Blepharis dhofarensis

Blepharis dhofarensis is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is a shrub that grows to around 5m tall and is found in Oman and Yemen. Blepharis dhofarensis grows on wet escarpment woodlands and it prefers dense thickets on steep slopes. It is threatened by habitat loss. Recent molecular work has placed it in the genus Acanthus instead of Blepharis.[2]

Blepharis dhofarensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Blepharis
Species:
B. dhofarensis
Binomial name
Blepharis dhofarensis
A.G.Mill.

Uses

Blepharis dhofarensis seeds in the prickly fruit heads were regarded as the very best fodder for camels by herders, especially milch camels. The leaves were also used as fodder. The fruits are mostly out of reach of the herds of goats, but herders would collect heads and extract the seeds to feed to sick or weak goats.[3]

The long slim branches provided spear shafts and could also be used as kohl sticks. They could also be made into wedge-shaped hair dividers to part and section hair.

References
  1. Ghazanfar, S.A. (1998). "Blepharis dhofarensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T34530A9874037. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T34530A9874037.en.
  2. McDade, L. A.; Daniel, T. F.; Kiel, C. A.; Vollesen, K. (2005). "Phylogenetic relationships among Acantheae (Acanthaceae): Major lineages present contrasting patterns of molecular evolution and morphological differentiation". Systematic Botany. 30: 834–862. doi:10.1600/036364405775097734.
  3. G. Miller, Anthony; Morris, Miranda (1988). Plants of Dhofar. Oman. p. 6. ISBN 071570808-2.


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