DORSTENIA GYPSOPHILA

This member of the Moraceae family was described by John Jacob Lavranos in 1972. It is only found in a small area in Somalia, growing in pure gypsum, kind of open clay, with some water and lots of sun. It will receive little water in winter, and the branches might dry out. The stem will grow up to fifteen centimetres in diameter and fifteen to 120 centimetres high. The flowers are light brown, and seeds are the only way of reproducing. The genera is named after Theodor Dorsten, 16th century German botanist and medical professor at Marburg. The species name from the Greek gypsos; 'gypsum' and philos; 'loving', referring to the chalk- or lime-loving nature of most species.