Salsola makranica Freitag

S. makranica is closely related to S. kerneri (Wol.)Botsch. from N and C Iran and in an earlier paper (Freitag 1991) we determined it accordingly.

With the wide gap between the Syrian and the Makranian populations, the species doesn´t fit into the accepted plantgeographical categories. Ecologically, it takes an intermediate position between the Saharo-Sindian and the Irano-Turanian floristic element, much resembling Halogeton alopecuroides, a typical associate in both areas.

Subshrub, 20-40 cm high, greyish to glaucous green, glabrous. Stem to 15 mm thick, branched from base; woody branches ascending; annual shoots erect, in lower 1/2 rigid, leafy, in upper part densely branched, forming a panicle with thin flexuose branches. Leaves alternate, the lowermost subopposite, ascending or ± adpressed, straight, (5)10-15 x 2-3 mm, almost cylindrical, obtuse, apiculate, glaucous or purplish, basal pulvinus much thinner than blade, leaf axils with dense tufts of curled hairs. Bracts leaf-like, 3-7 mm long, semi-terete, clavate, incurved, at base sheathing with narrow hyaline margins; axils with 3(-5) clustered flowers, 2 bracteoles of 1st order and 4(-6) bracteoles of 2nd order, immersed in long curled hairs. Bracteoles of 1st order cucullate, 1,5 mm long and wide, almost circular in outline, the green back with hyaline wing-like margin; of 2nd order 1-1.2 x 0.9 mm, with much smaller green back. Tepals cucullate, broad ovate, obovate or almost circular in outline, 1.3-1.8 mm long, the outer 1.4-1.6 mm wide, all 1-veined, without midrib in upper part, apex emarginate, green blotch linear, transverse line at 1/3-1/2. Anthers 0.8-1.3 mm long; appendage almost indiscernible, anther apex truncate or slightly emarginate; filaments almost linear, 2-2.5 mm long, at base 0.25-0.3 mm wide; disc thick, with densely papillose margin, lobes semi-circularr, to 0.3 mm wide. Style thick, conical, 0.4-0.5 mm long and wide; stigmas 2(3), 0.4-0.5 mm long, flat, narrowed towards the apex, densely covered by short papillae, in upper part also on the outside. Fruiting perianth, utricle and seed not seen.

Distribution: E Syria and Pakistani Makran, to be expected in other parts of Baluchistan and in Iranian Makran.

Fl. Per.: September-October.

Known from few localities, but locally common and sub-dominant on dry semi-desertic slopes in different geological strata on thin, slightly saline soils; 800-1400(-1500) m.

Hypocylix kerneri Wol. var. syriaca Eig in Palestine J. Bot., Ser. 3: 122.1945.