Blepharis pratensis S.Moore

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect to procumbent much branched perennial or shrubby herb with creeping branched rootstock; stems up to 1 m long, sparsely to densely and finely sericeous or puberulous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with the smaller 1/2–2/3 of larger; lamina narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong, largest 4–8 × 0.9–1.8 cm, margin entire or some with 1–2 indistinct teeth near base, subglabrous to sparsely sericeous or uniformly puberulous, densest along midrib.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Heads on upper part of stems only; peduncle up to 4 cm long, indument as branches; axes puberulous; floral leaves and outer bracts lanceolate to narrowly ovate, up to 2(–3) cm long, subglabrous to puberulous, no capitate glands; inner bracts similar, up to 19 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals puberulous (sericeous-pubescent along veins), no capitate glands; dorsal elliptic-obovate, 15–17 mm long, apical part ligulate with acute apex (rarely with truncate to retuse apex with 3 small teeth or with central vein forking near tip to give two terminal teeth); ventral ovate-elliptic, 13–15 mm long, with slightly ligulate apical part, with 2 acute teeth up to 2 mm long; lateral 10–12 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla bright blue or mauvish blue, 23–30 mm long of which the tube 3–6 mm; limb distinctly 3-lobed, callus ribbed and with 3 very distinct apical flanges.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 5–7 mm long; appendage ± 1 mm long, broadly rounded, not curved; anthers 4–5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± 9 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed not seen.

Distribution

Range: Kenya. Range: Not known elsewhere Flora districts: K4 K7 Range: Not known elsewhere

Ecology

Damp shallow depressions on sandy soil in coastal bushland, hot springs, dry Acacia-Commiphora bushland; 0–50(–1000) m

Note

Napper 1936 has the central vein in the dorsal sepal forking near the tip to give two apical teeth, but this is probably best considered an abnormality. In Makin 416 the dorsal sepal is truncate or retuse with two small lateral teeth.