitary, in somewhat dense or loose spikes. Bracteoles
orbicular, puberulent, green, about as long as floral leaves, lobes of fruiting perianth
wings ovate, obtuse.
Invasive weed recently appeared in the southern area of Gharian making the fields
blue colored.
A-2 Ghout Erreh and Tamasyrt, south of Gharian, very common. Also observed in
Ain Tobi and Abu Ghaylan (Fig. 3).

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 Fathi B. Erteeb and Omar Sharashi

Distribution: Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.

Fig. 1. Location map of specimens. Modified from Ali et al. (1976-1986).

Verbenaceae
Citharexylum L
Sp. Pl. 625. 1753: Gen. Pl. ed. 5: 273. 1754.
Shrubs or trees with opposite-decussate, tenate or verticillate leaves, usually with a
pair of glands at the base of lamina. Spicate receme terminal or axillary. Flowers
small, white or yellow. Calyx tubular or cyathiform, 5-toothed or lobed to truncate.
Corolla tube infundibuliform or cylindrical with 5, patent lobes. Stamens 5, lower
2 forming staminodes, included. Ovary 2 carpellary, perfectly or imperfectithly 4-
loculed, with 1 ovule in each locule. Style terminal with bifid stigma. Fruit a fleshy
drupe, partly enclosed by enlarged, persistent calyx (Jafri and Ghafoor, 1974).
About 115 species, mainly distributed from southern United States to Argentina and
Uruguay. Represented in Libya by a single cultivated species.

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 New Records for the Flora of Libya

Citharexylum cinerem Linn., Ind. Occ. Brasil. S. 6.; Bailey, St. Cyc. Hort. 1: A-Z.
1963.
Trees up to 6 m high with branches 4-angled first and becoming cylindrical. Leaves
elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, opposite, usually obtuse, glabrous or nearly so
beneath. Flowers are white, in long lax and noding spike-racemes, faintly scented.
Calyx unequally lobed. Corolla tube twice as long as calyx. Fruit nearly globular,
red becoming black.
E-3 Tripoli, University of Tripoli campus, cultivated in front of buildings and in
many places as ornamental tree (Fig. 4).

Asteraceae
FlaveriaA. Juss.,
Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze, Bolous, Fl. Egypt. 3: 238. (2002); Flaveria
contrayebra (Cav.) Pers., Stud. Fl. Egypt, Tachh. 572. 1974; F. bonariensis DC.,
Prodr. 5: 635 (1836).
Glabrescent annual 20-60 (80) cm, with much branched stems. Leaves laceolate-
elliptic, 3.5 to 10 cm Long and 0.6-1.8 wide, sparsely serrate to dentate to subentire,
petiolae or almost sessile. Capitula are small in congested scorpioid terminal
glomerules, and irregulary rayed. Involucre about 0.5 long and 1 mm wide, almost
cylindrical; phyllaries 2-serrate, obtuse. Ray florets are 2-3 with pale yellow corolla.
Disc florets 3-8 mm long and 3-3.5 mm wide. Achenes of ray florets 2.5 mm,
cylindrical, black. Achenes of disc florets 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, ellpsoid,
black.
Specimen studied: E-3, Murzuq farms, Murzuq, 20.01.2011 O. S. Sharashy (Fig. 5).

Sesbania Scop.
Introd. Hist. Nat. 308. 1777, nomen conserv.
Annual herbs or shrubs or small trees, short-lived, soft woody. Leaves parpinnate,
leaflets many pinnate, stipules minute or non. Racemes axillary, lax, many
flowered. Flowers are yellow or red purple, varigated. Calyx broad with truncate
tube, toohted or subequally lobed. Corolla glabrous, yellow, standard orbicular or
ovate. Stamens 9+1 and free from the standard. Pod long, dehiscent, beaked, 8-50
seeded.
About 50 species widely distributed in warm and wet regions of the world (Boulos,
1999).

Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. (Bot.) 7: 235. 1912; Boulos, F. Egyt.,
1: 318. 1999.
Rapid growing and reaching a height of 2.4 m.

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 Fathi B. Erteeb and Omar Sharashi

Specimen studied: E-3 near Murzuq Agriculture Progect, 20. 01. 2011. O. S.
Sharashy.
Reported by Keith (1965) as exotic, seeds introduced under the name Sesbania
macrocarpa in June 1961 and sent to Ag. Exper. Station at Sebha for use as a
windbreaker. Not mentioned in series of "Flora of Libya", Fabaceae no. 86 by Jafri
(1980), (Fig. 5).

