Is Blepharis edulis found in Algeria?

Taxonomy:       

Kingdom:	Plantae
Phylum:	Tracheophytes
Class:	Angiosperms
Class:	Eudicots
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Blepharis Juss
Species:	B.edulis

             

Blepharis edulis the forgotten Algerian wild plants

Yes, Blepharis edulis. (Acanthus edulis Forssk.) is native to Algeria and other parts of North Africa. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family, just like Acanthus mollis, but it is a different genus with distinct characteristics.

Introduction

Blepharis edulis, a hardy Algerian wildflower, thrives in the arid landscapes of Algeria’s Saharan Atlas and desert wadis. Known for its edible seeds and medicinal properties, this spiny perennial is a key species in Native Algerian flora. Often called "Akar" locally, it plays a vital role in traditional nomad diets and desert ecosystem stability.

 

Synonyms:

Blepharis edulis var gracilis

Acanthus edulis forssk

Blepharis ciliaris auct 

How to Identify Blepharis edulis in Algeria

Blepharis edulis, a hardy Algerian wildflower, thrives in the arid landscapes of Algeria’s Saharan Atlas and desert wadis. Known for its edible seeds and medicinal properties, this spiny perennial is a key species in Native Algerian flora. Often called "Akar" locally, it plays a vital role in traditional nomad diets and desert ecosystem stability.

Leaves:

Thick, succulent, and toothed margins (adaptation to drought).

Grey-green color with a spiny texture to deter herbivores.

Flowers:

Small, tubular, and blue-purple, clustered in spiny bracts.

Bloom in late summer to autumn, attracting desert pollinators.

Fruits:

Capsules containing nutritious seeds (eaten raw/roasted).

Explosive dispersal mechanism to spread seeds in arid soils.

Ecological Role:

Stabilizes sand dunes in Saharan ergs.

Supports desert bees (Xylocopa spp.) and rare pollinators.

Pioneer species in degraded soils.

Type Of Plant	Life Cycle	Height	Flowering Time	Altitude
Herbaceous	Annual or Perennial	to 60 cm	Jul-Sep	0 to 1500 m

 

Mediterranean	Edible	Color	Abundance	Toxicity
No	Yes	mauve or  Purple	Scarce	Safe

Other Common Name:

Arabic	Berber	English	French	Other Name
Lissan El-Taaleb	Akar	Desert thistle	Blépharis comestible	edible blepharis

Blepharis edulis in Algeria: Detailed Distribution

Geographic Distribution in Algeria:

Blepharis edulis is primarily found in arid and Saharan regions of Algeria, with documented presence in:

1. Saharan Atlas Mountains (Djebel Amour, Ksour Range)
2. High Plateaus (Hauts Plateaux) of central Algeria
3. Northern Sahara fringe (Béchar, Tindouf, Tamanrasset)
4. Rocky Hamadas (desert plateaus) and wadi systems (Oued Saoura, Oued M’zab)
5. Steppe zones bordering the Sahara (El Bayadh, Naâma, Laghouat)

Comparison with Acanthus mollis

Feature	Blepharis edulis	Acanthus mollis
Habitat	Arid/Semi-arid (Saharan regions)	Mediterranean (coastal & mountains)
Appearance	Low, spiny, succulent leaves	Tall, large glossy leaves, showy flowers
Edibility	Seeds edible	Not typically eaten
Medicinal Use	Traditional remedies	Mostly ornamental