Seddera latifolia
Nomenclature
Seddera latifolia Hochst. & Steud. [in sched.Schimper Unio It. 1837] (1844: 8, t. 5, f. B & C). Type:Saudi Arabia, Hejaz, near Ferihe, Schimper 884 (holotypeB, destroyed; isotypes G–DC, microfiche seen; K).
Breweria latifolia Hochst. (1844: 8, t. 5, f. B & C).
Breweria argentea Terracc. (1893: 105). Type: Eritrea,Bay of Anfilah, between Ras Madir and Ferehan,Terracciano 19 (holotype FT).
S. latifolia var. argentea (Terracc.) Di Capua (1904: 221).
S. spinescens Peter ex Hallier f. (1894: 89). Type:Somalia, Yafir, Mt Ahl, March 1873, Hildebrandt890 (holotype B, destroyed; isotype BM).
S. latifolia var. spinescens (Peter ex Hallier f.) Di Capua(apud Pirotta) (1904: 221). Type as for S. spinescens.
S. saturejoides Chiov. (1929: 228). Type: Somalia,between Las Agin and Biaddo in Migiurtina,Stefanini & Puccioni 796 (holotype FT).
Description
Kew Bulletin vol. 64: 197–233 (2009)
Biogeography, Ecology and Natural History
Niger, Mauritania, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea,Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen (including Soqotra),Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Pakistanand India.
Open Acacia woodland; sparse vegetationcover with Acacia, Maerua and Euphorbia spp., stonyground, rocky slopes on limestone, basalt granite orshale; sea level – 1500 (– 2000) m.
Flowering: Almost throughout the year.
Kew Bulletin vol. 64: 197–233 (2009)
Other information
Conservation
Kew Bulletin vol. 64: 197–233 (2009)
Authorship for webpage
When grazed, Seddera latifolia forms compact, intricate ‘spiny’ cushions (although the plant does notin fact possess spines). Ungrazed plants are moreherbaceous. S. spinescens is only a depauperate form ofthe widespread S. latifolia growing widely on the coast of Eritrea and Somalia; the name has also been applied to similar plants from the Hadramaut regionof southern Yemen. The branches in most cases havebeen heavily grazed. In all other characters except size, S. spinescens fits very well with S. latifolia, so thename is considered a synonym of the latter here.