Polygonum thymifolium Jaub. & Spach

Erect, up to 25 cm high, densely puberulous-papillose, perennial or glabrous, branched undershrub. Stem branched, short, hard and woody, rough with short hairs, young branches densely leafy. Leaves 3-13 x 2.5-5 mm, lanceolate-ovate or oblanceolate, acuminate to long acuminate (-cuspidate), entire with recurved margin, sessile. Ochreae 5-8 mm long, lanceolate-ovate, fimbriate, glabrous, binerved but the nerves not strong. Inflorescence in lax-dense fascicles. Flowers 1.5-2.0(-3) mm across, pedicellate to subsessile, pedicel up to 1.5 mm. Ochreolae small, tubular, fimbriate. Tepals 5, tube longer than lobes, lobes rotate, acute, oblanceolate-obovate or lanceolate. Ovary 1.5-2.0 x 1-2.0 mm, trigonous, with three styles and capitate stigmas. Nuts 2.50-3.0 x 2.0-2.5 mm, trigonous, acute, black, glabrous.

Distribution: Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

Fl. Per.: June-August.

A very distinct taxon in general habit, with Thymus-like leaf shape and arrangement, thus giving an impression of Thymus. An Irano-Turanian element, seems to be rare in our area.

Polygonum kotschyanum Boiss., Fl. Or. 4: 1040. 1879.