Citation: Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. Sp. 1:50, t. 71 (1805).

Synonymy: L. browniana Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 5:71 (1819); L. microsperma F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt. Aust. 10:41 (1876).

Common name: Tall lobella, false orchid.

Description:
Annual herbs with a tap root scarcely developed and one to few stiffly erect stems rarely taller than 30 cm, glabrous; leaves sessile, linear or rarely linear-elliptic, 20-70 x 2-4 mm, acute, usually entire, glabrous.

Inflorescence a spike-like thyrse with bracts much shorter than the leaves and each with a monochasium reduced to a single flower in its axil but with secondary bracts often absent; pedicel 3-12 mm long; sepals shortly connate, the lobes triangular, 2.5-4 mm long, pointed, glabrous; corolla 10-15 mm long along the lower lip, the tube off-white becoming blue or a purplish blue similar to the lobes and split along the upper side, the lobes sometimes almost subequal with the upper 2 shorter and the lower median one longer than the 2 lateral ones, the lower median lobe elliptic rarely oblanceolate and with few hairs in the throat; anther-column with dense tufts of hairs around the apical opening.

Fruit usually obliquely obovoid, 5-9 mm long; seeds triangular or often irregularly so in section, c. 0.2 mm long, smooth.

	Habit and seed.
Image source: fig. 623c in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cochrane et al. (1968) Flowers and plants of Victoria, t. 405.

Distribution:  In moist places in a wide range of habitats.   W.Aust.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Oct. — March.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: A variable and widespread species which is not easily subdivided and the characteristics provided by Wimmer (1953) Pflanzenreich 276b, p. 562 are not workable in S. Aust. (see also under L. heterophylla and L. simplicicaulis).

Author: Not yet available