Jerusalem Oak Goosefoot

Aromatic annual, 5-40(-70) cm, densely hairy, most hairs stalked, glandular. Stems erect, usually with several ascending branches, main axis sometimes shorter than some of the branches. Leaves dull green, somewhat glaucous, blade 1-7 cm, elliptic to ovate in outline, cuneate to subcordate at base, obtuse at apex, pinnatifid with 2-5 broad lobes and several teeth on each side; lower leaves sometimes repand. Inflorescence elongate, main axis to 5 cm wide, terminal, composed of mostly leafless dense dichasial cymes, or axillary with smaller cymes. Terminal flowers solitary, larger and earlier flowering than lateral ones. Perianth segments 5, c. 1 x 0.5 mm, elliptic to ovate, acuminate, free to base, often not contiguous at base, herbaceous with membranous margins, often whitish in fruit, weakly keeled, with stalked glandular hairs on back. Stamens 1-5. Stigmas 2. Pericarp free. Seeds horizontal, black, 0.6-0.8 mm, round in outline, margin rounded often truncate in part; testa almost smooth.

Europe, N. Africa, N. W. Asia., Himalaya.

Distribution: Mediterranean area to SW and C Asia and NW India; introduced and naturalized in C Europe, S Africa (?) and N America.

4000 m

Fl. & Fr. Per.: April-August (-October).

Semi-desert, mountain slopes, meadows, riverbeds, river and salt-lake shores, fields, roadsides. 600-3700 m.

Ambrina botrys (L.) Moq. Chenop. Enum.: 37. 1840.