Limonium suffruticosum (L.) Kuntze

Shrublets, dwarf, cespitose. Branches growing 1--3.5(--8) cm per year; old branches covered by persistent membranous sheaths. Leaves on young branches or clustered on old branches, fleshy; petiole slender, base expanded and nearly clasping, sheath becoming marginally membranous, with 2 erect and 1 auriculate scale on sides of petiole base (sheath apex); leaf blade oblong-spatulate to lanceolate-spatulate, 1--4.5(--7) X 0.2--0.7(--1) cm including petiole, base attenuate, apex rounded. Inflorescences axillary on young branches, 5--35 cm; peduncle and rachis cylindrical; rachis 1 or 2 X branched, without sterile branches; spikes (1 or)2 or 3, clustered or capitate, arranged on nodes or terminal on rachis branches; spikes with 2--5(--7) spikelets; spikelets 2- or 3(--5)-flowered; bracts broadly ovate, 1--1.5 mm, glabrous; first bractlet broadly ovate to subrounded, 2--3 mm, glabrous. Calyx obconical, 3--4 mm; tube ± pubescent or glabrous; limb white. Corolla pale purple to blue-purple. Fl. Aug-Oct, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 18.

N Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, SW Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan; Europe, Iran].

Saline soils; 400--1300 m.

Statice suffruticosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 276. 1753.