Rubiaceae

G. kurdicum Boiss. & Hohen. in Boiss., Diagn. ser. 1(3):37 (1843) non Ronniger(1921). Ic: Parsa, Fl. Iran 3: f. 34(1943) -poor. Figure 24.
Low perennial, with elongate rhizome. Stems 5-25 cm, slender, fragile, flexuous, acute-angled, ± villous up to inflorescence; lower internodes condensed, upper elongate, 2-6 cm. Leaves in whorls of 5-6, 6-13 X (2.5-)3.5-7.5 mm, ovate to broadly ovate or broadly elliptic, cuspidate to long acuminate, with flat margins, villous. Inflorescence corymbiform to broadly ovoid, glabrous, with divaricate branches and pedicels (O.5-)l-7(-8) mm. Bracts at base of inflorescence leaf-like, glabrous; upper usually absent. Corolla reddish-brown to white, 2-3 mm diam., tube 0.4-0.6 mm, lobes oblong-ovate to ovate, often apiculate, glabrous or rarely somewhat hairy outside. Anthers ellipsoid. Mericarps ovoid, often single, 1.75-2 mm, granulate-rugulose, glabrous to ± villous. Fl. 4-6. Cracks in shady limestone cliffs, 1350-2000 m.
Type: [Iraq] in cacumine montis Gara Kurdistaniae in rupibus, Kotschy 506b (holo. G).
S.E. Anatolia. B8 Siirt: Meleto Dagh (Meretuğ Da.), Natopa, c. 1800 m, Hand.-Mazz. 2700! Bitlis: Kambos Da. above Hurmuz, c. 2000 m, D. 23487! valley between Bitlis and Sa'id Ova, 1350 m, Frödin 1939:214!
N. Iraq. Ir.-Tur. element. Turkish specimens are remarkable for their shorter pedicels (0.5-3 mm) and ± always villous mericarps. As similar specimens also occasionally occur among plants from Iraq, it seems preferable not to separate Turkish material from typical G. kurdicum.