Dionysia Fenzl

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Dwarf shrubs forming ± dense tufts; old branches covered with marcescent leaves

Morphology Leaves

Leaves variable from membranous and relatively large to coriaceous and minute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence an umbel or of numerous superimposed verticils on a well-developed scape or reduced to a single escapose sessile flower

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts leafy or setaceous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tubular, 5-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 3–4 times as long as calyx, limb 5-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± globose, dehiscing by 5 valves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds usually few, angular.

Distribution

Distributed in S Turkmenistan (Kopet Dagh), Turkey and Iran to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Note

Dionysia, from the God Dionysos, son of Semele, the Phoenician goddess Pen Samlath or Shemiramot. Dionysian festivals were a feature of the ancient culture of Iraq (specifically around Sinjar, the Biblical Land of Shinar).