4.ACANTHOLIMONBoissier,Diagn.PDF

Flora of China 15: 193–196. 1996. 4. ACANTHOLIMON Boissier, Diagn. Pl. Orient. 1(7): 69. 1846, nom. cons. 彩花属 cai hua shu Armeriastrum (Jaubert Spach) Lindley; Statice subgen. Armeriastrum Jaubert Spach. Shrublets pulvinate, usually thorny, often subglobose, many branched. Leaves borne on current years branches, crowded, sessile, persistent on old branches, spring leaves similar or different from summer leaves; leaf blade linear, linear-needlelike, or linear-subulate, usually very shallowly obdeltate to subcomplanate in cross section, apex usually pointed to awned. Inflo- rescences borne in axil of spring leaves, branched or unbranched; spikes pedunculate, with 2–8 spikelets, arranged in 2 rows, sometimes rachis undeveloped with spike or spikelets axillary; spikelets 1–5-flowered; bracts distinctly shorter than bractlet of first flower, margin membranous; first bractlet similar to bract, margin broadly membranous. Calyx funnelform or rarely subtubular; tube straight or occasionally basally oblique, inconspicuously herbaceous along ribs and scarious between ribs; limb purple, pink, or white, broad, scarious, 5- or 10-lobed. Corolla slightly exserted from calyx; petals basally slightly connate. Stamens adnate to corolla base. Ovary linear-cylindric, apex attenuate. Styles 5, free, glabrous; stigmas depressed capitate. Capsule oblong-filiform. About 190 species: C and SW Asia, Europe; 11 species in China. Acantholimon fetisowii Regel has been reported from Xinjiang, but this may be a misidentification. 1a. Spikelets forming a sessile spike (but see A. roborowskii) or spikelets solitary; current years branches very short with several crowded and appressed leaves. 2a. Calyx limb dark purple; spi