This field was full of vegetation but towards the back we found many examples of Phelypaea tournefortii hosted by a member of the Asteraceae family. This was actually identified as Phelypaea coccinea which also grows in Turkey but closer examination of the stem found it to be hairy while Phelypaea coccinea is fairly glabrous.

Phelypaea coccinea is also parasitic upon members of the Psephellus genus which are related to Knapweeds and have similar leaves but nothing like the ones in the photos above. There were a few flowers on the host plants which tended to confirm the host as a member of the Tanacetum genus confirming Phelypaea tournefortii as the identification.

Phelypaea tournefortii is native in Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Phelypaea coccinea with which it can be confused, is native in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, southern Russia and southern Greece.

Phelypaea tournefortii flower Field en route to Dogubeyazit, Eastern Turkey, 24th May 2019 Previous   Next	Phelypaea tournefortii whole flower stem Field en route to Dogubeyazit, Eastern Turkey, 24th May 2019 Previous   Next	Phelypaea tournefortii hairs on stem Field en route to Dogubeyazit, Eastern Turkey, 24th May 2019 Previous   Next	Phelypaea tournefortii host plant (Tanacetum sp.) Field en route to Dogubeyazit, Eastern Turkey, 24th May 2019 Previous   Next
Phelypaea tournefortii flower	Phelypaea tournefortii whole flowering stem	Phelypaea tournefortii hairs on calyx	Phelypaea tournefortii host plant (Tanacetum sp.)

Field en route to Dogubeyazit, Eastern Turkey, 24th May 2019

Added on 24th January 2025