| Lobostemon belliformis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Lobostemon |
| Species: | L. belliformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Lobostemon belliformis Buys | |
Lobostemon belliformis, the Gouriqua lobostemon or beaut healthbush, is a critically endangered species in the forget-me-not family. It is known from a single locality on the Riversdale Plain in South Africa.
This species is a woody shrub that has a thick basal trunk. [1] It branches freely to and form a bright green mound with a rounded habit, growing up to about 2 m (6.6 ft) wide and 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) high. [1] [2] The herbaceous branches are covered in hairs. [2] The hair-covered leaves are long and oval-shaped. These hairs give them a rough texture. [1]
The tubular pink or red flowers flare wider at the mouth before opening. [1] They are large (petals are approximately 44–45 mm (1.7–1.8 in) in length) and the outward facing sides of the petals are covered in hairs. [2] They are borne in cymes at the ends of branches between July and October. [3] The stamens are slightly dissimilar in length and the staminal scales are inserted well below the throat of the corolla tube, 3 mm (0.12 in) above the base. The staminal scales are reduced to swellings and they lack lateral lobes. [3] The seeds appear as four little nutlets that have spiny tips. [1]
This species is known from the Gourits River. [3] In present times, it is a highly restricted species and is known from one small sandstone outcrop on the Riversdale Plain. [4] Historically, it was also found on coastal limestone. [2] [3]
This appears to be a slow growing species that escapes fire by growing on rocky outcrops and by having thick bark. The generation time is expected to be around 40 years, which is long for a species that lives in an ecosystem in which fire plays such a pivotal role. [4] Over time, plants tend to get increasingly woody and produce fewer flowers. They re-seed in large numbers following a fire. Some shrubs may also resprout after fire if they are not too badly burnt. [1]
The flowers attract both birds and bees, particularly the orange-breasted sunbird, the lesser double-collared sunbird, and the cape sugarbird. [1]
This species has been classified as critically endangered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Over 80% of the plants habitat has been lost since 1980 to mining. The census that was conducted for its red list status listing (published in 2005) found only 22 extant individuals at a single site. [4] While this site is not currently being mined, the risk of this occurring remains a threat. It is also threatened by alien species. [4]
Because of how rare this species is, it is generally speaking, not as commercially available as other species of this genus. [1] It grows best in well-drained sandy soil in warm, sunny areas, particularly on embankments and in rockeries. It requires protection from frost and is not cold-tolerant. When plants begin to lose leaves and die, pruning back about a third of the plant may allow for resprouting from the older wood, particularly if additional compost is provided at the same time. [1]
Plants can be grown from cuttings or from seeds. Cuttings taken from the tips of branches do not root well and should instead be taken from the spindly side shoots re-sprouting from the older wood. Ideally they should be taken in Spring or Autumn. [1] Care must be taken to ensure that they are not allowed to get too wet as they do rot easily. Fresh seeds collected when the old flower heads turn brownish-grey. They should be pretreated with hot water and smoke to simulate fire in order to aid germination. [1]
Agapanthus africanus, or the African lily, is a flowering plant from the genus Agapanthus found only on rocky sandstone slopes of the winter rainfall fynbos from the Cape Peninsula to Swellendam. It is also known as the lily-of-the-Nile in spite of only occurring in South Africa.
Moraea aristata is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is referred to by the common names blue-eyed uintjie or Blouooguintjie in Afrikaans.It is endemic to the city of Cape Town and is considered to be critically endangered.
Mimetes fimbriifolius, also called cowl pagoda or the fringed pagoda, is a species of plant in the family Proteaceae. It is a dense, rounded, multi-branched tree that grows up to 4 metres in height. This attractive and striking plant flowers all year round, and produces red and yellow branch-heads and inflorescences. The nectar-rich flowers are pollinated by sunbirds and the seeds are distributed and taken underground by ants before germinating. It is endemic to the Table Mountain range in the city of Cape Town, South Africa.
Baeometra is a genus in the family Colchicaceae containing a single species, Baeometra uniflora. It is native to South Africa, where it is commonly called beetle lily due to the dark markings on the tepals.
Protea burchellii, also known as Burchell's sugarbush, is a flowering shrub in the genus Protea, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.
Protea angustata, also known as the Kleinmond sugarbush, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Protea. This plant is endemic to the south-west Cape Region of South Africa.
Protea decurrens, also known as linear-leaf sugarbush, is a shrub of the genus Protea, in the Proteaceae family, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa. It is a small shrub with a thick underground rootstock, this structure throwing up numerous leafy branches, upon the base of which clusters of flower heads may appear close to the ground. It is pollinated by rodents and grows in low-altitude fynbos or renosterveld.
Lachenalia viridiflora, commonly known as the green-flowered Cape cowslip or turquoise hyacinth, is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family native to the southwest Cape Provinces of South Africa. It was discovered in the 1960s, and first described in 1972 by Winsome Fanny Barker.
Lobostemon is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. The majority of species are limited to the winter rainfall area of the country, from Springbok to Mossel Bay. In Afrikaans these species are known as agtdaegeneesbos, or loosely translated, bush that will heal in eight days. As this name suggests, many species have medicinal properties. This is best known from Lobostemon fruticosus, which is used for treating wounds, blood poisoning, ringworm, skin diseases and syphilis.
Lobostemon montanus, the turquoise bush bugloss, mountain lobostemon or agtdaegeneesbos, is a South African species belonging to the forget-me-not family.
Lobostemon argenteus, or the silver healthbush, blue rocket bugloss or disselblaarluibos, is a species in the forget-me-not family that is endemic to South Africa.
Lobostemon capitatus is a species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it is found between Porterville and Bredasdorp.
Lobostemon curvifolius, the largeflower healthbush, is a species of the forget-me-not family from South Africa.
Lobostemon cinereus, the ash healthbush, is a species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Lobostemon daltonii, the Infanta healthbush, is a species of the forget-me-not family endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Lobostemon decorus, the Rooiberg healthbush, is a species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa.
Lobostemon fruticosus, also known as the eightday healthbush or pyjamabush, is a species of medicinal plant endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is considered to be ecologically and economically important but is declining due to overexploitation.
Lobostemon glaber, the renoster healthbush, is a species of plant from South Africa. It is in the forget-me not family.
Lobostemon glaucophyllus, the smooth-leaved bush bugloss or grey healthbush, is a South African plant species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to South Africa's Cape Provinces.
Senecio malacitanus, also known as Senecio linifolius is a species of plant from South Africa.