Lobostemon glaber, the renoster healthbush, is a species of plant from South Africa. It is in the forget-me not family.
| Lobostemon glaber | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Lobostemon |
| Species: | L. glaber
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lobostemon glaber (Vahl) H.Buek
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editThis shrub grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall.[2][3] It has both woody and herbaceous branches. The herbaceous branches and the stemless lance-like leaves are hairy.[3] The hairs are not of uniform length. They may be either of two size classes or fall along a continuous spectrum of lengths.[3]
White or pale pink funnel-shaped flowers are present between August and November.[2] They are borne in cymes. The buds are loosely arranged to form a globose unit or are arranged in two distinct parallel rows, spreading greatly in fruiting stage.[3] The anterior petals are longer and have larger lobes than the rest. They are not hairy.[3] The staminal scales are triangular with lateral lobes.[2] They are inserted below the throat of the corolla tube, 3.8–4.5 mm (0.15–0.18 in) above the base of the corolla tube.[3]
It may be confused with Lobostemon trichotomus, but the hairs on the mericarpids (nutlets) of Lobostemon glaber are diagnostic.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is found growing from the Koue Bokkeveld to the Cape Peninsula and Witteberg.[2] It is found growing on shale soils and rocky slopes.[3]
Ecology
editThis species is popularly visited by bees. It produces a large quantity of nectar, making it a high reward species.[4] Like other Lobostemon species, it is able to resprout after a fire.[3][5]
References
edit- ^ "Lobostemon glaber". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora (PDF). Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i BODATSA: Botanical Collections. v1.4. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Dataset/Occurrence. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=brahms_online&v=1.4
- ^ Adedoja, Opeyemi A.; Kehinde, Temitope; Samways, Michael J. (2018-11-29). Dyer, Adrian G. (ed.). "Insect-flower interaction networks vary among endemic pollinator taxa over an elevation gradient". PLOS ONE. 13 (11): e0207453. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207453. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6264482. PMID 30496213.
- ^ Buys, Matt H. (2006). "Lobostemon". PlantZAfrica. Retrieved 2021-11-02.