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Calligonum calvescens Maire

Ara.: Arich

Shrub up to 2.5 m in height, highly branched, sometimes tufted, with branches of the current year green, glaucescent during droughts, ± striated on the lower parts, slightly or not branched at all, solitary or geminate, flexuous, elongated (up to 40 cm in length); old branches with suberous bark, white and fissured, tortuous. Leaves ephemeral, subulate, 0.5-1 mm in length, purple green. Flowers in groups of 1-4, with pedicel articulated halfway below. Perianth attenuated at the base, with 4 green tepals and white margin, with a green thickening on the dorsal side, persistent and reflexed in the fruit. Stamens 10, anthers pink. Ovary with 4 purple styles and capitate stigmas. Achenes ochre, 7-8 × 3-3.5 mm, with 4 series of fragile, yellow-ochre hairs (up to 8 mm in length), usually 1-2 times dichotomous above halfway along their length; oblong-fusiform, subrostrate, with 4 narrow valleculae, glabrous and grey; wide naked ribs. Lateral hairs patent, winged at the base, with concrescent wings which form a ± continuous membranous crest. Seeds oblong.