Trichodesma africanum (L.) R. Br.

Annual or biennal branched herb with fistular stem, densely covered with prickly stiff hairs up to 2 mm long with swollen base, hairs deciduous at length. Basal leaves 2-8.5 x 0.3-3.3 mm, ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, densely covered on upper surface with hairs similar to those on stem, the area between hairs glabrous. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate, uppermost ones smaller. Inflorescence lax, terminal or axillary. Flowers shortly pedicellate, dirty white-blue, yellowish-brown tinged in centre (in nota). Calyx c. 6 mm long, upto 11 mm in fruit, 5-partite, hairy to the outside; base truncate to subcordate, narrowing towards the apex. Corolla slightly exceeding calyx; lobes acute. Anthers densely hairy. Style glabrous. Nutlets c. 3 mm long, ovoid brownish, dorsally tubercled, margined; margin denticulate.

Distribution: Africa, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India.

Fl. Per.: May-June.