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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