Barleria crossandriformis C.B.Clarke

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or perennial herb 60–200 cm tall; stems glabrous or uppermost internodes minutely pubescent on two opposite sides.

Morphology General Spines

Axillary spines absent or minute, 4-rayed, stalk to 0.8 mm long, longest ray 1–4.5 mm long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ovate or elliptic, 4.3–13 × 2.3–6 cm, base attenuate, apex acute, obtuse or attenuate, apiculate, glabrous or margin and veins, sparsely strigose beneath; petiole 7–23 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a cylindrical or subcapitate strobilate terminal spike 3–12 cm long, each cymule 1-flowered, sessile; bracts ovate or upper pairs elliptic, 14–23 × 7–14 mm, apex acute or shortly attenuate, mucronate, surface densely pubescent with mixed short eglandular and glandular hairs, some longer ascending hairs especially along veins; bracteoles elliptic to lanceolate, 7–13.5 × 2–3.5(5) mm, base attenuate, apex acuminate to cuspidate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Outer calyx lobes subequal, (ovate-)elliptic, anterior lobe 10.5–13.5 × 8–10.5 mm (flattened); posterior lobe 12–14.5 mm long, both with a strongly revolute margin, apex shortly attenuate, indumentum as bracts but glandular hairs very dense, venation subparallel; lateral lobes 11.5–13.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla (23.5)27.5–37 mm long, yellow, orange or salmon-coloured, pubescent externally; tube (10.5)13–16 mm long; limb in 4+1 arrangement; abaxial lobe (8.5)10–16 × (6)8–11.5 mm, offset by 3.5–7 mm; lateral lobes as abaxial but 5–11 mm wide, adaxial lobes 4.5–10.5 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with filaments (9)14–20 mm long, pubescent in proximal two-thirds; anthers 2.4–3.8 mm long; lateral staminodes 0.7–1.5 mm, pilose, antherodes 0.9–1.3 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary puberulous; style pubescent at base; stigma 0.8–1.3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 16.5–18 mm long, puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c.8.5–9 × 7 mm.

Distribution

Also in NE South Africa and Swaziland.

Ecology

Bushland and woodland on rocky hillslopes and gullies, riverine bushland and secondary grassland; 20–650 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Scarce in our region but locally common in N South Africa and habitat not threatened; Least Concern.