68. Halothamnus Jaub. & Spach

Halothamnus Jaub. & Spach, Ill. Pl. Or. 2: 50 (1845); Botsch Nov. Syst. Vyss. Rast. 18: 146-176 (1981), rev.

Aellenia Ulbr. (1934) .

Subshrubs, rarely annuals. Leaves fleshy. Flowers solitary, in the axils of bracts, subtended by 2 almost leaf-like bracteoles; perianth 5-lobed, indurated in fruit, with 5 horizontal, unequal wings; disk slightly fleshy; stamens 5; anthers without appendages; stigmas 2, flat, almost ligulate. Seeds horizontal; embryo plano-spiral; perisperm absent. About 23 spp., SW and C Asia, NE Africa.