Polygonum afghanicum Meisn.

Closely related to P. paronychioides, often sympatric in distribution but differs by having much longer leaves, ochreae always shorter than the leaves and plants often papillose, whereas in P. paronychioides the leaves are shorter, ochreae exceeding or equalling the leaves and plants often glabrous.

Prostrate-subprostrate, 10-20 cm long, branched, perennial herb. Stem with many branches from the base, branches scabrate-papillose, angular-subangular, internodes 10-15 mm long. Leaves 4-15 (-20) x 0.5-2 mm, linear, dentate-scabrate, revolute, aristate, sessile. Ochreae 0.4-1.25 cm long, lanceolate, setaceous-mucronate, lacerate or fimbriate, membranous shorter than the leaves. Inflorescence axillary, solitary. Flowers 1.0-1.5 (-2.0) mm across, sessile. Ochreolae 0.5-1.0 mm long, lanceolate - ovate, lacerate, membranous, glabrous. Tepals 5, 1-2.5 x 0.5-1.0 mm, oblanceolate-obovate, acuminate. Stamens 8, filaments short, unequal, anthers basifixed. Ovary 1.5-2.0 x 0.5-0.75 mm, oblanceolate, trigonous with three styles and capitate stigmas. Nuts 2-3 x 0.5-1.5 mm, somewhat curved, black, shining, glabrous.

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

Fl. Per.: June-August.

An Irano-Turanian element, occuring in Eastern and Western subregions; fairly common species; grows among stones, slopes and cliffs in dry mountainous ranges between 1000-3000 m.