Blepharis katangensis De Wild.

J. R. Timberlake, E. S. Martins (2013). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol 8 (5) Acanthaceae Part 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Type

Congo, Katanga (Shaba), Lukafu, iii.1900, Verdick 438 (BR holotype).

Morphology General Habit

Erect single-stemmed unbranched annual herb, rarely procumbent or branched; stems up to 50 cm long, sparsely to densely pilose with many-celled shiny hairs, rarely with glandular hairs towards apex

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sparsely puberulous to pubescent or pilose along midrib, hispid above, some or all whorls with one pair more than 5 times longer than other, or some subequal towards base of stems; lamina narrowly ovate or narrowly elliptic, largest 11–18 × 0.6–2 cm; margin with 2–13 widely spaced teeth per side or some entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence capitate, usually only near top of stem, sometimes subtended by ovate-elliptic bract-like leaves; peduncle 1–7(12) cm long, usually ± reflexed, indumentum as stems, rarely also with capitate glands; axis sericeous to pilose, no capitate glands; floral leaves and outer bracts narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, to 9 cm long, subglabrous to pubescent or pilose, without (rarely with) capitate glands; inner bracts similar, to 3 cm long, usually with scattered capitate glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals puberulous and with long shiny many- celled hairs, scattered capitate glands at least towards base, rarely without; dorsal 19–27 mm long, ovate-elliptic or narrowly so, narrowing gradually to apex or slightly ligulate, apex acute, lateral teeth absent; ventral 17–24 mm long, ovate-elliptic to slightly obovate, not ligulate, deeply bifid, teeth 4–7 mm long, and with (rarely without) 1–2 central teeth and 1–3 lateral teeth per side; lateral 18–26 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla blue or mauve, 17–26(30) mm long of which tube is 5–8 mm; limb 7–15(20) mm wide, very indistinctly lobed, callus with 3 equally strong ribs and 3 large apical flanges, or central one weaker

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 4–7 mm long, sparsely glandular; anther tooth 1–1.5 mm long, rounded, curved or straight; anthers 3–4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule c.13 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c.11 × 7 mm.

Distribution

Zambia, Malawi. Also in Tanzania, Congo and Angola.

Ecology

Miombo woodland, grassland and rocky hills; 850–1900 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.

Acanthaceae (part 1), Kaj Vollesen, Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2008

Morphology General Habit

Erect (rarely procumbent) single-stemmed unbranched (rarely branched) annual herb; stems up to 60 cm long, sparsely to densely pilose with shiny many-celled hairs, sometimes also with a band of puberulous hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: some or all whorls with one pair more than 5 times longer than the other, but some often subequal; lamina narrowly ovate or narrowly elliptic, largest 6.5–22 × 0.5–1.9 cm, margin of larger with 3–13 widely spaced teeth per side, of smaller with 3–5 larger teeth per side, sparsely pubescent (or pilose along midrib), hispid-puberulous above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Heads dense, near top of stems; peduncle (0.5–)1–7(–12) cm long, usually ± deflexed, indumentum as stems; axes puberulous to pubescent, with capitate glands; floral leaves and outer bracts narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, up to 7(–9) cm long, pubescent to pilose, ± capitate glands; inner bracts similar, up to 23 mm long, with capitate glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals puberulous to pubescent (often also with long shiny many-celled hairs), with capitate glands; upper ovate, 20–27 mm long, narrowing gradually to apex or with slightly ligulate apical part, apex acute, lateral teeth absent; lower narrowly ovate-elliptic, 17–24 mm long, not ligulate, bifid, usually also with 1(–2) central teeth and with 1–3 lateral teeth per side; lateral 18–26 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla blue to dark blue or mauve, 18–26 mm long of which the tube 5–8 mm; limb very indistinctly lobed, without capitate glands below, callus with 3 equally strong ribs and 3 large apical flanges (or central weaker).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 4–7 mm long, sparsely glandular; tooth 1–1.5 mm long, rounded, curved or straight; anthers 3–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± 13 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ± 11 × 7 mm.

Ecology

Acacia-Brachystegia boehmii wooded grassland on clay, grassland on black cotton soil, on wet mud at edge of pools, roadsides; 850–1750 m

Note

It also has a very indistinctly lobed corolla limb with the two lateral lobes almost absent. This species has very large fruits and seeds for a species in sect. Scorpioidea.

Distribution

Flora districts: T2 T4 T5 T7 T8 Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Angola, Zambia, Malawi Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Angola, Zambia, Malawi Range: Tanzania.