Halothamnus beckettii

Halothamnus beckettii

Halothamnus beckettii is a species of the genus Halothamnus in the family of Amaranthaceae ( Amaranthaceae ). It is the only species of the section Pungentifolia, which is characterized by woody, stachelspitzige leaves. The species occurs only in Somalia.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Halothamnus beckettii grows as a highly branched shrub, reaching heights of growth of only 20 to 40 centimeters. The whole surface of the plant appears covered with small white pustules. The dense, semi- terete leaves with concave top are narrowly triangular, with a length of 11 mm and run at the top in a cartilaginous spike tip. In the leaf axils to dense clumps are long Woolly Hairs ( trichomes ).

Generative features

The flowers are of a length of 7.5 to 8.5 mm larger than the other Halothamnus species. The winged fruit has a diameter of 11 mm to 13 mm, their wings put on the bottom fifth of the fruit. On the Tepalenzipfeln the midrib stands out clearly.

Anatomical features

Unique is the leaf anatomy is becketti of Halothamnus: The leaves contain much woody tissue in the area of ​​vascular bundles rand union, below the layer of Kranz cells.

Occurrence

Halothamnus beckettii is endemic in Somalia, and comes in dry areas with 100-200 mm annual rainfall ago. The species is rare and only known from a few localities. Where it grows scattered between dwarf shrubs or grasses, on plateaus and slopes up to an altitude of 700 meters.

Taxonomy

The first description of Halothamnus beckettii Botsch. carried out in 1982 by Viktor Petrovich Botschanzew. The species name refers to the collector of the type specimen, JJ Beckett. The species was accepted in the Flora of Somalia ( Volume 1, 1993).