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 Edit this 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]
  • Echium glabrum Vahl
  • Echium hispidum Thunb.
  • Echium vahlii Roem. & Schult.
  • Lobostemon hispidus (Thunb.) DC.
  • Lobostemon verrucosus var. dregei DC.
  • Lobostemon verrucosus var. pauciflorus DC.

Description

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This 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

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This 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

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This 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

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  1. ^ "Lobostemon glaber". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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
  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.
  5. ^ Buys, Matt H. (2006). "Lobostemon". PlantZAfrica. Retrieved 2021-11-02.