Tamaricaeae

M. germanica (L.) Desv. in Ann. Sci. Nat. 4: 349 (1825). Syn: Tamarix ger-manica L., Sp. PL 271 (1753); M. alopecuroides Schrenk in Fisch. & Mey., Enum. PI. Schrenk 65-66 (1841); M. squamosa Desv., op. cit. 350; M. armena Boiss., Fl. Or. 1: 763 (1867). Ic: Grossh., Fl. Kavk. 6: t. 32 (1962).
Shrub up to 2 m. Leaves on the main shoots oblong-lanceolate, those on the lateral shoots linear to linear-oblong, scale-like, somewhat fleshy, green or glaucous. Racemes terminal or axillary, bracteate, dense, many-flowered, the lateral inflorescences often scaly at the base. Sepals lanceolate, greenish or reddish with scarious margins, 3.5-4.5(-6) mm. Petals pink, 4-6 mm. Petals and sepals persistent in fruit, much exceeded by the grey, flask-shaped, c. 10 mm capsules. Seeds fusiform with a prominent coma borne on a twisted stalk. Fl. 6-7. By streams, 800-2500 m.
Described from Germany (Hb. Linn. 383/2!).
A4 Kastamonu: Ilgaz Da., 1600 m, Bornm. 1890: 1736. A6 Ordu: Melet Irmak S of Ordu, Hand.-Mazz. A7 Gümüşane: Chromdere, Sint. 1894: 5862! A8 Trabzon: Of, Bal. 1454! A9 Kars: nr. Kağizman (Grossheim 6: map 207). B6 Sivas, 13 vi 1939, Reese. B7 Erzincan: Keşiş Da., 2500 m, D. 31696! B9 Van: 5 km N of Şatak, D. 23178! C5 Niğde: Çiftehan, 800 m, Siehe 1896: 490! S. & C. Europe, Caucasia, Iran, Afghanistan, W. Pakistan. A very variable species, much divided by earlier workers. The characters used show little correlation.