Asteraceae
Picris echioides L., Sp. Pl. 792 (1753); Tutin et al., Fl Eu. 3: 316 (1972). Helminthia
lustanica Wilk, Ill. Fl. Hisp. 2: 145 (1893); Zoha., Fl. Pal. 3. (1962).
Annual or biennial herbs. Stems 30 – 90 cm, with rigid often tubercle – based hairs,
often with some slender spines. Leaves with numerous unequal rigid hairs, the
larger thickened at the base or tubercle based, and often with scattered spines; basal
3.5 – 25 x 1.5 – 10 cm, elliptical to lanceolate or oblong – oblanceolate, obtuse to
acute, sinuate to dentate, narrowed at base into a winged petiole; lower cauline
similar to basal but with semi-amplexicaule petioles, the upper lanceolate to ovate,
sessile, amplexicaule. Capitula numerous. Iinvolucre 1.2 – 2.0 x 1.0 – 1.5 cm. Bracts
with pectinate ciliate margins, the outer ovate - cordate, acuminate, the inner
lanceolate, slightly longer than the outer. Cypselas 5-7 mm, transversely muricate,
with long beak about as long as the body, the inner reddish-brown, more or less
straight, the outer whitish, curved.
A–7. Ain Mara, Jabal al Akhdar, 25.08. 1999, F. B. Erteeb. (Fig. 7)
Distribution: South Europe, naturalized in central Europe and further north, central
and western Asia, western Africa, north Atlantic islands, and North America.

Solanaceae
Physalis philadelphicus Lam., Encycl. Met. Bot. 2. 101 (1786); Tutin et al., Fl. Eu.
3: 196 (1972).
Annual herb, subglabrous with a few short hairs on young shoots, leaves and
calyces. Stem erect, 45 to 60 cm. Leaves ovate to ovate – lanceolate, 2 – 10 x 1 – 4
cm, acuminate, cuneate at base, entire or sinuate to somewhat dentate towards the
base. Petiole 2 – 5 cm. Pedicels 5 – 10 mm. Calyx 4 – 10 mm, ovate, fruiting calyx
30 – 50 mm, green, often purple veined. Corolla 5 – 30 mm in diam., yellow with
brownish purple markings at the throat. Anthers 1.25 – 4 mm, purple, curved at
anthesis. Filaments purple. Berry 13 – 40 mm, green to purple, filling and
sometimes spliting the calyx.
A-2 Al Harsha, Zawia, grows as a weed in a cultivated field, 10.04.2001, F. B.
Erteeb. 2554 – F. (Fig. 8).
Distribution: North and South America, Europe, naturalized in Ukraine for its edible
fruit, and could be found as a weed elswhere.

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 New Records for the Flora of Libya

Salicaceae
Populus euphratica Oliv., Voy. Emp. Othman, ed. Min. 6: 319 (1807); Boulos, Fl.
Egy. 1: 14 (1999).
Tree up to 15 m high, with spreading branches, twigs puberulent. Leaves variable
in shape ranges from linear – lanceolate on juvenile branches to broadly ovate or
triangular on mature ones, 2-12 x 2-8 cm; flowers remote, long pedicelled, in loose
catkins. Fruit large ovoid capsules. Seeds numerous with a tuff of long silky hairs.
C–8. About 25 km to the west of Al Jaghbub oasis, 25. 08. 2002, F. B. Erteeb.
Around 25 trees some of them are coming from old laying trunks, in sand dunes in
only one locality (Fig. 9).
Distribution: North Africa, southwest and central Asia.

Apiaceae
Ferula biverticillata Thieb, Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 82: 190 (1935).
Perennial herb with fusiform root stock, ranges from 20-40 cm heigh stem anfibrous at the
base, erect, striate divaricately branched from the middle into several branches with 2-4
whorls of inflorescence. Leaves up 35 cm, falling before anthesis, mainly basal leaves or
confined to the lower part of the stem, ovate in outline, 3-4 pinnatifid, densely or sparingly
scabrous bristly, segmenrs ovate or oblong in outline, 2-3 pinnatepartite, ultimate lobes
short, oblong or linear, mucronate; upper leaves reduced to short acuminate sheats, not
inflated, appressed to the stem. Inflorescence verticillately or corymbose branched; fertile
umbells 4-14 rayed. Involucre 0 or a few bracts. Petals yellow. Stylopodium depressed–
conical, much shorter than the deflexed styles. Fruit 1-1.2 cm long to 0.3-0.5 wide, as long
as or somewhat longer than the pedicel, linear-elliptic. Specimen studied: A-7, farm
southeast of Al Marj, Jabal al Akhdar, 23. 7. 2007 (Fig. 10).

