I. Friis & M.G. Gilbert (1993) Cornulaca. Flora of Somalia 1: 136
Plants small, spiny shrubs. Leaves alternate, basal part fused to the stems, only the fleshy triangular uppermost part free, tips spiny, at least when young. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or clustered, surrounded by and oftern largely concealed by long, wooly hairs; bracteoles minute or absent. Flowers minute, 5-merous; perianth segments joined at the base forming hard cup, stiff or membranous distally, 1 or 2 often spine-tipped; stamens 5, alternating with short staminode-like appendages inserted on the disc or filament tube; styles usually short; stigmas 2. Utricles enclosed within the indurated perianths; seeds horizontal, endosperm absent; embryos spiral.
Cornulaca is a genus of 6 species. It extends from western Sahara to Afghanistan. There is one species, Cornulaca ehrenbergii, in Somaliland. None are known from Somalia.
Note: GBIF records include introduced and cultivated plants. Consequently, the distribution shown often differs from statements about a taxon's native distribution.