Browsing by Author "Malombe, Itambo"

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    Ataxonomic Study of Blepharis Edulls(Forssk.) Pers. Complex (Acanthaceae)
    (Addis Ababa,University, 2000-06) Malombe, Itambo; Kelbessa., Ensermu (PhD)
    The species /3Iep/1oris eduJj~· (Forssk.) Pers. has jor long been miSlaken w;lh B. linariaejolia Pers. and B. cjfiari~' (L) B. L. Bun or IJ. boranensis Vollesen (ined.) alld most ojlhe colleclions identified indiscriminately. While revising Ihe genus. of/empl by Vollesen 10 separa/e (he species. Ihough wilh considerable observed morphological varitlliOn oj specimens, wasjillile and recommended on in ftC/specific sludy based on morphology. This sl/Idy, therejore, employs phenelic lechniques on gross morphology. bOlh mtllure and seedlings characlers in conjllncfion wilh palynological evidence to disenlangle 13. edl/lis complex and re/ated (axa. Clllster analysis segregatedjour groups. which were jimher verified by Principal Component AnalYSis. Discriminant Analysis and Non·Paramelrlc Analysis. Importantly, vegetative and floral characters discontinuollsly or panially separawd fhe accrlled ell/Sler groups. These results were jimher supported by IXilynology. Subsequently, rhese laxQ wac de~·r.:ribcd as B. boranem'ls Vollesen (ined). /J edulls var. edulis Pers .. B. edulis var. glabra Malombe var. nov. and B. edulis var. isabellae Malombe var. nov. The species B. boranensis, a pan jrom elmr separtllion in the ordination space. it is morphologically discrete from all the OIher qffilialed groups. /J edulis var. edulis is dislinguished discontinuously jrom B. edulis var. isabellae and panialiy from B. edlliis var. glabra by [etll llres of cOlyledoll colOllr. lIumber and arrangement of leaf marginal spines. More so. Ihe three varieties lack a wide geographical varitllion.