Lantana swynnertonii Moldenke

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowering spikes 1–2(2.5) cm in diameter, hemispheric, elongating and ± cylindrical in fruit; lower bracts 5–8(10) × 3–5(6) mm, ovate or lanceolate to elliptic, acute to acuminate-cuspidate at apex, flat on the margins, appressed pubescent on both surfaces; upper bracts successively smaller and ± lanceolate, acuminate-cuspidate at apex; spike-axes 1–3.3(5) cm long and slender in fruit with closely-spaced scars Flowering spikes 1–2(2.5) cm in diameter, hemispheric, elongating and ± cylindrical in fruit; lower bracts 5–8(10) × 3–5(6) mm, ovate or lanceolate to elliptic, acute to acuminate-cuspidate at apex, flat on the margins, appressed pubescent on both surfaces; upper bracts successively smaller and ± lanceolate, acuminate-cuspidate at apex; spike-axes 1–3.3(5) cm long and slender in fruit with closely-spaced scars.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupes 2–3 mm long, bright purple. Drupes 2–3 mm long, bright purple.

Ecology

In thickets and open scrub on lower mountain slopes, in riverine scrub and Brachystegia woodland bordering evergreen forest; from 750 to c. 1850 m.

Note

"Moldenke, in Phytologia 3 , 5: 271 (1950) considered that L. swynnertonii belonged in the L. camara L. group, although it “differs conspicuously in its broad bractlets"".  However, this relationship is not accepted in this account, because, in addition to the relatively broader bracts, L. swynnertonii usually has 3-whorled leaves (never opposite as in L. camara ) and the spike axis becomes elongate in fruit (even when only the lower drupes are developed)."   L. rugosa may be distinguished from this species in having: opposite leaves and longer petioles, shorter flowering peduncles, bracts narrower at the base and revolute in the upper half, and corollas smaller (tube up to 4 mm long).

Distribution

Zimbabwe It has also been collected on Morrumbala Mt. Mozambique Recorded mostly from the lower, drier slopes and foothills of the eastern border mountains of Zimbabwe, it would be expected to occur in adjacent localities in Mozambique; it has also been collected on Morrumbala Mt. District code: ZIM E, MOZ Z, MOZ MS

Morphology General Habit

Shrub up to 2.5 m tall, or bushy subshrub to 1.5 m. Shrub up to 2.5 m tall, or bushy subshrub to 1.5 m

Morphology Branches

Branches usually simple with internodes 3–10 cm long; hispid with long white ± patent tubercle-based hairs, or ± weakly strigose with ± short tubercle-based hairs usually curving or ± appressed antrorse, usually with sessile glands intermixed. Branches usually simple with internodes 3–10 cm long; hispid with long white ± patent tubercle-based hairs, or ± weakly strigose with ± short tubercle-based hairs usually curving or ± appressed antrorse, usually with sessile glands intermixed

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually all 3-whorled, less often also opposite or 4-whorled in the same plant, more rarely all opposite, petiolate; lamina (2)3–5.5(7.5) × (1)2–3.5(5.5) cm, ovate to broadly ovate or lanceolate, acute at the apex, rounded at the base and sometimes the middle part of the rounded base cuneate and somewhat decurrent into the petiole, closely crenate or crenate-serrate on the margins and 16–24 shallowly toothed on each side, somewhat coriaceous when mature becoming rigid when dry, deep green, concolorous or somewhat darker above, hispid on upper surface with ± scattered tubercle-based bristles, becoming ± scabrid with the tubercle-bases persisting in older leaves, hispidulous-pubescent to somewhat tomentose beneath with bristles mainly on the raised venation, indumentum intermixed with sessile glands; venation somewhat impressed above and raised beneath; petiole 0.5–0.7 cm long. Leaves usually all 3-whorled, less often also opposite or 4-whorled in the same plant, more rarely all opposite, petiolate; lamina (2)3–5.5(7.5) × (1)2–3.5(5.5) cm, ovate to broadly ovate or lanceolate, acute at the apex, rounded at the base and sometimes the middle part of the rounded base cuneate and somewhat decurrent into the petiole, closely crenate or crenate-serrate on the margins and 16–24 shallowly toothed on each side, somewhat coriaceous when mature becoming rigid when dry, deep green, concolorous or somewhat darker above, hispid on upper surface with ± scattered tubercle-based bristles, becoming ± scabrid with the tubercle-bases persisting in older leaves, hispidulous-pubescent to somewhat tomentose beneath with bristles mainly on the raised venation, indumentum intermixed with sessile glands; venation somewhat impressed above and raised beneath; petiole 0.5–0.7 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles 1 per leaf axil, slender, ascending, hispid-pubescent with bristles usually spreading, (4)6–12.5(14.5) cm long at anthesis, usually 1.5–2.5 times longer than the subtending leaf, rarely shorter than the leaf, increasing to 14.5 cm long in fruit. Peduncles 1 per leaf axil, slender, ascending, hispid-pubescent with bristles usually spreading, (4)6–12.5(14.5) cm long at anthesis, usually 1.5–2.5 times longer than the subtending leaf, rarely shorter than the leaf, increasing to 14.5 cm long in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx c. 1.5 mm long, cylindric, truncate, thinly membranous and appressed puberulous. Calyx c. 1.5 mm long, cylindric, truncate, thinly membranous and appressed puberulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pinkish-mauve to purplish, greatly exceeding the bracts especially in the upper flowers; tube 5–7.5(8) mm long, ± ventricose; lower lip 4–5.5(6) mm broad. Corolla pinkish-mauve to purplish, greatly exceeding the bracts especially in the upper flowers; tube 5–7.5(8) mm long, ± ventricose; lower lip 4–5.5(6) mm broad