Streptocarpus inconspicuus (B.L.Burtt) Christenh.

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

Type

Type: Tanzania, Morogoro District, Uluguru Mts, Morogoro, Kisaki road, E.M. Bruce 328 (K!, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Delicate caulescent herb

Morphology Stem

Stems weak, to 15 cm long but often much shorter, appressed-pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pale green beneath; blade (ovate-)elliptic, 1.8–5.5 cm long, 1.3–3.2 cm wide, base ± asymmetric, rounded, obtuse or shortly attenuate, margin irregularly undulate or subentire, apex obtuse to rounded, upper surfaceglabrous except along the margin where ciliate; lateral nerves 4–5 pairs, conspicuous beneath; petiole 0.7–5 cm long, appressed-pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–6-flowered; peduncles 1.2–3.2 cm long; pedicels (2–)6–11(–16) mm long, both sparsely pilose; bracts linear-lanceolate, 1–2.5 mm long, appressed-pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes linearlanceolate, 2.3–3.7 mm long, apex shortly recurved, outer surface pubescent, the hairs ascending

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white or ? pale blue, the throat sometimes blue-purple (see note), shortly pubescent outside principally on the limb, the marginal hairs eglandular; tube 2–2.6 mm long; limb ± spreading, ± 7–11 mm long; upper lip 3–4 mm long, divided almost to the base into 2 elliptic lobes, each 1.5–2 mm wide; lower lip 4–6.5 mm long, lobes oblong (-elliptic), 2.5–5 mm long, 2.7–3.5 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments slender, 2–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther thecae 0.8–1.2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes

Staminodes not seen

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary cylindric, ± 2.5 mm long, appressed-puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1.2–2 mm long, largely glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma 0.3–0.4 mm diameter, papillose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule narrowly cylindric, 9.5–16.5 mm long, 1–1.5(–2) mm diameter, puberulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.4–0.6 mm long, longitudinally ridged with scalariform transverse ridges, these somewhat verruculose.

Ecology

Moist (sub)montane forest, often on or under rocks; 1350–1800 m

Conservation

With three of the seven collections seen of this taxon having been made within the last 15 years, this species can no longer be considered as probably extinct in the wild (as suggested in, for example, Watkins et al. 2002). It is, however, clearly rare and restricted to a small region of the Uluguru Mts where it may be threatened by continued forest loss particularly at the lower end of its altitudinal range. It is therefore assessed as Vulnerable (VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii))

Note

Flower colour is not well documented in this species and may be variable. Jannerup & Mhoro (97) note it as “white with bluish purple tube” which agrees with Bruce’s (328) “white flowers with blue spot” and Haston’s (106) “white with violet-blue throat”. Kisena (898, 899) records “white” flowers whilst Harris & Pócs (4561) note them as “pale blue”, although the single dried flower seen in the latter gathering appears rather two-toned with a paler limb.

Distribution

Range: Restricted to the northern Uluguru Mts Flora districts: T6

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/158378/774317

Conservation

EN - endangered