Streptocarpus rhodesianus subsp. grandiflorus I.Darbysh.

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

Type

Type: Tanzania, Songea District, Mbinga, Congdon 161 (K!, holo. & iso.)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 2.3–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 15–19 mm long; lower lip 6–8.5 mm long, lateral lobes 3.7–5 mm wide, median lobe 4–6 mm wide, all rounded and with an irregular margin; hairs on floor of corolla tube blunt but not clearly clavate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 8–12 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.5 mm long.

Ecology

Exposed rock faces with thin soils; 1650 m

Conservation

S. rhodesianus is a widespread species, the typical subspecies occuring from eastern Angola and southwestern Congo-Kinshasa through much of Zambia. As it grows around bolders and rock faces, its habitat is unlikely to be threatened by man. It is therefore assessed as of Least Concern (LC). Subsp. grandiflorus is represented by a single collection and may be restricted to the Kiteza Forest Reserve of southern Tanzania. With such a small distribution, it is vulnerable to stochastic events such as rock falls which may impact greatly upon the size of existing populations. It is therefore assessed as Vulnerable (VU D2)

Note

Subsp. grandiflorus superficially looks distinct from S. rhodesianus due largely to the strikingly large flowers with broad lobes to the lower lip. However, the two taxa are otherwise very close and share the striking indumentum of the inner corolla tube. The single collection of subsp. grandiflorus additionally displays small leaves (to only 6 cm long) and peduncles bearing only 1–2 flowers. Both characters are sometimes recorded in subsp. rhodesianus, but this latter taxon usually has larger leaves and more than two flowers on at least some of the peduncles .

Distribution

Range: Not known elsewhere Flora districts: T8

Use

None recorded on herbarium specimens