Blepharis edulis (Forssk.) Pers.

Grey pubescent to almost glabrous, up to 30 cm tall, prickly, basally much-branched, perennial herb. Leaves canescent, sessile to petiolate, in fours at the sterile nodes, 2 – 6 x 0.5 – 2 cm, entire to spinulose- margined, oblong to lanceolate, coriaceous, upper surface very scabrous, grey, lower surface lighter in colour, usually glandular-punctate. Inflorescence a dense, strobilate spike, 3 - 30 cm long. Bracts 4- rowed, patent, coriaceous, channelled, 3 – 5 cm long, lanceolate to ovate, strongly veined, with 3-5 cm long, lanceolate to ovate, strongly veined, with 3 – 5 pairs of marginal spines and 1-3.5 cm long spine at the tip, glabrous, abaxially hairy when young. Bracteoles linear villous, 1- 1.5 cm long, Calyx of 4, unequal, soft hairy lobes, the outermost the largest, broadly ovate, 1.7 x 0.8 cm, their margins completely covering the rest, 2-3-lobed at the top; the innermost smaller with 2 spiny projection at the top; the lateral 2 linear-lanceolate, c. 5 x 2 mm. Corolla purplish-blue, dark-veined, fading to white, with c. 5 mm long lobe and a single, 2 - 2.5 cm long, hairy, spreading, obtusely 3-lobed lip. Stamens c. 8 mm long including c. 3 mm long anthers; filaments sparsely hairy at the base. Capsule narrowly ovate, brown, shining, 6 - 9 x 3 5 mm, 2-seeded. Seeds ovate, 4 5 x 2 - 3 mm, covered with white appressed hairs but with c. 2 mm long spreading hairs when soaked.