Lobelia goetzei Diels

Lobeliaceae, M. Thulin. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial ± erect or ascending herb from a taproot.

Morphology Stem

Stems few to many, 15–70 cm. tall, ribbed, ± densely hirsute with ± spreading hairs at least below.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, up to 15–55 x 7–22 mm., acute to obtuse at the apex, attenuate into a petiole–like base or cuneate at the base, hirsute on both sides but with ± appressed hairs above, crenate–serrate; venation distinct beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in lax, 3–10–flowered, pedunculate racemes; pedicels 3–12 mm. long, erect in fruit, strigose; bracts lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 2–5·5 mm. long, entire; bracteoles usually at or near the base of the pedicel, but sometimes higher up, linear–lanceolate, 1·5–3·2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium broadly obconical to hemispherical, somewhat oblique, ± 8–nerved, ± strigose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx–lobes narrowly triangular, 2–4 mm. long, entire, glabrous to shortly ciliate, somewhat gibbous at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 8–13(14) mm. long, pink, mauve, purple or rarely white, with two longitudinal yellowish crests in the mouth of the tube, split to the base on the back, pubescent outside on the lobes, rarely glabrous, papillose inside near the mouth of the tube; lower lip 5–6 mm. long with obovate–oblong lobes, ± 1·5–2·5 mm. wide; upper lobes lanceolate, ± recurved, 2–2·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments linear, connate above, attached to corolla–tube at the base, densely pubescent on the inside in the upper part, otherwise glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther–tube 1·2–2 mm. long, all anthers densely hairy at the apex, otherwise glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary semi–inferior.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± 8–nerved, ± strigose, with 2 valves 2–3·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± broadly elliptic in outline, trigonous, ± 1 mm. long, very finely reticulate, brown to almost black.

Lobeliaceae, Mats Thulin (University of Uppsala). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial ± erect or ascending herb from a taproot.

Morphology Stem

Stems few–many, 15–70 cm. tall, ribbed, ± densely hirsute with ± spreading hairs at least below.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, up to 15–55 mm. long and 7–22 mm. wide, acute to obtuse at the apex, attenuate into a petiole-like base or cuneate at the base, hirsute on both sides but with ± appressed hairs above, erenate-serrate; venation distinct beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in lax 3–10-flowered pedunculate racemes; pedicels 3–12 mm. long, erect in fruit, strigose; bracts lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 2–5.5 mm. long, entire; bracteoles usually at or near the base of the pedicel, but sometimes higher up, linear-lanceolate, 1.5–3.2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium broadly obconical to hemispherical, somewhat oblique, 8-nerved, ± strigose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-lobes narrowly triangular, 2–4 mm. long, entire, glabrous to shortly ciliate, somewhat gibbous at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 8–13(–14) mm. long, pink, mauve, purple or rarely white, with 2 longitudinal yellowish crests in the mouth of the tube, split to the base on the back, pubescent outside on the lobes, rarely glabrous, papillose inside near the mouth of the tube; lower lip 5–6 mm. long, with obovate-oblong lobes ± l.5–2.5 mm. wide; upper lobes lanceolate, ± recurved, 2–2.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments connate above, attached to corolla-tube at the base, densely pubescent on the inside in the upper part, otherwise glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther-tube 1.2–2 mm. long, all anthers densely hairy at the apex, otherwise glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary semi-inferior.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± 8-nerved, ± strigose, with 2 valves 2–3.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± broadly elliptic in outline, trigonous, ± 1 mm. long, very finely reticulate, brown to almost black.

Habitat

Upland grassland, rocky hillsides, road banks, cultivations; (1200–) 1500–2900 m.

Distribution

T7 T8