Aeollanthus buchnerianus Briq.

Lamiaceae (Labiatae), A.J. Paton, G. Bramley, O. Ryding, R.M. Polhill, Y.B. Harvey, M. Iwarsson, F. Willis, P.B. Phillipson, K. Balkwill, C.W. Lukhoba, D.F. Otieno, & R.M. Harley. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009

Type

Lectotype, selected by Ryding, loc. cit. (1981): Angola, Malanje, Bango, Buchner 571 (B†, holo.; K!, lecto.)

Morphology General Habit

Subshrub or sometimes perennial herb, 0.3–0.9 m, ascending or erect

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, petiolate; blade broadly ovate or sometimes elliptic, up to 2–6 × 1.5–4.5 cm, subcordate, truncate or attenuate at the base, always attenuate near the petiole, margin crenate to dentate, ± undulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences lax; spikes one-sided, with alternately one or two flowers at each node, or on the main axis often all-sided with two flowers at each node, with rather large sterile bracts on the back; fertile bracts broadly ovate or ovate, without glandular dot

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla light violet, pink or white; tube slightly broadened towards the throat, 3.5–8 mm long; posterior lip distinctly 4-lobed with spreading lobes; anterior lip boat-shaped, with a hood at the apex and with two reflexed lobes at the basal part, initially straight with the anthers included in the hood, becoming recurved after sudden release of the stamens

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Fruiting calyx cylindrical or slightly broadened above, 2–3.8 mm long, dehiscent far below the middle; posterior lip 3-lobed; anterior lip 2-lobed; basal part orbicular (when seen from above), flat above or shallowly cupular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets 0.7–1.1 × 0.5–0.9 mm, smooth, glossy.

Ecology

Rocks or shallow soil overlying rocks, often on shaded or rather humid places, sometimes epiphytic; 900–2400 m

Conservation

Least concern; widely distributed

Note

The species is very variable. The material from Tanzania belongs to a form that mostly grows in unshaded places and has rather robust stems, short internodes, a dense indumentum with long hairs, and often comparatively narrow leaves. The single isolated collection from Uganda grew as an epiphyte, had a shorter and sparser indumentum, and had thinner stems with longer internodes.

Distribution

Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa Flora districts: U2 T4 T6 T7 T8