| Ruscus hyrcanus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Aerial parts of the plant | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Convallarioideae |
| Genus: | Ruscus |
| Species: | R. hyrcanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ruscus hyrcanus | |
Ruscus hyrcanus is a perennial evergreen woody shrub-like or small compact bush plant. It is in the asparagus family.
The species grows to approximately 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall and is very prickly. Stems always are green; ordinary woody, rigid, branched at the end in a whorl with spreading-procumbent branches. Cladodes have a length of 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in); they are flattened, ovate, lanceolate, leathery, rigid, and tapering to a thorn at their extremity; their both sides are shiny green. R. hyrcanus leaves are very reduced, small and bractiform. [3]
The flower is purplish or whitish, dioecious, marcescent with six spreading divisions, and solitary or geminate, arising in the axil of a lanceolate, firm bract on the median rib of the upper face of cladodes. Male flower has three stamens and sweating in a tube; female flower has an ovary with three biovulated lobes. The fruit is a red globular berry, about one centimeter in diameter. [3] It is native to Iran, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Crimea. [4]
The species is of conservation concern in Azerbaijan, where it is listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. [5] It is protected on lands such as Hirkan National Park. [3]