Tiny flower of lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) in desert on hills of Harrarah, 40 miles south-west from Doha. Qatar, March 5, 2010Farsetia parviflora, Lunaria parviflora, Savignya aegyptiaca
Gilgilan, girgees, gulgulan, jaljalan, jirjees, kanad al barr, kuljuman, Small Whorled Cheeseweed
Savignya parviflora is an annual herb native to the Middle East and North Africa. In Qatar, it has been found growing in sandy soils, often in areas with low vegetation cover. The plant produces small yellow flowers from February to April, and its leaves are typically linear or lance-shaped. It is a relatively rare species in Qatar, but can be locally abundant in suitable habitats, such as sand dunes and dry wadis (seasonal riverbeds).
Tiny flower of lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) in desert on hills of Harrarah, 40 miles south-west from Doha. Qatar, March 5, 2010
Tiny flower of lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) in Harrarah, 40 miles south-west from Doha. Qatar, March 2, 2012
Tiny flower of lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) in area of Jebel Al-Nakhsh in south-western Qatar, February 7, 2014
Fruits of lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) taken from desert on the border of Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. Qatar, March 14, 2015
Lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) with seeds in windblown sand on roadside of Salwa Road in area of Rawdat Ekdaim. Southern Qatar, April 11, 2015
Lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) with fruits in windblown sand on roadside of Salwa Road in area of Rawdat Ekdaim. Southern Qatar, April 11, 2015
Seedling of lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) on a plane of Rawdat Jarra north-east from Dukhan. Qatar, February 5, 2016
Lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) in a runnel north from Dukhan. Qatar, February 20, 2016
Lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) with fruits in a runnel north from Dukhan. Qatar, February 20, 2016
Lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) on sand in a runnel north from Dukhan. Qatar, February 20, 2016
Malformed plant of Savignya parviflora with galls(?) in a runnel north from Dukhan. Qatar, February 20, 2016
Lunaria (Savignya parviflora, local name Gilgilan) with fruits in windblown sand on roadside of Salwa Road in area of Khashem Al Nekhsh. Southern Qatar, March 4, 2016The Savignya parviflora plant, also known as Gilgilan, was observed in various locations in Qatar, including Harrarah, Jebel Al-Nakhsh, and southern Qatar. The tiny flowers of the plant were seen in the desert on hills and in areas with windblown sand. Fruits and seeds of the plant were also observed, often in large quantities. Some plants were found to be malformed, with abnormal shoots or galls. The plant was able to grow in a variety of conditions, including in runnels and on sandy roadsides. Observations were made over several years, from 2010 to 2016, and the plant was found to be widely distributed across Qatar. In some cases, the plants were found in areas with center-pivot irrigation, such as the Green Circles. The seeds and fruits of the plant were also collected and observed in Doha.
www.catalogueoflife.org
QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.