Blepharis (Vollesen) Delile

Baldesi, Giacomo & Vollesen, Kaj, 2022, A striking new species of Blepharis (Acanthaceae) from north-eastern Somalia, Phytotaxa 539 (1), pp. 62-68 : 65-66

Amended key to the species of Sect. Acanthodium in Somalia

Blepharis eilensis keys out along with B. forgiariniii and B. diplodonta at couplet 4 of the Blepharis key in Flora of Somalia vol. 3 ( Thulin 2006: 378), although the seemingly trifid 3-toothed leaves might cause some confusion with B. trifida (couplet 1). But this species, the only member of sect. Biflora , is easily distinguished, by having stamens with a forward-directed appendage and flowers arranged in a reduced spike enclosed by four pairs of decussate bracts with four flower of which two develop and two abort ( Vollesen 2000).

Blepharis eilensis is easily identified among the related species by the stalked glandular hairs on bracts, the mostly 3-toothed leaves covered with stiff bulbous-based white hairs and, the subsessile (1–)2–4-flowered spikes.

Therefore the couplets 2 and 4 of Flora of Somalia are modified and a new couplet, 4a, is added:

3. Corolla with 3-lobed limb; upper and lower calyx-lobes subequal; lower pair of filaments without appendage............................4a

- Corolla with 5-lobed limb; upper and lower calyx-lobes distinctly unequal; lower pair of filmanents branched at the top or with a tooth-like appendage........................................................................................................................................................................5

4a. Bracts with stalked glandular hairs; spikes (1–)2–4-flowered, subsessile .......................................................................... B. eilensis

- Bracts glabrous or with simple hairs; spikes 4–many-flowered, peduncle more than 2 mm long...................................................4b

4b. Leaves whitish sericeous, with entire margin; spikes 8–14-flowered ............................................................................. B. forgiarinii

- Leaves glabrous, toothed; spikes 4-flowered ................................................................................................................. B. diplodonta

Alternatively the species can be keyed out like this:

4a. Stem and leaves glabrous; spikes 4-flowered; fertile bracts with 2–3 pairs of single or double spines ........................ B. diplodonta

- Stem and leaves hairy; spikes 2–14-flowered; fertile bracts with single spines only ......................................................................4b

4b. Leaves glossy witish sericeous, with entire margin, hairs non bulbous-based; spikes 8–14-flowered; bracts with simple hairs........ ......................................................................................................................................................................................... B. forgiarinii

- Leaves not glossy or sericeous, with stiff white bulbous-based hairs, mostly 3-toothed; spikes (1–)2–4-flowered; bracts with stalked glandular hairs......................................................................................................................................................... B. eilensis