Ruscus hyrcanus
| Ruscus hyrcanus | |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Aerial parts of the plant | |
| Scientific classification   | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae | 
| Clade: | Tracheophytes | 
| Clade: | Angiosperms | 
| Clade: | Monocots | 
| Order: | Asparagales | 
| Family: | Asparagaceae | 
| Subfamily: | Convallarioideae | 
| 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
[edit]The species grows to approximately 30–50 cm (12–20 in) 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 mm (0.4–1 in); 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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow. ipni.org
- ^ Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow. catalogueoflife.org
- ^ a b c Qirmizi Ki̇tabazərbaycan Respubli̇kasi (2 ed.). Baku: Azərbaycan Respubli̇kasi Ekologi̇ya Və Təbi̇i̇ Sərvətlər Nazi̇rli̇yi̇, Azərbaycan Mi̇lli̇ Elmlər Akademi̇yasi. 2013.
- ^ "Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Existing Measures and Programmes for Biodiversity Conservation" (PDF). Country Study on Biodiversity and First National Report, the Republic of Azerbaijan. 2. Convention on Biological Diversity: 102. April 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
