Fagonia glutinosa Illustration Credit: Shaukat

Perennial, pale green herb, vegetative parts covered with stipitate, sticky glands. Stem branched from the base, branches terete, striate and prostrate, with 2-3 cm long internodes. Leaves mostly trifoliolate, very rarely lateral leaflets abortive in upper parts of plant; leaflets oblong-ovate to rhombic, mucronate, central c. 5-8 mm long, lateral c. 3-4 mm long; petiole up to 5 mm long; stipular spines shorter than leaves. Flowers purplish-pink, c. 8 mm across; pedicel up to 4 mm long. Sepals ovate-oblong, 2-2.5 mm long, glandular outside, acuminate, persistent. Petals spathulate, 4-6 mm long, c. 1.5 mm broad. Stamens with c. 4-5 mm long filaments. Capsule 4-5 mm long, 3-5 mm in diameter, pubescent, peduncle reflexed, shorter than the fruit.

Fl.Per.: February-April.

Type: Cairo, in desert, Delile (MPU ?).

Distribution: North Africa eastwards to Pakistan (Baluchistan).