Circaea lutetiana L.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Plants 15–60 cm tall, usually unbranched below, with numerous thick, fleshy soboles from the underground rhizome

Morphology Stem

Stems sparsely strigose or short-villous to nearly glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ovate, 2.5–11 × 1.5–6.5 cm, truncate to slightly cordate at base, long-acuminate at apex, sparsely and shallowly denticulate; petioles 1–5 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence glandular-pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 4–8 mm in fruit, reflexed at maturity

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium slender, 1–1.2 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 2–4.5 × 1–3 mm, muriculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals cuneate, 2–4 × 2.2–5 mm, notched for about one-half their length

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 2.5–5.5 mm; anthers 0.4–0.8 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 4–6.7 mm; stigma deeply 2-lobed, white to reddish, held above and away from the spreading anthers at anthesis; disc present, 0.2‒0.4 mm high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 3–4 × 2–2.5 mm, 2-locular, tapering at base, smooth to slightly rugose, densely covered with white hooked hairs 0.7–1.1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2–3 mm.

Ecology

Woodland.

Distribution

Throughout Europe, Syria, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus and eastward in Siberia. Although this specimen may not be from within the limits of Iraq, the species is to be expected elsewhere along the mountainous regions of the Iranian and Turkish borderland.