A. acerosum (Willd.) Boiss., Diagn. ser. l(7):80(1846). Syn: Statice acerosa Willd. in Ges. Naturf. Neue Schr. 3:420 (1801). Figures 15 & 16.
Rather densely pulvinate, glaucous to glaucous-green shrublet. Leaves linear or piano-triquetrous, 15-60 x 0.8-2.2 mm, margins scabrid. Scapes simple, equal to or 2-2.5 mm x leaves. Spikes usually laxly distichous, rarely compact. Spikelets 5-15. Bracts glabrous, subequal or outer bract shorter than inner bracts; outer bract triangular-lanceolate, 5-10 mm, with narrow hyaline margin; inner bracts oblong-lanceolate, to narrowly lanceolate, obtuse to acute, cuspidate, hyaline except for vein or with broad hyaline margins. Calyx tube pilose on veins; limb white or pale flesh-coloured, usually 5-lobed. Petals pink. Fl. 6-8. Rocky igneous slopes, calcareous and sandy soils, steppe, (20-)800-2000 m.
 1. Leaves less than 18 mm; inner bracts to 8 mm, hyaline except for veins var. parvifolium
 1. Leaves more than 20 mm; inner bracts more than 9 mm, ± coriaceous, with broad hyaline margins
  2. Outer bract herbaceous, usually shorter than inner bracts; lower leaves usually not strongly reflexed var. acerosum
  2. Outer bract reddish, bracts subequal; lower leaves very strongly reflexed var. brachystachyum
var. parvifolium Bokhari in Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 30:300 (1970). Map 62.
Type: Turkey B6 Maraş: above Göksun, top of pass, 1070 m, [22 viii 1969],Darrah 711(holo. E!).
E. Anatolia. B7 Tunceli: Pertek to Hozat, 1600 m, D. 31059!
Endemic. Ir.-Tur. element. A. acerosum s.l. is highly polymorphic and the most widely distributed species in Turkey. Together with A. caryophyllaceum, A. armenum and A. kotschyi it forms a species complex which presents considerable difficulties in separating the different species, but the relative length of the leaves, bracts and spikes, and the bract indumentum can still be usefully employed to delimit them.