Asperula oppositifolia in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org

3. Asperula oppositifolia Reg. & Schmalh., Pl. Nov. Fed. 42. 1881. Pobed. in Schischkin, Fl. URSS 23: 278. 1958; Ehrend., in Koie & Rech. f., Symb. Afgh. 4: 124. 1958; R.R. Stewart, l.c.

S. NAZIMUDDIN AND M. QAISER

Annual or perennial erect herb. Stem quadrangular, generally much branched from the base. Leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, rarely narrowly ovate, membranous or flat, sometimes thickened and revolute; midrib distinct beneath. Inflorescence a sparingly much branched cyme; bract and bracteoles foliaceous much smaller than vegetative leaves. Flowers white, rose or lilac, 3-6 mm long, glabrous or hirsute, pedicels 1-5 mm long. Corolla-tube 1.5-4.5 mm long, usually 1.5-3 times longer than the lobes, lobes narrowly triangular. Anthers inserted at the mouth of corolla tube. Style 1-3 mm long, included, bifid, branches ± equal; stigmas 2, globose. Mericarps glabrous, puberulous or hirsute, oblong.

This species forms a very polymorphic complex and six subspecies are recognized from our area:

1 Corolla 1.5-1.8 mm long (2)

+ Corolla 2.5-4.5 mm long (3)

2 (1) Corolla-tube 2-3 times longer than the limb, dull pink. Corolla and overy shorly puberulous 3 Asperula oppositifolia Subsp. oppositifolia

+ Corolla-tube 1.5 times longer than limb, white. Corolla and overy glabrous 3 Asperula oppositifolia subsp. albiflora

3 (1) Flowers glabrous 3 Asperula oppositifolia subsp. pseudocynanchica

+ Flowers hirsute or puberulous (4)

4 (3) Flowers ± sessile, if pedicellate then pedicel less than 1 mm long (5)

+ Flowers pedicellate, pedicel 3-6 mm long 3 Asperula oppositifolia subsp. baltistanica

5 (4) Leaves broadly lanceolate-narrolwy elliptic, membranous. Inflorescence lax, elongated 3 Asperula oppositifolia subsp. cabulica

+ Leaves linear, ± coriaceous. Inflorescence congested, ± glomerate or flowers in dense fascicles 3 Asperula oppositifolia subsp. grandiflora

Lower Taxa

Related Synonym(s):