Hammada Iljin
Genus with a somewhat confusing taxonomic name. For several authors it should be kept as such (e.g. Chatelain & Dobignard, ISFAN 2011) but for others it should be included in under Haloxylon Bunge (The Plant List, 2012). It has 4 species in North Africa, distributed across dry areas of the Mediterranean and the Sahara. Of these the smallest is H. negevensis Iljin & Zohary [Haloxylon negevensis (Iljin & Zohary) Boulos], subshrub up to 0.4 m in height, easily distinguished by its general velvety or canescent appearance, long articles and its longer leaves, deciduous. Present in the Sinai (Egypt), Palestine and Israel, In the Red List of vascular plants of Egypt (Flora Aegyptiaca Vol 1, 2000) H. negevensis is listed as “Indeterminate”.
Ferrer-Gallego, P. & Crespo. M.B., 2020. Typification of Hammada articulata and Haloxylon scoparium (Amaranthaceae). Phytotaxa 456 (2): 212–214.
Key to species
1 Plant velvety, canescent. Leaves 0.8-1 cm long Hammada negevensis
1 Plant glabrous. Leaves under 0.8 cm long 2
2 Fruit perianth 4-6(8) mm in diameter including the wings. Segmentswith a ± narrow base. Branches greenish that blacken with age or desiccation Hammada articulata
2 Fruit perianth 6-10 mm in diameter including the wings. Segments cylindrical. Branches greenish that turn yellowish or whitish with age 3
3 Floral branches arise irregularly from the green stems of the current year. Flowers and fruits towards the tip of the branches. Fruit perianth 6-8 mm in diameter including the wingsusually brownish and with slightly unequal wings Hammada salicornica
3 Floral branches arise ± regularly along stems from previous years. Flowers and fruits along the whole branch. Fruit perianth 8-10 mm in diameter including the wings, whitish and usually unequal wings Hammada schmittiana
Updated by: G. Benítez & J. Molero Mesa.