Taxonomy: Fam. Chenopodiaceae// Genus: Blitum// Species: Blitum virgatum L.

Synonym: Chenopodium foliosum Asch. Determined according to the botanical key provided in The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia (Micevski, 1995).

Lifeform:  Annual, therophyte according to the Raunkiær system.

Distribution: Native to North Africa, Central and South Europe to Nepal and North-Central China according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

Habitat: Open habitats, usually on disturbed ground- near roads and settlements in the mountain region.

Flowering period:  Summer (JUN-JUL). Ripening in JUL-AUG.

Blitum virgatum – habit. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Blitum virgatum – habit. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Blitum virgatum – habit. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Blitum virgatum – stem with fruits in different stage of development. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Blitum virgatum – stem with upper cauline leaves and ripe and developing fruits. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Blitum virgatum – ripe fruits. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Blitum virgatum – lower cauline leaves. Osogovo- Ponikva, 24.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Blitum virgatum L. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:164548-1 [Accessed 01.08.2021].

Micevski, K. (1995). The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia Vol. I, Book 3. Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.