Vern.: Lana, Gora Lana, Hashok.

Subshrub or small shrub, 0.3-1.2(2) m high; stems and lower leaves densely covered with spreading or ascending, curved, warty, short and to 1.5 mm long straight hairs, in young stage reddish brown, later glabrescent, bracts and bracteoles only sparsely and shorter hairy, glabrescent. Stem to 2 cm thick, nodulated, grey or reddish, densely branched in upper part; branches, ascending, the upper often spreading, in terminal parts milky white or grey, with regularly arranged, spreading lateral catkin-like spikes; spikes 5-35 cm x 2-3(4) mm, condensed or interrupted. Leaves succulent, with flat to convex surface, linear to narrow triangular in lower parts, in upper scale-like, cucullate, broadly ovate to circular in outline, obtuse, (1.5)2-7 x 0.5-1.3 mm; leaf axils of long shoots with small rosulate scaly leaves. Bracts and bracteoles subequal in shape and size, similar to upper leaves, 0.7-1.5 x 0.9-1.5 mm, usually glabrous, shorter than perianth. Tepals ovate to ligulate, (1)1,2-1.5(2) mm long, the outer 0.8-1.2 mm wide, apex obtuse, usually crenulate, 1-veined, transverse line at 1/2, green blotch small, obtusely triangular, margins of outer tepals ciliate up to 1/2 with almost smooth curved hairs, blotch area sometimes with scattered ascending warty hairs. Anthers 0.7-1.1 mm long, including the 0.1-0.15 mm long obtuse appendage, divided for 1/2-2/3; filaments 1.5-2 x mm long, at base 0.2 mm wide; disc absent. Style cylindric, 0.4-0.6 x 0.2 mm; stigmas 2, 0.4-0.7 mm long, flat up to the apex, revolute, inside long papillose. Fruiting perianth 3-5 mm in diam., the wings silky, translucent, subequal or the 2 inner narrower; upper part of tepals suberect or incurved, forming an obtuse cone or a semi-globular dome. Seed semi-globular, flattened at top, 1-1.2 mm diam.

Fl. Per.: August-October.

Neotype: Yemen, Hodeida, 9.9.1976, J.R.J. Wood 1184 (K!). Boulos, l.c. 1991.

Common on many soil types, preferably on ruderal sites, fallows and overgrazed areas surrounding the settlements, but also in naturally disturbed habitats like eroded slopes, runnels, washes, dry river beds and sea-shore cliffs in very different plant communities; up to 1200(1500) m; Distribution: From W and SW Sahararian countries throughout the hot desert belt to tropical E Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, S Iran, Pak. Baluchistan, S and E Afghanistan, NW India (Punjab, Hariana, Delhi, Rajastan, Gujarat).

Saharo-Sindian.

Used for producing alkali; eaten by camels only; crushed leaves with a strong fishy smell and taste.