Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub Bristly Ox-tongue

Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub - Bristly Ox-tongue

Scientific Description:

Stems moderately to strongly branched, 10−80 cm. Basal leaves 4−12 × 1−2 cm, cauline leaves 2−5 × 0.5−1 cm. Involucre c. 1 cm broad in flower, 2 cm in fruit. Outer phyllaries 10−12 × 4.5−6 mm, inner 10−17 × 2−3 mm with membranous margin, equal in length to outer. Outer achenes 3−3.5 mm, pubescent, attenuate into a beak ± as long and bearing a short (c. 2 mm) pappus enfolded within inner phyllaries; inner achenes 2−2.5 mm, light brown, abruptly acuminate into a long (c. 4 mm) fragile beak, bearing c. 6 mm pappus.

 

Flowering time: July−August.

Habitat: Fields, garigue, nr. s.l.

 

Reference:
Lack HW (1975). Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 684.

Public Description:

Helminthotheca echioides, known as “bristly ox-tongue”, is native to Southwest Asia, Europe and North Africa. It is an annual or biennial plant with yelow flowers, and grows up to 80 cm in length. It blooms between July and August and is found in fields and garigue. It was traditionally used as an antihelminthic treatment.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthotheca_echioides/, Accessed date: 11.01.2016.

Ekim T (2012). Helminthotheca Zinn In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 165.