1. Camphorosma monspeliaca Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 122. 1753; Boiss., l.c.; Kom., l.c. 91 plate V, fig. 2; Aellen in Davis, Fl. Turk. 2: 314. 1967; R.R.Stewart, l.c. 220; Jafri & Rateeb in Jafri & EI-Gadi, Fl. Libya 58: 29. fig. 10.1978; Hedge, l.c. (Fig. 24, E-J).
C.ruthenica M.Bieb., Fl. Taur.-Cauc. 3: 112. 1819; C. polygama Bunge ex Boiss., Fl.Or. 6: 921. 1879; Litv. in Trav. Mus. Bot. Acad. St. Petersb. 2: 96. 1905; Kom., l.c. 118. pl. 5, fig. 3; Ball in Tutin et al., l.c. 98; C. monspeliaca L. subsp. lessingii (Litv.) Aellen in Davis, Fl. Turk. 2: 314. 1967; Notes Roy.Bot. Gard. Edinb. 28: 31. 1967.
Stout shrub, caespitose 15-60 cm high, woody stem 4-10 mm in diameter, branches usually with clusters of leaves, annual shoots arising from the base, simple or somtimes branched at the ends, whitish with short crisp tangled or long hairs. Leaves linear-subulate, 2-10 (-14) x 5-1 (-1.5) mm, often densely hairy, with clusters of reduced branchlets in the axils. Flowers perfect or female, axillary, in compact spiciform inflorescences; the subtending bracteoles as long as or exceeding the flowers; perianth 2-2.5 mm long, round-oval, densely hirsute-hairy, teeth 4, subequal, straight, half as long as the tube. Seed round, blackish-brown, flat, c. 1.5-2.0 mm diam., diffusely glandular.
Fl. Per.: June-August.
Type.: “In Hispaniae, Narbonae, Tatariae arenosis”, (?Herb. Burser xxv: 55-UPS-microfiche!).
Distribution: E.Europe, C.Asia, Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Eaten by livestock and sometimes used medicinally.
