Campanulaceae
Lobelia

Lobelia wollastonii Baker f.

First published in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 265 (1908)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Uganda to Rwanda. It is a herbaceous tree and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Plant 2–7 m. tall in flower, erect.
Morphology Stem
Stem unbranched, hollow, woody below.
Morphology Leaves
Rosette-leaves marcescent, sessile, linear-lanceolate, 20–50 cm. long, 2.5–5.5 cm. wide, acute at the apex, ciliate at least towards the base, otherwise glabrous or, when young, shaggy pilose at the base on both sides; margin entire or subentire; venation protruding beneath with spreading lateral veins and reticulate tertiary venation.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence unbranched, dense, up to 2 m. long; bracts, calyx and pedicels densely shaggy with long white or yellowish hairs; pedicels 4–7 mm. long; bracts drooping, linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate at the apex, 6–10 cm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the pedicel, minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium obconical, 10-nerved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes linear, 15–23 mm. long, acuminate at the apex, entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 30–45 mm. long, blue, split to the base on the back, ± pubescent on outside and inside; lobes linear, the lateral ones somewhat more deeply split than the middle ones.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments
Filaments connate for most of their length and forming a firm tube, ± puberulous, free from the corolla.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther-tube 9–12 mm. long, glabrous on the back; 2 lower anthers barbate at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary subinferior.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule subglobose, 12–15 mm. long, with 2 valves.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds broadly elliptic in outline, somewhat compressed, ± 1 mm. long, finely striate, brown.
Habitat
Upland forest and moor; 3350–4250 m.
Distribution
U2
[FTEA]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/103647248/103648547

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0