Lobelia cobaltica S.Moore

Lobeliaceae, M. Thulin. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther–tube ±2·5 mm. long, all anthers densely hairy at the apex, otherwise glabrous or sparsely pubescent on the connectives outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary semi–inferior.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± 8–nerved, pilose, with 2 valves 1·5–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds broadly elliptic in outline, trigonous, ± 0–8 mm. long, very finely reticulate, pale to dark brown.

Morphology General Habit

Annual (?) decumbent herb from a taproot.

Morphology Stem

Stems few to several, up to 60 cm. tall, rather robust, ribbed, usually densely pilose with spreading hairs much varying in size, the largest 1·5 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with the lamina deltoid to very broadly ovate, up to 20 x 25 mm., acute to obtuse and mucronulate at the apex, truncate to subcordate or upper leaves sometimes cuneate at the base, pilose on both sides, in all but the uppermost leaves narrowing into an up to 10(–20) mm. long, winged petiole; margin coarsely dentate or crenate; venation distinct beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in lax, 2–5–flowered, pedunculate racemes; pedicels 4–8 mm. long, pilose; bracts linear–lanceolate, up to 5 mm. long, entire, pilose; bracteoles near the base of the pedicel, linear, 1–2·5 mm. long, pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium broadly obconical, ± oblique, ± 8–nerved, pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx–lobes very slender, up to 7 mm. long, entire, pilose, somewhat gibbous at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 17–23 mm. long, deep blue, with two whitish longitudinal crests in the mouth of the tube, split to the base on the back, sparsely pubescent outside on the tube and along the midveins of the lobes, papillose inside near mouth of the tube; lower lobes obovate–oblong, 9–13 mm. long; upper lobes lanceolate, recurved, ± 4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments linear, glabrous, connate above, attached to corolla–tube at the base.