[Cited by Dioscorides as Roman name for a species of Catananche Linnaeus (Asteraceae), applied here possibly alluding to similarity] [Cited by Dioscorides as Roman name for a species of Catananche Linnaeus (Asteraceae), applied here possibly alluding to similarity]

Tricerastes C. Presl

Stems hollow or pithy. Flowers: unisexual or bisexual. Capsules 3–5-angled. x = 11.

Species 2 (1 in the flora): sw United States, nw Mexico, sw Asia from e Mediterranean region to Himalayas.

Datisca cannabina Linnaeus, akalbir, of southwestern Asia, is occasionally used as an ornamental; it also yields a yellow dye once used for coloring silk.

SELECTED REFERENCE Wolf, D. E. et al. 2001. Sex determination in the androdioecious plant Datisca glomerata and its dioecious sister species D. cannabina. Genetics 159: 1243–1257.

Lower Taxon

• Datisca glomerata (C. Presl) Baillon