Lobelia angulata, previously known as Pratia angulata, and commonly known as Pānakenake, is a small herbaceous scrambling herb native to New Zealand. Its flowers (tiny ones of 1cm breadth) between spring and autumn, preceded by purple-red berries with small circular leaves with serrated margins. It reproduces through pollination by insects and has edible leaves used as vegetables. The species is endemic in NZ thus occurs naturally in damp parts of the North, Stewart, and South Islands; the place supports its growth, but its adaptation is attributed to its high tolerance to weather and environmental conditions like the frost hardy regions [1]. The species also occur globally in the coastal areas of Europe, East Asia, India, and other places like Australia along rivers and forests. Although it grows naturally with high weed potential, it can be cultivated by creating the desired conditions. Its primary landscape use is providing groundcover, and it is recommended to avoid planting in confined spaces since it can invade lawns and everywhere [2]. Besides New Zealand, it is also found globally, specifically in Asia, Australia, and the other pacific regions.
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| Lobelia angulata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Genus: | Lobelia |
| Species: | L. angulata
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| Binomial name | |
| Lobelia angulata A.Cunn., 1840
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Description
editIt is a smooth decumbent herb that forms tiny to large diffusing patches with creepy stem and roots at the nodes; the species can also be slender and either branched or simple. The petioles attaching the leaves to the stems are relatively short, between 2-5 mm, and broad ovate leaves with the lamina of 2-12* 2-8 mm in thickness [2]. The orbicular leaves are typically coarse and sinuate margin having rounded lobes and notches and a semi-succulent membrane with purple underneath. The flowers' peduncles are slender and have a length of 6cm and holds on to solitary flower separate from the vegetation part[1] . The flowers' calyx lobes are 2-4mm long and seem triangular and linear, especially the white corolla with deep lanceolate lobes with a length of 7-18 mm. The corolla has acute purple veins that spread to the lower and upper lip. The flowers are dioecious and pollinated by insects to produce fruits with seeds that have dicotyledonous composites. The plant can be cultivated for its good uses, but its ground-covering nature could result in weed invasion of grass courts and other lawns in confined zones.
Distribution
editThe species is also found mainly in coastal and wetlands in E. Asia – China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, and New Guinea, Australia.
The species’ bio status in New Zealand is endemic since it is indigenous and found in the North, South, and Stewart Islands, owing to the dampness of the soils' area and suitability. Although people have engaged in its cultivation in natural and artificial settings, the plant grows naturally in these regions, especially greenhouses and pots[1] . The species' preferred habitat is damp sites in the grasslands, open forests, herb fields, and streamside from the lowland regions to the North and South Island's sub-alpine zones. In addition to being damp, it should partially shade areas with the following atmospheric and terrestrial specifications[3]:
- Temperature: hardy levels (50 0F - 61 0F)
- Light: medium-high (partially shaded areas)
- Moisture: medium (wet woods and meadows)
- Soil: medium dampness (wet and contain humus)
- Wind tolerance: Very high (resists strong winds)
Life cycle
editThe phenology characterizes the life cycle of the herb species and life stages during growth to maturity with a half-hardy life cycle, perennial and annual[1] . The timing of the events and life stages involved in the growth and development of the plant throughout the year in different growing regions are as follows[3]:
- Flowering: it occurs during the summer and produces asymmetric flowers that are blue, red, purple, and white with five lobes.
- Pollination: the insects, particularly the Bombus spp., pollinate the mature flowers once they turn red-purple or pink during the mid-summer[2].
- Fruiting: the fruits develop and mature during the late spring-summer season to late spring and at times enter the early autumn period
- Seed dispersal: the seeds are spread by the predators, usually the fruit herbivores that select that disperse them naturally during the early spring.
- Germination: the seeds are sprouting in the late spring and autumn seasons for both the perennial and annual seeds, where they are ready for transplanting after 1-2 weeks.
- Seedling: the mature seedlings are then transplanted during the autumn season by placing the cuttings in suitable growth conditions and progressive removal of deadheads.
- Adult plant: it reaches maturity after a year (annuals) and six months (perennials), develops the basal leaves and begins to get flower nodes from winter to early summer[4].
