Manyleg Knotweed

Closely related to P. cashmirense but differes in having slightly longer perianth, coriaceous leaves and the nuts included within the perianth. In the latter species the perianth is smaller, leaves membranous and the nut exserted from the perianth.

Herbs annual. Stems prostrate or suberect, 5-20 cm tall, scabrous, internodes shorter than leaves. Petiole very short or nearly absent; leaf blade linear or subulate-linear, 5-13 × 1-1.5 mm, midvein slightly prominent abaxially, conspicuous adaxially, lateral veins inconspicuous on both surfaces, base narrowly cuneate, margin entire, apex acute; ocrea white, narrowly ovate, connate at base, thinly membranous, margin sparsely lacerate, apex 2-lobed. Flowers 1 or 2, axillary. Perianth green, margin white or pinkish, 5-cleft to 1/3, herbaceous, minutely papillate; tepals elliptic, 0.5-1 mm. Stamens 8, included; anthers purple-red. Styles 3, very short; stigmas capitate. Achenes included in persistent perianth, black-brown, slightly shiny, ovoid, trigonous, 1.5-2 mm, densely punctate. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.

Prostrate - subprostrate, branched from base, glabrous - scaberulate, annual herb. Branches filiform, weak, ± angled, internodes longer than the leaves. Leaves sessile, coriaceous, 0.5-1.2 x 0.5-2 mm, linear, acute, entire with recurved margin, glabrous. Ochrea 1.5-3.0 cm long, ovate, membranous, lacerate-fringed, tubular usually longer than the internodes. Inflorescence axillary, solitary or 2 in each fascicle, usualy borne in the axil of upper leaves. Flowers c. 1.5 mm across, white or roseate, pedicel 0.5-1.0 mm. Ochreolae 0.5-1.0 mm long, ovate, lacerate. Perianth c. 2 mm long, 5-lobed, lobes equalling the tube, ovate, acute, entire, white rimmed, unequal. Stamens 5, filaments short, equal. Ovary, 1.0-1.5 x c. 0.5 mm, lanceolate-ovate, trigonous, with three short styles and capitate stigmas. Nuts 1.75-2.0 x 0.75-1.25 mm, ± included with in the perianth, ovate, striate, shining, dark brown.

Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia, Europe].

Distribution: Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Caucasus (Georgia), Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Fl. Per.: June-September.

Dry slopes, rocky deserts, gravelly grasslands; 600-2200 m.

An Irano-Turanian element, fairly common in our area. Grows from 1000-4000 m among stones, rock crevices and shady places.