Rubiaceae

A. laxiflora Boiss., Fl. Or. 3:37 (1875). Syn: Crucianella galioides Boiss., Diagn. ser. 1(3):29 (1843); A. prostrata sensu auct. ross. non (Adam) C. Koch (1851); Asperula aspera (Bieb.) Boiss. var. brachystegia Boiss., Fl. Or. 3:28 (1875); A. aspera sensu auct. ross. non (Bieb.) Boiss. (1875). Map 102.
Low shrubs or perennial herbs. Rootstock woody, apex with numerous, ± suffruticose, not rooting, ascending to erect vegetative and flowering shoots. Stems (5-)10-30(-40) cm, subterete to somewhat quadrangular, finely puber-ulent (rarely hirsute or glabrescent), usually not or little branched in lower half. Leaves in whorls of 6-8, (6-)15-25(-30) x (l-)1.2-2(-3) mm, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, ± fresh to dark green, leathery, with ± flat to some-what revolute margins and a short hyaline apex, ± papillose-hairy (rarely gla-brous or hirsute). Thyrses with ± remote cymose fascicles of flowers on main axes; bracts ovate to broadly lanceolate, 2-3 mm, ± ciliolate. Corolla 5-merous, purplish, brownish to yellowish, (6-)7-8(-10) mm, with sparsely papillose-hairy to glabrous tube. Mericarps 2.5-3.5 mm, brown, finely granulate, usually glabrous (rarely ± hairy or even lanate). Fl. 6-8. Mountain steppe, rocky slopes and crevices, 1300-3900 m.
Type: [Turkey A8 Rize] in cacumine montis Bousdouandagh Ponti Lazici supra Khabackar, 2285 m, 1866, Balansa (holo. G!).
N. & Inner Anatolia. A5 Amasya: Abaci Da., 1300-1500 m, Bornm. 1889: 1044! A6 Amasya: Akdağ above Zefe Köy, 1800 m, Tobey 1176a! A7 Giresun: Eribel pass, 7 vii 1958, Simon! A8 Erzurum: 34 km N.E. of Erzurum towards Tortum, Hub.-Mor. 14884! A9 Kars: c. 20 km from Akçay to Cumaçay, 2200 m, D. 46716! B6 Sivas: 14 km N. of Sivas, 1350-1500 m, Sorger 69-49-35! B7 Erzincan: Keşiş Da. above Cimin, 2800-2900 m, D. 31789! B8 Erzurum: Kara Kaya Da., 15 km N. of Hinis, Watson et al. 3704! B9 Van: 34 km from Başkale to Hoşap, Guzeldere pass, 2800 m, D. 45912! C7 Adıyaman: Nemrut Da., 2100-2300 m, Ehrend. et al. 787-60-8! C9 Hakkari: Kara Da., 2900 m, D. 24450! C10 Hakkari: Mor Da., 2750-3600 m, Watson et al. 3638!
Caucasia, N. Iraq. Euxine (mt.) element. Closely related to A. albovii Man-denova from Caucasia. This is supposed to be synonymous with A. prostrata(Adam) C. Koch (no type seen) and to A. aspera (Bieb.) Boiss., or at least to the latter. A. laxiflora is very variable in flower colour, indumentum and growth form. In moist, shady habitats tall, much branched stems are frequent (e.g. B9 Erzurum: 20 km S.E. of Horasan, Ehrend, et al. 787-112A-3!), whereas in drier areas or in the alpine region dwarf, scarcely branched forms occur (e.g. B6 Sivas: 17 km W. of Imranli towards Sivas, 1700 m, Ehrend. et al. 787-172-4!).