There are two varieties. Lasiosiphon somalensis var. somalensis has densely sericeous peduncles and involucral bracts; L. somalensis var. glabrus has peduncles and involucral bracts that are glabrous or almost so. branches densely sericeous to glabrous. Leaves sessile or short petiolate, blades 13-28 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, tip acute to acuminate. tip acute to acuminate. Inflorescences capitate, with 20-40 flowers; Flowers yellow, orange or red, involucral bracts persistent. 5-merous. Perianth tube 8-13 mm long, villous with long straight hairs on the lower portion, silky pubescent above the disarticulation; calyx lobes 1.5-2.8 mm long, 0.8-1.5 mm wide, petals lacking. Ovaries usually with a few hairs at the top; style 5-6 mm long. Seeds 3-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm in diameter.
Flora of Somalia
Lasiosiphon somalensisvar. glabra: Powder from the dried root is mixed with camel milk and used as a laxative; the same powder, when mixed with goat broth, is used as an emetic.
Lasiosiphon somalensisvar. somalensis: Is used as a cure for tuberculosis.
Geed gaab yar oo illaa 80 cm gaadha, oo leh gas cufan oo yilix ah. Caleemo si wareeg ah u baxay, oo fudud, oo toosan, oo hareeraha ka siman. Ubax liimi, huruud iyo casaan ah oo leh madax isku cufan.
Sabo: Dhagaxleyda qallalan inta badan carrada dhagax nuuradeedka leh, joog ah 900 – 1800 m.
Filiqsanaanta: Itoobiya iyo Yaman.
Taxonomic and nomenclatural history: <i>Lasiosiphon somalensis</i> species was first described in 1810 by Adrien Franchet. It was transferred to Gnidia in 1897 by Ernest Gilg and then to Lasiosiphon as Lasiosiphon somalensis by Henry Pearson in 1910. Most floras still treat it as Gnidia somalensis but doctoral research by Angela Beaumont (supervisors Trevor Edwards and Johannes van Staden) showed that Lasiosiphon is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from other species of Gnidia and should, therefore, be accepted. See also Beaumont et al. (2009).