Gastrocotyle hispida (Forsk.) Bunge

A widespread species found up to 2300 m.

Stems up to 35 cm long, prostrate to ± erect, branched, hairy; hairs up to 2 mm long, arising from a swollen base. Leaves hairy on both surfaces. Basal leaves 4-100 x 9-11 mm, oblanceolate, undulate. Cauline leaves sessile, shorter and narrower, Calyx retrorsely hairy, deeply divided into obtuse lobes. Corolla purplish blue to blue, 2.5-3 mm long; tube ± calyx length, longer than the limb. throat vinous. Nutlets 3-4 mm broad, transversely ovoid, brown, rugulose-tuberculate. Basal ring thick, margin denticulate.

Herbs annual, gray-white, ca. 40 cm tall, strigose, hispid, hairs discoid at base. Stems branched from base; branches spreading, evidently striate. Leaf blade narrowly oblong to lanceolate-oblong, 1-2 cm × 4-8 mm, slightly fleshy, short strigose, sparsely bristly, base rounded to broadly cuneate, rarely cordate, margin angular-dentate, sometimes subundulate, apex obtuse. Pedicel 1.5-2 mm. Calyx 1.5-2.5 mm, to 3.5 mm after anthesis, densely bristly outside and short strigose inside; lobes lanceolate. Corolla blue or purple, tubular, ca. 3 mm wide at limb, ca. 1 mm wide at base, ca. 1.5 mm wide at throat, densely short strigose outside, glabrous inside; appendages trapeziform, pilose; lobes orbicular, ca. 1 mm. Anthers ovate, ca. 0.5 mm. Style ca. 1 mm; stigma capitate. Nutlets light brown, 3.5-4.5 mm, attachment scar ca. 3 mm.

Distribution: N. Africa, Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India.

SE Xinjiang [Afghanistan, N and W India, Pakistan; N Africa, SW Asia].

Fl. Per.: March-May.

Saline and alkaline soils; 0-1500 m.

Anchusa hispida Forsskål, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 40. 1775.