Barleria phaylopsis Milne-Redh.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: low confidence

Darbyshire, I., Manzitto-Tripp, E.A. & Chase, F.M. A taxonomic revision of Acanthaceae tribe Barlerieae in Angola and Namibia. Part 2. Kew Bull 76, 127–190 (2021). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-021-09928-5

Type

Zambia, Solwezi Distr., Mbulungu Stream, W of Mutanda Bridge, fl. & fr. 9 July 1930, Milne-Redhead 690 (lectotype K (sheet 1)! [K000394499], chosen by Darbyshire 2015; isolectotypes BR* [BR0000006268381], K (sheet 2)! [K000394498], PRE* [PRE0130330-0]).

Morphology General Habit

Suffruticose herb with several decumbent or creeping stems 15 – 30 cm long from a woody rootstock; stems hispid, hairs (buff-) golden, ascending or spreading

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile, blade oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate, 4 – 9.5 × 1.2 – 3 cm (l:w ratio 2.2 – 5.6: 1), base cuneate, apex acute or lower leaves obtuse, with numerous (buff-) golden hispid hairs on margin and midrib only or evenly distributed on both surfaces; lateral veins 4 – 8 pairs, these and reticulate tertiary veins prominent. Inflorescences terminal and sometimes also in the uppermost leafy axils, densely spiciform or subcapitate, 2 – 5.5 cm long, each axil single-flowered or lowermost axils 2 – 3-flowered; bracts oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, sometimes flushed purple distally or throughout, 9.5 – 15.5 × 1.5 – 4.5 mm (basal pairs up to 23 × 7.5 mm), base cuneate, apex acute, ± densely glandular-pilose and with subappressed stiff hairs at least on margin and midrib, those on margin sometimes with swollen base; bracteoles as bracts but (elliptic-) oblanceolate to linear, 9 – 14.5 × 1 – 2 mm, glandular hairs more numerous; flowers sessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx often flushed purple at least towards apex, pale at base; anterior lobe narrowly oblong or subulate, 10 – 15.5 × 1.5 – 2.5 mm, apex bifid for 2.5 – 8 mm, indumentum as bracteoles, 2 parallel principal veins prominent; posterior lobe narrowly lanceolate or subulate, 10 – 16.5 × 2 – 2.7 mm, apex acute, midrib only prominent; lateral lobes linear, 9 – 13.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 17 – 22 mm long, white, pink, lilac or bright blue, with or without purple guidelines, lateral lobes sparsely pubescent externally; tube cylindrical, 9.5 – 11.5 mm long; limb in “2+3” configuration, abaxial lobe obovate or broadly so, 6 – 10.5 × 4.5 – 7 mm, apex emarginate; lateral lobes obovate, 7 – 10.5 × 3 – 6 mm, apices emarginated or rounded; adaxial pair fused for 0.7 – 5 mm, free portions oblanceolate to subulate, 4.5 – 10 × 1.5 – 4 mm. Stamens inserted 2.5 – 3.5 mm from base of corolla tube; filaments 9.5 – 15.5 mm long; anthers 2.5 – 3 mm long; lateral staminodes 0.25 – 0.8 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary densely puberulous at least distally, sometimes also with short glandular hairs at apex; style with few hairs towards base; stigma 1.2 – 1.9 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 2-seeded, 13 – 14.5 mm long including beak 5 – 5.5 mm long, puberulous; seeds ± 6 × 5 mm.

Distribution

Angola (Cuando Cubango Prov.); Zambia, southern D. R. Congo;

Ecology

The single Angolan specimen seen was recorded from open miombo (Brachystegia) woodland at ± 1400 m elevation, which is in keeping with the habitat in the rest of its range. It is a species of the Zambezian phytochorion (White 1983).

Conservation

This species is scattered in the miombo woodland belt of southern central Africa, with a large EOO of c. 200,000 km2. However, to the authors’ knowledge, it is only known from eight collections and one photographic record and it appears to be naturally rare. Further botanical exploration across its large range is likely to reveal further subpopulations of this species, and miombo woodland remains extensive in large parts of its range, although the easternmost locality of Mbala is threatened by intensive settlement and agriculture (Darbyshire 2015). It is currently assessed as of Least Concern — LC but with further information on population size and threats desirable.