Lippia scaberrima Sond.

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

Type

Type from South Africa (Free State).

Morphology General

Perennial herb, undershrub or low shrub, from a woody rootstock, leaves strongly aromatic when crushed

Ecology

Kalahari Sand wooded grassland with Acacia fleckii and Combretum apiculatum , pan margins and roadsides; c. 1050 m.

Distribution

District code: BOT SE. Botswana Also in South Africa (Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Free State Provs.).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, undershrub or low shrub, from a woody rootstock, leaves strongly aromatic when crushed.

Morphology Stem

Stems 1–several, 30–100 cm tall, erect or spreading, simple or shortly branched above, somewhat 4-angular, striate, stems and branches leafy with inflorescences in upper axils, ± scabrid mainly along the angles with short strigose antrorse setae. Stems 1–several, 30–100 cm tall, erect or spreading, simple or shortly branched above, somewhat 4-angular, striate, stems and branches leafy with inflorescences in upper axils, ± scabrid mainly along the angles with short strigose antrorse setae

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, rarely 3-whorled, shortly petiolate, pale green; lamina 2.5–6.5 × 0.4–2 cm, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic, smaller on the branches, acute at the apex and cuneate at the base, crenate-serrulate on the margins in the upper part and entire in the lower one third, with scattered short strigose hairs on the upper surface and sparsely strigose beneath with the hairs mainly on the nerves, glandular punctate on both surfaces; nerves impressed above, raised and paler beneath, the lower pair more pronounced and curving to half way up the blade. Leaves opposite, rarely 3-whorled, shortly petiolate, pale green; lamina 2.5–6.5 × 0.4–2 cm, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic, smaller on the branches, acute at the apex and cuneate at the base, crenate-serrulate on the margins in the upper part and entire in the lower one third, with scattered short strigose hairs on the upper surface and sparsely strigose beneath with the hairs mainly on the nerves, glandular punctate on both surfaces; nerves impressed above, raised and paler beneath, the lower pair more pronounced and curving to half way up the blade

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spikes densely many-flowered, up to 1.2 cm long and ovoid in flower, increasing to 2.6 × 1.2 cm and cylindric-ovoid in fruit; peduncles solitary in the upper leaf axils, ascending, up to 5.3 cm long, subequalling the subtending leaf. Spikes densely many-flowered, up to 1.2 cm long and ovoid in flower, increasing to 2.6 × 1.2 cm and cylindric.ovoid in fruit; peduncles solitary in the upper leaf axils, ascending, up to 5.3 cm long, subequalling the subtending leaf

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts appressed imbricate, 4–10 × 3–6 mm, longer than the flowers, broadly ovate, shortly acuminate, sparsely shortly pubescent with appressed white hairs outside, shortly ciliate at the margin, glandular outside, greenish-yellow, the lowermost not leaf-like. Bracts appressed imbricate, 4–10 × 3–6 mm, longer than the flowers, broadly ovate, shortly acuminate, sparsely shortly pubescent with appressed white hairs outside, shortly ciliate at the margin, glandular outside, greenish-yellow, the lowermost not leaf-like

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx distinctly 2-lobed, 1/3–1/2 as long as the corolla, uniformly hispidulous. Calyx distinctly 2-lobed, 1/3–1/2 as long as the corolla, uniformly hispidulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla cream to pale yellow; tube c. 4 mm long, pubescent and glandular outside, with pubescent throat; limb 2-lipped. Corolla cream to pale yellow; tube c. 4 mm long, pubescent and glandular outside, with pubescent throat; limb 2-lipped

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Mericarps 2.25 × 1.75 mm, semiglobose, flat on the commissural face. Mericarps 2.25 × 1.75 mm, semiglobose, flat on the commissural face.