Blepharis scindica - Sind Blepharis

Sind Blepharis is a prostrate, symmetrically branched undershrub with greenish-hairy stems. Leaves are in whorls of 4, unequal, stalkless; blade linear-oblong, 2-7 cm x 2-4 mm, leathery, hairy above, hairless beneath except the midrib, finely apiculately pointed, entire or spiny-toothed towards base, recurved. Inflorescence a spike, 2-9 x 1.5-2 cm, solitary or few just above the rootstock, hairy. Flowers are purple or violet, about 1.6 cm long. Flower-tube is about 4 mm long, brownish hairy, the solitary lip about 1 cm long, 3-lobed, median lobe larger than the laterals. Sepals are softly hairy on both sides, outer sepals narrowly ovate, 1.4-1.7 cm x 5-6 mm, short tapering, inner sepals nearly or less than half as long and broad as outer ones, pointed. Bracts are ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm x 8-15 mm, densely hairy on both sides, 5-nerved, tip tapering with a sharp, up to 1 cm long spine, margin with 7-9, recurved, soft hairy, 3-4 mm long spines; bracteoles linear-lanceshaped, 1.2-1.5 cm long, densely soft hairy, fringed with hairs. Capsule is ellipsoid, about 8 mm long and 4 mm broad, compressed, shining brown, hairless. Seeds compressed, ovoid, about 4 mm long. Sind Blepharis is endemic to Sind, Baluchistan and SW India, Rajasthan, Rann of Kutch, Saurashtra. Flowering: July-November.