Family: Campanulaceae
Lobelia heterophylla
Citation:
Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. Sp. 1:52, t. 74 (1805).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Wing-seeded lobelia.
Description:
Annual herbs with a distinct tap root and often with only one erect stem to 30 cm high, glabrous; leaves subpetiolate with a cuneate base and with elliptic to linear-elliptic or rarely oblanceolate blade at the base of the plant becoming sessile, often stem-clasping and lanceolate to linear-triangular above, 20-60 x 2-11 mm, obtuse and often mucronate, rarely acute, with distant lobes, serrations or teeth terminating in a swelling, sometimes with marginal papillae or rarely hairs becoming glabrous later.
Inflorescence a spike-like thyrse with leaf-like bracts becoming shorter upwards and each with a monochasium reduced to a simple flower in its axil; pedicels upturned when fruiting; sepals shortly connate, the lobes triangular, 3-5 mm long, pointed, with a few short marginal cilia at least when young; corolla 11-18 mm long along the lower lip, the tube pale-yellow and split along the upper side, the upper 2 lobes short and with a tuft of hairs at the apex, the lower median lobe obovate, blue with a yellow patch in front of the throat and larger than the similar 2 lateral lobes; anthers each with a tuft of erect hairs around the apical opening of the anther-column.
Fruit obovoid to subglobose with a truncate apex, 5-7 mm long; seed almost circular in surface view, c. 1 mm long, triangular in section with a membranous wing along each ridge.
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Image source: fig. 623d in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Distribution:
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On dunes often associated with tufts of Triodia spp.
W.Aust.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: Oct. (3 records).
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
This species is distinguished from L. gibbosa by its lobed lower leaves, almost globose fruits and winged seeds.
Author:
Not yet available
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