Awale, A.I. (2021) Mapping useful trees and shrubs under threat in Somaliland

Blepharospermum fruticosum is a palatable browse plant for goats and camels. It also makes excellent firewood. In additioin, it is used for thatched roofs. It was one of 23 species identified as being of concern to local farmers and pastoralists by Awale.

T. Eriksson (2006) Blepharispermum Flora of Somalia 3:541-543

Plants branched shrubs; short shoots absent; young branches glabrous or pubescent. Leaves petiolate, simple, uppermost leaves reaching 1-5 cm below secondary heads; petioles 2-5 mm long, swollen basally; blades lanceolate or elliptic, 2.5-5.5 cm long, 0.5-2 cm wide, somewhat leathery, glabrous or spasely pubescent, bases cuneate to attenuae, margins entire to crenate or sparsely serrate, tips acute. Inflorescences of compound heads; secondary heads solitary, 0.7-1.2 cm wide, composed of 45-50 primary heads, withour protruding bracts when young; primary heads 4.5.5 mm wide, 1.5-2 mm long, without receptacular bracts [paleae], subtending bracts and phyllaries obovate, truncae, thickened towards the tip, glabrous or slightly pubescent  towards the tips; bracts of basal heads not markedly different from those above.  Functioinally male florets: corollas 2-2.5 mm long; corollas glabrous, limb slightly campanulate, lobes recurved; pappus absent or of 1-5(-14) basally free scales. Female florets 1.5-2.5 mm long, corollas glabrous, flattened on the inner side, widened and thickened towards the base; pappus of 2 lateral scales and 3-6 shorter scales on each side. Achenes obovate, 1.5-2.5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide.

Blepharispemum fruticosum grows in acacia-Commiphora  bushland or woodland on red sandy soil or gypsum from near sea level to about 1000 m in regions N1-3 and S1-2 of the Flora of Somalia and in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. 

Added 2021: Blepharospermum fruticosum is declining in abundance along the Ethiopia-Somaliland border, a fact that was brought to the attention of Ahmed I. Awale by members of local communities. This decline, which is of concern to the community members, was confirmed by observation of sites where Blepharispermum fruticosum used to be abundant but is no longer present. There are also sites wherethe species has persisted. 

©Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; reproduced with permission.

A deciduous branched shrub, 1- 2m tall.