Bassia eriophora
Accepted name
Grubovia eriophora (Steph. ex M.Bieb.) Sukhor.
Synonym
=
Bassia eriophora (Steph. ex M.Bieb.) Kuntze
• Note : Plants have been collected from Riyadh (RIY-15966, 3-iv-98) which show characters intermediate between Bassia muricata (L.) Asch. and Bassia eriophora (Schrad.) Asch. These have lax branching, dense fleece in the axils and the spiny perianth appendages much projected out of the wool. These are presumed to be Bassia muricata x eriophora hybrids.
An annual fleecy-villous herb up to c. 30 cm high. Leaves green, partly hidden in the white fleece, linear-oblong, up to 1.5 (-1.7) cm x 2-3 (-4) mm. Flower-clusters and fruiting perianth including the short spines hidden in the white fleece. Fruit falling off enclosed within the fleece as white cottony balls.
Saudi Arabia : Widespread throughout the Kingdom except the high mountainous areas and the deeps of the Nafud and the EmptyQuarter from where not recorded.
Distribution : Egypt, Middle East, Pakistan.