Poaceae
Chloris gayana Kunth, Revis. Gram. 89 (1829); Hitchcock, Man. Grass. U.S. 2nd.
Ed. 1: 220 (1971); Zohary, Fl. Pal. 4: 222 (1986).
Perennial with long, stout, leafy stolons. Culms 1 to 1.5 m tall, nodes brown. Blades
flat, 3 – 5 mm wide, tapering to a fine point; spikes several to numerous, erect or
ascending, 5 to 10 cm long. Spikelets crowded, pale – tawing. Lemma 3 mm. long,
hispid, on the margins near the summit. The awn 1 to 5 mm long, commonly 2
rudiment florets present.
A specimen brought to the Herbarium for identification is identified and illustrated
(Fig, 11). It is cultivated in Brak agricultural project southwestern Libya. Originally
from Tropical Africa and commonly known as Rhodes Grass. It is valued as very
important forage grass.

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 Fathi B. Erteeb and Omar Sharashi

Fig. 2. Glinus lotoides: A, portion of the Fig. 2D. Branch of the plant (photograph).
plant. B, flower; C, seeds.

Fig. 3. Allenia autrani, portion of plant and flower.

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 New Records for the Flora of Libya

Scropholariacea
Antirrhinum ramosissimum Coss. et Dur.,Coss., III. Fl. Atlant.,ii. 153 (1897);
Quezel, P. et S. Santa., Nouv. Fl. Alger.Tome II . 847. Fig. 2517. 1963.. Edit.Nat.
Rech. Scien.; Ozenda, P., Fl . Sah.383. Fig. 138.1977.
A dwarf shrub with numerous intricate branches , stiff, and the old branches
become spiny. Leaves entire, narrow, and deciduous. Pedicel slender and longer
than the bract and calyx.Calyx lobedinto 5 oval-lanceolate sepals. Corolla 5 to 7
mmpale violet-whitish. Fruit small subglobose capsule.
Specimen studied: B-2, Al Hamada, Derj area, common. Near the Algerian border,
2. 8. 2010 (Fig. 12).

Fig. 2. Citharexylum cinerem: on the left leaves from older branches, right leaves from
young branches of the same tree.

Fig. 5. Flaveria bidentis.

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 Fathi B. Erteeb and Omar Sharashi

Fig.6. Sesbania sesbana. Part of the plant (right) and Seeds (left).

Fig . 7. Picris echioides. Fig. 8. Physalis philadelphicus.

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 New Records for the Flora of Libya

Fig. 9. Populus euphratica.

Fig, 10. Ferula biverticillata. Habit (left), with the dug root stock and fruits (right).

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Fathi B. Erteeb and Omar Sharashi

Fig. 11. Chloris gayana.

Fig. 12. Antirrhinum ramosissimum.

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 New Records for the Flora of Libya

Refernceses

Ali, S I., Jafri, S. M. H, and El-Gadi, A. (1976-1986). Flora of Libya. Al Fateh

University, Faculty of Science. Deprtment of Botany. Tripoli, Libya.
Alavi, S. (1983). Asteraceae. In: The Flora of Libya (Jafri,. S. M. H. and A. El-
Gadi, eds). University of Tripoli, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany,
Tripoli, Libya, No. 107.
Bolous, L. (1999). Flora of Egypt. Al Hadara Publishing. Cairo, Egypt, vol. 1.
Bolous, L. (2002). Flora of Egypt. Al Hadara Publishing. Cairo, Egypt, vol. 5.
El-Gadi, A. , Sherif, A. S., El-Taif, and Labani, M. (1987). New plant records for
Libya. Willdenoia, 16, 409-411.
Ghafoor, A. (1977). Molluginaceae. In: The Flora of Libya (Jafri,. S. M. H. and A.
El-Gadi, eds). University of Tripoli, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany,
Tripoli, Libya, No. 25.
Keith, H. G. (1965). A Preliminary Check List of Libyan Flora. Ministry of
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Gadi, eds). University of Tripoli, Faculty of Sience, Department of Botany,
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Siddiqi, M. A. (1987). Salicaceae. In: The Flora of Libya (Jafri,. S. M. H. and A.

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