Streptocarpus hirsutissimus E.A.Bruce

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/157950/754347

Conservation

LC - least concern

Gesneriaceae, Ian Darbyshire. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006

Type

Type: Tanzania, Morogoro District, Uluguru Mts, Lupanga Peak, B.D. Burtt 3462 (K!, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Succulent perennial herb

Morphology Stem

Basal stems woody, to 40 cm long, ± 1 cm diameter, sometimes straggling, longitudinally wrinkled in dry material, unbranched; upper stem erect, densely pale-villose particularly at the nodes, hairs multicellular; leaf scars prominent on bare lower stem

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, crowded in the upper section of the stems, pairs equal; blade elliptic, 3.5–6.5 cm long, 1.8–3 cm wide, apex acute, base rounded to attenuate, margin revolute, entire, densely villose above and on the raised lateral nerves and midrib beneath; lateral nerves 9–12 pairs; petiole 0.7–1.5(–2) cm long, densely villose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, solitary, 5–10(–13)flowered; peduncles 6–11 cm long, densely glandular-pubescent, peduncles of old inflorescences sometimes persisting at lower axils, then glabrescent; pedicels 7–20 mm long, densely glandular-pubescent; bracts to 3.5 mm long, often much shorter, densely villose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes oblong-lanceolate, 6–9 mm long, glandular- and eglandular-pubescent outside, becoming villose at the apex, sparsely puberulent within

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale blue-violet, paler at the mouth and somewhat darker on the tube, 50–70 mm, outside of tube and mouth glandular-pubescent; tube 30–40 mm long, basally saccate, where 6–10 mm deep, narrowing to 4.5–7 mm before deepening to 6.5–10 mm in the upper third, mouth open; limb bilabiate, highly oblique; upper lip reflexed, two lobes rounded, each 7–8.5 mm long, 7–10 mm wide; lower lip protruding, ± 30 mm long, lateral lobes rounded, 11–14 mm long, 14–17 mm wide, median lobe rounded to obovate, 14–18 mm long, 15–17 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens arising in the upper third of the corolla tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 3.5–4(–5) mm long, sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers suborbicular, 2.5–3.5 mm wide, thecae indistinct

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary narrowly cylindrical, 17–20 mm long, densely glandular-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 10–14 mm long, glandular-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma bilobed, 1.5 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 55–85(–110) mm long, 2–3 mm diameter, glandular-pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.6–1 mm long, longitudinally ridged with scalariform transverse ridges.

Ecology

Rock faces, cliffs and rocky montane grassland; 1650–2000 m

Conservation

Known only from three locations, one of which is isolated, the future of this species is threatened by losses of populations through stochastic events such as rock falls or lightning-induced fires. It is therefore considered vulnerable (VU D2). It is, however, not greatly threatened by human influence, the populations being in rather inaccessible locations with little or no agricultural potential

Distribution

Flora districts: Known only from the Uluguru and Nguru Mts Flora districts: T6