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Interactions
editThe preferred soils for free-draining soil along rivers and forest cover are wet with high moisture and humus content; the suitable soils include the loamy (medium) and sandy (light). The soils should also have a low pH that is acidic and thrive in neutral and alkaline environments as long as the soil is damp[2]. They should shade the soil from direct sunlight to prevent the soil from drying up during the summer, and fertility is also important to provide growth nutrients.
The species is also edible by other species that are usually herbivores and omnivores animals; they feed on the leaves and seeds. The herbivores known for feeding on the plant are the red deer, sheep, goats, and hares that eat the evergreen leaves while the omnivores include humans and tropical forest monkeys.
The species is also a host of parasites that are harmless to them, including snails and slugs that seek warmth in the leaves due to the surrounding dampness. The relationship between the parasites and the host is described as mutual co-existence since they also help in decomposition for humus creation[4]. Humans are also parasitic on the plant since it is edible, have medicinal value, and in return, aid in the conservation and cultivating of the species.
Further information
editIn addition to the natural growth, the species can be cultivated in open farms and greenhouses as long as the place has gritty and moist soil. The farmer also has to maintain hardy temperature conditions of -10 0C and no hot and long summers. It is a suitable plant for rocky gardens since it is polymorphic though it could be evasive and turn into a lawn weed[3]. In the conservation status ranking, the species is rated as a threatened plant in the IUCN Red List that classifies in three extinct statuses, most minor concern or threatened.
Uses
editThe native NZ species has several uses in its natural state; no manufacturing required utilizing the plant in the following broad areas[3]:
- Nutritional: the leaves are used as vegetables by cooking since they have health nutrients like vitamins and ions that enhance one’s immunity and digestive health.
- Medicinal: It helps treat respiratory conditions like asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis since it serves as the expectorant. It aids in thinning the mucus (phlegm) and results in a relatively more productive cough that clears the respiratory system and eases breathing[4].
- Cultural: the plant species was also used by the native people of NZ for socio-cultural practices such as customary signification and also for recreation as sedatives for relaxation.
- Spiritual: the natives attached spiritual purpose to the tree by using it to symbolize malevolence and distinction, and supernatural healing.
- Economic value: the species has several uses that have been commercialized with the emergence of cultivation and eco-tourism practices that result in financial returns[5].
Reference
editaustralis Category:Trees of New Zealand Category:Ornamental trees Category:Trees of mild maritime climate Category:Root vegetables Category:Taxa named by Stephan Endlicher Category:Plants described in 1786
- ^ a b c d Knox, E.B.; Heenan, P.B.; Muasya, A.M.; Murray, B.G. 2008: Phylogenetic position and relationships of Lobelia glaberrima (Lobeliaceae), a new alpine species from southern South Island (New Zealand). New Zealand Journal of Botany 46: 77–58. [as Pratia Gaudich.]
- ^ a b c d de Lange, P. J.; Cameron, E. K. (1999-09-XX). "The vascular flora of Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, northern New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 37 (3): 433–468. doi:10.1080/0028825x.1999.9512646. ISSN 0028-825X.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Antonelli, Alexandre (2008-01). "Higher level phylogeny and evolutionary trends in Campanulaceae subfam. Lobelioideae: Molecular signal overshadows morphology". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 46 (1): 1–18. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.06.015. ISSN 1055-7903.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Heenan, P. B.; Knox, E. B.; Courtney, S. P.; Johnson, P. N.; Dawson, M. I. (2008-03). "Generic placement inLobeliaand revised taxonomy for New Zealand species previously inHypselaandIsotoma(Lobeliaceae)". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 46 (1): 87–100. doi:10.1080/00288250809509756. ISSN 0028-825X.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Heenan, P. B.; Knox, E. B.; Courtney, S. P.; Johnson, P. N.; Dawson, M. I. (2008-03). "Generic placement inLobeliaand revised taxonomy for New Zealand species previously inHypselaandIsotoma(Lobeliaceae)". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 46 (1): 87–100. doi:10.1080/00288250809509756. ISSN 0028-825X.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)