Ruscus hyrcanus
Aerial parts of the plant
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Ruscus
Species:
R. hyrcanus
Binomial name
Ruscus hyrcanus

Ruscus hyrcanus is a perennial evergreen woody shrub-like or small compact bush plant. It is in the asparagus family.

Description and habitat

The species grows to approximately 30-50 centimeters tall and is very prickly. Stems always are green; ordinary woody, rigid, branched at the end in a whorl with spreading-procumbent branches. Cladodes have a length of 10–25 millimeters; they are flattened, ovate, lanceolate, leathery, rigid, and tapering to a thorn at their extremity; their both sides are shiny green. R. hyrcanus leaves are very reduced, small and bractiform.[3]

The flower is purplish or whitish, dioecious, marcescent with six spreading divisions, and solitary or geminate, arising in the axil of a lanceolate, firm bract on the median rib of the upper face of cladodes. Male flower has three stamens and sweating in a tube; female flower has an ovary with three biovulated lobes. The fruit is a red globular berry, about one centimeter in diameter.[3]

It is native to Iran, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Crimea.[4]

Conservation

The species is of conservation concern in Azerbaijan, where it is listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.[5] It is protected on lands such as Hirkan National Park.[3]

References

  1. Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow. ipni.org
  2. Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow. catalogueoflife.org
  3. 1 2 3 Qirmizi Ki̇tabazərbaycan Respubli̇kasi (2 ed.). Baku: Azərbaycan Respubli̇kasi Ekologi̇ya Və Təbi̇i̇ Sərvətlər Nazi̇rli̇yi̇, Azərbaycan Mi̇lli̇ Elmlər Akademi̇yasi. 2013.
  4. "Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  5. "Existing Measures and Programmes for Biodiversity Conservation" (PDF). Country Study on Biodiversity and First National Report, the Republic of Azerbaijan. Convention on Biological Diversity. 2: 102. April 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
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