Barleria fissimuroides I.Darbysh.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/120940520/120980033

Conservation

EN - endangered

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Diagnostic

sp. nov. Resembles B. ventricosa and allies in sect. Fissimura but differs in having a 4-seeded (not 2-seeded) capsule, a linear (not clavate or subcapitate) stigma and a corolla with a cylindrical tube and a limb in the 2+3 arrangement (not funnel-shaped with limb in a 4+1 arrangement).

Morphology General Habit

Shrub to 100 cm tall, drying blackish throughout; stems with long spreading and ascending pale buff-coloured hairs with a ± conspicuously bulbous base, opposite furrows with two lines of short appressed multicellular hairs with dark cell walls.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ovate, 8–11 × 3–4.7 cm, base cuneate or obliquely so, apex attenuate into a narrow tip, surfaces with long pale hairs evenly distributed above, mainly on veins beneath; lateral veins 6–7 pairs; petiole 12–32 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary but clustered in upper portion of branches to form a loose terminal thyrse, each cyme 2 to several-flowered, partially dichasial; bracts foliaceous, gradually reducing upwards; primary peduncle to 2.5 mm long; bracteole pairs somewhat unequal, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 9–18 × 2–4 mm, base attenuate from a curved stalk, margin entire, apex acute; pedicels to 2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx somewhat accrescent; anterior lobe elliptic(-obovate), 11–12.5 × 6–8 mm in flower, to 17.5 mm long in fruit, base acute, margin entire, apex truncate to rounded in outline with 2 apiculate teeth, surface with long pale ascending hairs, those on margin with swollen base in fruit, also with minute crisped hairs towards base; posterior lobe ovate-elliptic, 13–16.5 × 6.5–8 mm in flower to 21 mm long in fruit, apex acute-apiculate; lateral lobes lanceolate, 6–7 mm long in flower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 32–37 mm long, blue, pubescent externally with mixed eglandular and glandular hairs; tube subcylindrical, c.23 mm long, curved towards base; limb in 2+3 arrangement; abaxial lobe c.13 × 11 mm; lateral lobes 14–15 × 11–12 mm; adaxial lobes c.12 × 8.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens attached 13 mm from base of corolla tube; filaments c.18 mm long; anthers 2.4–2.7 mm long; lateral staminodes 2.5–3.2 mm long, pubescent, antherodes 0.9–1.3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary with few long pale hairs in 2 opposite lines; style glabrous; stigma linear, 0.9–1.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Immature capsule 18 mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Only immature seeds seen.

Distribution

Not known elsewhere.

Ecology

Mountain slopes with grass and small trees; 1100–1550 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Endemic to the Vumba area along the Zimbabwe/Mozambique border and known from only two collections. Clearly rare and highly localised, its scarcity suggests it is likely to be threatened by even small-scale disturbance; probably Vulnerable.