Blepharis (sect. Acanthodium) Delile

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: 2. Spikes 2–many-flowered with each flower subtended by a bract ......................................................................................................3 - Spikes 1-flowered with 4 pairs of bracts ............................................................................................................................................7 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 Published as part of Baldesi, Giacomo & Vollesen, Kaj, 2022, A striking new species of Blepharis (Acanthaceae) from north-eastern Somalia, pp. 62-68 in Phytotaxa 539 (1) on pages 65-66, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.539.1.7, zenodo.org