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Saudi Arabia flora checklist
Gymnocarpos sclerocephalus (Decne.) Dahlgren & Thulin
Nomencalture
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Family: CaryophyllaceaeGenus: Gymnocarpos
SUMMARY
Gymnocarpos sclerocephalus (Decne.) Dahlgren & Thulin, comb. nov. Type: Egypt, Sinai, ‘pre`s de Tor’, Bove´ (holo. P). Syn.: Paronychia sclerocephala Decne. in Ann. Sci. Nat., se. ´r. 2, 3: 262 (1835). Sclerocephalus arabicus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 1, 1(3): 12 (1843); S. aucheri Walpers,.
Annual herb; stems erect to decumbent, c.3–25cm tall; internodes to c.22mm long. Leaves sessile, linear, cylindrical or almost so, c.5–20×1–2mm, slightly narrowed to the base, acute at the apex; mucro 0.3–0.6mm long, pale brown, rigid. Stipules 3–4×1.5–2mm, white, glabrous, not keeled, subentire. Inflorescence a compact spherical head, usually 4–7-flowered and 7–12mm in diam.; peduncle to c.5mm long, glabrous; bracts leaf-like, subulate, c.4–7mm long, strongly mucronate, fused at base with stipules. Flowers 4–5mm long, the receptacle concrescent with the bracts and forming a hardened structure eventually shed with the peduncle. Sepals slightly unequal, narrowly oblong, 2.5–3mm long, fleshy, with a narrow membranous margin,±densely covered with woolly hairs near the apex and base; mucro 0.25–1mm long, pale brown, rigid. Stamens with up to 0.8mm long linear filaments; anthers 0.25–0.3×0.2mm; staminodes linear, 0.2–0.3mm long, hyaline. Ovary ovoid, c.1.5×1mm, the basal part sunken into and fused with the receptacle; style 0.5–0.8mm long, 3-lobed at the tip,±equalling the stamens. Fruit 2.5–3×1.5–2mm, papillose at the top, rupturing irregularly above. Seed c.2.25×1.5mm