| Lobelia fatiscens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lobelia fatiscens in Nelson Lakes National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Genus: | Lobelia |
| Species: | L. fatiscens |
| Binomial name | |
| Lobelia fatiscens | |
Lobelia fatiscens is a species of bellflower, endemic to New Zealand. [2]
A small, creeping herb with white flowers. The leaves are glabrous and thin, without significant teeth. The leaf-shape and corolla are important for distinguishing it in the field. [3] [4]
Lobelia fatiscens is known from the South Island of New Zealand, [5] where it is found in Nelson and on the West Coast, as well as near Lake Rotioti in Nelson Lakes National Park. [3]
It generally grows near water or in wet areas, whether the water is standing like lakes, or moving as in rivers, streams, or roadside ditches. [3]
It is at risk, [1] as it inhabits wetlands that may be drained or disturbed and as it has to compete with naturalised species. [4]
Lobelia fatiscens can be found amongst stands of kahikatea and kāmahi. [3] Lobelia fatiscens is generally found in wetlands, which means that it and its communities are threatened by wetland drainage and disturbance. [4]
The term fatiscens, which means 'disintegrating' in Latin, refers "to the seeds being released by the disintegrating wall of the indehiscent capsule." [4]
Lobelia fatiscens was recently split from other species, in 2008. [4] It is closely related to Lobelia fugax , which is smaller and has a diploid chromosonal pattern of 2n=14, while L. fatiscens has doubled since the evolutionary split and has a patter of 2n=28. While most specimens are coastal, the population at Lake Rotioti has not been tested to see if it conforms genetically to the others. [4]
The holotype is from a dam near the South Island town of Charleston. [4]
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