Agriophyllum M.Bieb. ex C.A.Mey., Verz. Pfl. Cauc. Casp. Meer: 163 (1831)

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Liu, Pei-Liang & Kushunina, Maria, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet, PhytoKeys 116, pp. 1-141 : 93

13. Agriophyllum M.Bieb. ex C.A.Mey., Verz. Pfl. Cauc. Casp. Meer: 163 (1831)

Agriophyllum arenarium M.Bieb. (= Agriophyllum pungens (Vahl) Link ex A.Dietr.) (Type).

Description.

Annuals, usually with tumble-weed habit, covered with dendroid hairs (Fig. 38 ) and sometimes with simple hairs. Leaves sessile or petiolate with linear to orbicular blades, acuminate, soft at earlier stages then usually turning hard and stout, persistent. Inflorescences short, capituliform; each flower with a stout bract, ebracteolate, mostly bisexual. Perianth of 1-5 free hyaline segments. Stamens 1-5. Fruits glabrous or pubescent with easily caducous dendroid hairs. Pericarp leathery, thin and ruptured in the medium fruit portion. The lower part of stylodia persistent and hardened, often with lateral horn-like outgrowths. Seeds ovoid, lenticular, yellow or brownish, sometimes with dark tanniniferous spots. Embryo vertical, horseshoe-shaped; perisperm copious.

Eight species (including a new species described below) distributed in Irano-Turanian region (7 spp.) and Tibet (1 sp.).

Figures

Figure 38. Holotype of Agriophyllum tibeticum Sukhor. sp. nov. (BM 001209885).