Erodium somanum Peșmen
Clade I; Subclade 2; Section Absinthoidea
A dioecious perennial similar to E. sibthorpianum and E. absinthoides. Plants are wide hard hummocks, up to 60cm across, with a black woody taproot.
Leaves bipinnatisect, oblong-elliptic, 6-16 x 15-37mm, with a few intercalary leaflets. Leaflets have 3-5 segments, which are linear and acute. Leaves are canescent (white with long appressed hairs).
Inflorescence: Flowering stems are erect to 20 cm, with 2-4 peduncles. The umbels have 3-5 flowers in female plants and 6-11 in male plants. Umbels have several pale grey bracts. Petals are pale sulphur-yellow, with darker veins, broadly obovate, 3-8 x 6-12mm. Sepals are 2-5 x 4-8mm, with a 0.5-1.5mm mucro. Beak is long, 4.8 – 8cm, and stout. The mericarp is 9-12mm, light brown, and has 2 shallow foveoles, without a furrow beneath.
Distribution: endemic to Western Turkey in rocky habitats, above 800m, in the Güllük Mountains in Soma, Manisa, critically endangered.
E. sibthorpianum differs in having lilac flowers, leaves less canescent, and a shorter beak, E. absinthoides has lax rosettes, white flowers and a longer sepal mucro.
