Rotheca hirsuta (Hochst.) R.Fern.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.

Morphology General

Perennial herb or suffrutex 4–77 cm tall, from a woody rootstock

Morphology Stem

Stems 1–several (up to 8 or more), erect, usually simple, 4-angled, ± densely leafy Stems 1–several (up to 8 or more), erect, usually simple, 4-angled, ± densely leafy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually in whorls of 3, rarely opposite or in whorls of 4, sessile or nearly so; lamina shorter to longer than the internodes, smallest and relatively widest in the lowermost leaves, up to 5 cm long and (1.5)2–13 mm wide, elliptic, linear-elliptic to oblong or sometimes obovate, acute to obtuse or rounded at the apex, attenuate towards the base, entire, coriaceous to membranous, profusely gland-dotted on lower surface; midrib rather prominent beneath and the lateral nerves inconspicuous Leaves usually in whorls of 3, rarely opposite or in whorls of 4, sessile or nearly so; lamina shorter to longer than the internodes, smallest and relatively widest in the lowermost leaves, up to 5 cm long and (1.5)2–13 mm wide, elliptic, linear-elliptic to oblong or sometimes obovate, acute to obtuse or rounded at the apex, attenuate towards the base, entire, coriaceous to membranous, profusely gland-dotted on lower surface; midrib rather prominent beneath and the lateral nerves inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 1–2(3)-flowered, solitary, axillary, usually in the upper 1/4–1/2 of the stems (rarely also in the lower part), subequalling the subtending leaf, or the uppermost somewhat exceeding the subtending leaf, the three leaves at each node ± equal in length; peduncles up to 3 cm long, slender, ascending or the lowermost sometimes spreading; pedicels 2–3 mm long, 2-bracteate at the base Cymes 1–2(3)-flowered, solitary, axillary, usually in the upper 1/4–1/2 of the stems (rarely also in the lower part), subequalling the subtending leaf, or the uppermost somewhat exceeding the subtending leaf, the three leaves at each node ± equal in length; peduncles up to 3 cm long, slender, ascending or the lowermost sometimes spreading; pedicels 2–3 mm long, 2-bracteate at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate, divided to about the middle; lobes up to 3 mm long, oblong or ovate to triangular, obtuse or acute, sometimes appearing acute or nearly subulate due to the margins becoming involute on drying Calyx campanulate, divided to about the middle; lobes up to 3 mm long, oblong or ovate to triangular, obtuse or acute, sometimes appearing acute or nearly subulate due to the margins becoming involute on drying.

Ecology

In wooded grassland, open xerophytic bush and in burnt open grassland; 350–1150 m. Gully forest and margins of evergreen forest on mountain sides, and in firebreaks in montane grassland; 700–1100 m.

Note

  Both forms occur together in the eastern border region of Zimbabwe, mainly in the Chimanimani area, and in Mozambique along the Swaziland border.  The two forms are sometimes found intermixed within the same gathering, e.g. Plowes 2547 from Zimbabwe where the LISC duplicate is forma hirsuta and the SRGH duplicate is forma triphylla.  Similar examples are seen in the duplicates of Gomes e Sousa 127 and 127A (from Goba in Mozambique) where the LISC duplicate is forma hirsuta and the LMU and another LISC duplicate are forma triphylla ; and in Torre & Correia 13541 from Baruè, Chôa Mts., both in LISC.

Distribution

Also in Swaziland and South Africa (Transvaal and KwaZulu-Natal). Also in South Africa (Free State, Transvaal, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Prov.).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb or suffrutex 4–77 cm tall, from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla deep or vivid blue with a bifurcate violet stripe on the median lobe, or lilac-blue to violet-blue with a yellow stripe on each side of the median lobe, or livid-blue with broad, white stripes on the median lobe; tube 4–5 mm long; lateral lobes obliquely obovate or elliptic, obtuse; lower lobe obovate or oblong, exceeding the others. Corolla deep or vivid blue with a bifurcate violet stripe on the median lobe, or lilac.blue to violet-blue with a yellow stripe on each side of the median lobe, or livid-blue with broad, white stripes on the median lobe; tube 4–5 mm long; lateral lobes obliquely obovate or elliptic, obtuse; lower lobe obovate or oblong, exceeding the others

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, c. 8 mm long, deeply lobed, each lobe cylindrical, smooth, rounded at the apex, c. 3 mm in diameter. Fruit black, c. 8 mm long, deeply lobed, each lobe cylindrical, smooth, rounded at the apex, c. 3 mm in diameter.