DYSPHANIA MULTIFIDA

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Atriplex multifida, Chenopodium multifidum,

Chenopodium multifidum f. typicum, Orthosporum multifidum, Roubieva

multifida, Teloxys multifida.

Meaning:- Dysphania Meaning unknown

Multifida (L) Much divided, deeply incised, with many deep divisions.

General description:- Aromatic perennial.

Stems:-

1) Terete, green, much-branched at the base, branches procumbent, to 1 rn,

pubescent and with sessile glands.

Leaves:-

1) Middle cauline,short-petiolate.

a) blade, to 3 cm, pinnatifid, pubescent, sessile-glandular beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, spicate; branches divaricate, with several flowers in axillary

sessile clusters.

2) Flowers, hermaphrodite or female.

3) Perianth segments, (4-)5, connate to near the apex, pubescent.

4) Calyx, c. 2 mm, saccate, alveolate.

5) Stamens, 5;

a) filaments, flattened.

b) Stigmas, 3-5, fairly long.

6) Pericarp free.

Fruit:-

1) Seed, c. 0.8 mm, vertical, broadly ovate-lenticular, brown.

a) testa, glossy, irregularly pitted.

Key features:-

1) Aromatic, with glands or glandular hairs.

2) Leaves, mostly pinnatifid; lobes narrow

3) Fruiting calyx, saccate and reticulately veined.

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Habitat:- Roadside gravel, coastal habitats, wasteground. 0-600(-1000) m.

Distribution:- First collected from Greece in 1934 and is now probably spreading

rapidly, especially in the NE. Native of South America, naturalised in much of the

Mediterranean region. Currently known from only one location on Crete.

Flowering time:- May-Oct.

Photos by:- A. N. Other