Lobelia pedunculata, commonly known as matted pratia, trailing pratia or blue star creeper, is a perennial herb from Australia.[2][1][3]

Lobelia pedunculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Lobelia
Species:
L. pedunculata
Binomial name
Lobelia pedunculata
Synonyms

Pratia pedunculata (R.Br.) Benth

It has sky-blue starry flowers, and can spread by underground stolon. In a garden setting some gardeners have found its ability to spread to be a nuisance.[4][5]

Varieties

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One variety, Lobelia pedunculata var. Almanda Blue, was found in Scott Creek Conservation Park in 2013 by John Wamsley. It has a dense weeping habit and small, female-only flowers.[6] Wamsley registered it as intellectual property under Australia's plant breeders' rights and as a US patent.[7] Clones of this plant are sold as garden plants, and royalties go toward preserving biodiversity in the park it was found in.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lobelia pedunculata R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Pratia pedunculata (R.Br.) Benth". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  3. ^ "New South Wales Flora Online: Pratia pedunculata". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  4. ^ Chambers, Jamie. "Alpine Garden Society – Dublin Group – Plant Horrors". alpinegardensociety.ie.
  5. ^ "Groundcover Warning: Blue Star Creeper, Pratia pedunculata, Laurentia fluviatils, Isotoma fluviatilis". gardenofaaron.com. 26 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Newsletter of the Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park – No. 160, November–December, 2015". Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park. November–December 2015.
  7. ^ "Lobelia variety name 'Almanda Blue'". freepatentsonline.com. 22 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Almanda Blue". johnwamsley.com. December 2016.