25. Rochelia Reichenb. in Flora. 7:243. 1824. nom. Conserve.; M. Popov in Schischkin, Fl. URSS. 19:548.1953; Riedl in Rech. f., Fl. Iran, 48:89.1967; Kazmi in J. Arn. Arb. 52:110.1971.
YASIN J. NASIR
Annual herbs with pubescent to bristly parts. Flowers small, in simple or branched racemes, bracteate. Calyx 5-partite, accrescent in fruit, the base sometimes ± sagittate or auricled. Corolla blue or white; tube cylindrical; throat with scales or not; limb 5-lobed with obtuse spreading lobes. Stamens 5, included; style slender, stigma capitate. Nutlets 2, smooth or minutely tuberculate.
15-20 species in S.W. & C. Asia to Mediterranean and Australia. Represented in Pakistan by 8 species. It is very difficult to identify the species without fruit.
Species not seen
Rochelia peduncularis Boiss., Dlagn. Pl. Orient. Nov. 1.7:35.1846; Pl. Or. 4:246.1875; M. Popov in Schischkin, Fl. URSS. 19:561.1953; Riedl in Rech., Fl. Iran. 48:91.1967; Kazmi, in J. Arn. Arb. 52:113.1971.
Erect annual 10-30 cm tall. Stem generally branched above, appressed hairy with subpatent hairs. Fruiting racemes secund. Pedicels 2-3 mm in flower, up to 12 mm in fruit, recurved and gradually thickened upwards. Calyx lobes c. 1.5 long, linear, up to 5 mm in fruit, hairy and with a ± prominent midrib. Coro blue, 2-3 mm long. Nutlets 3-4 mm long, tuberculate. Style slightly exceeding nutlets.
Type: S. Persia In humidis alpis kuh Delu, Kotschy 531a (G, isotype W).
I have not seen any authentic specimens from our area. Description based on a Russian specimen (Golosk. 4290). Riedl and Kazmi (l.c. records the species from Chitral and Baluchistan).
