Monopsis

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Monopsis
Monopsis unidentata IMG 0436s.JPG
Monopsis unidentata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Subfamily: Lobelioideae
Genus: Monopsis
Salisb. [1]

Monopsis is a genus of small, Lobelia -like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" for Monopsis unidentata, "yellow lobelia" for Monopsis lutea or "pansy lobelia" for Monopsis debilis. [2]

Contents

Description

Their stems are variously but irregularly branched and in many species are prostrate and creeping, rooting at nodes. Such species are horticulturally useful components of flat ground cover.

The leaf placement or phyllotaxis of the various species also varies, being either opposite or alternate, depending on the species. The leaves are fairly small and generally lightly to markedly toothed. In shape the leaves are simple, and those of various species vary from elliptic, through lanceolate, to short linear.

The flowers may be borne in terminal racemes or spikes, but most species bear numerous solitary flowers on pedicels in leaf axils. The pedicels generally twist in such a manner as to present the three-petalled lip uppermost, though in some species such as Monopsis decipiens the two-petalled lip is usually on top. Consistency on this respect is most likely an adaptation to favour preferred pollinators, as it permits them to perform their functions most efficiently, both for the plant and for their own reproductive success. Most species have flowers of either yellow or purple; the colours being vibrant and intense, much like those of many of the Lobelia species. A few have flowers of various intermediate colours such as salmon. Flowers of some species, such as Monopsis decipiens are colourfully patterned. Some species have white flowers.

The calyx has five lobes, its tube being fused to the ovary. The corolla has five petals, the corolla tube of most species being split nearly to its base, forming two lips or lobes. The upper lip has three of the petals, the lower lip the remaining two. In some species the petals of the two-part lip are nearly fully fused, but in others they are nearly completely split.

There are five stamens; in some species they are free from the tube of the corolla, but in others they grow from near the base of the tube. The anthers, and in some species the upper parts of the filaments of the stamens, are joined into a ring around the style. The tips of the anthers are bearded with little brushes of white hair.

The ovary is inferior and more or less fused to the calyx; it has two locules, each containing many small ovules. The style is thread-like, bent, and divides into slender, elongated flat stigmas that are hairy at their bases and protrude from the ring of anthers. The seed capsule has two valves and splits loculicidally. [1]

Distribution

The genus is native to the continent of Africa, all but two of the described species occurring mainly within Southern Africa, and one species being present also on the Comoro Islands. Most are those are endemic to Southern Africa, about half of them being fynbos species.

Taxonomy

Omitting subspecies and other infraspecific variants, the following are the full species list as provided by The Plant list in 2012 [3]

The taxonomy, nomenclature and infraspecific variation of Monopsis debilis was discussed in Phillipson (1986), [4] and that of Monopsis unidentata was discussed in Phillipson (1989). [5]

Horticulture

Many of the species are desirable as informal plants because of their unobtrusive habit, simple maintenance, and vivid colours. They already were being recommended as garden ornamentals in the early nineteenth century. [6] The creeping species such as Monopsis lutea and Monopsis flava are horticulturally useful components of flat ground cover and can be included in suitable lawns as inoffensive flowering plants among the grass. Bushier species such as Monopsis unidentata do well as deeper ground covers in damp spots or in beds and pots as well as fillers in nooks and crannies in gardens where many other more formal plants either are troublesome or refuse to grow satisfactorily. Both types are rewarding in walls and hanging baskets.

In some regions at least, Monopsis species are recognised as desirable in bird-friendly gardens. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteraceae</span> Large family of flowering plants

The family Asteraceae, with the original name Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae were first described in the year 1740. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger family is unclear as the quantity of extant species in each family is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stamen</span> Male organ of a flower

The stamen is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campanulaceae</span> Family of flowering plants comprising bellflowers

The family Campanulaceae, of the order Asterales, contains nearly 2400 species in 84 genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, often with milky sap. Among them are several familiar garden plants belonging to the genera Campanula (bellflower), Lobelia, and Platycodon (balloonflower). Campanula rapunculus and Codonopsis lanceolata are eaten as vegetables. Lobelia inflata, L. siphilitica and L. tupa and others have been used as medicinal plants. Campanula rapunculoides may be a troublesome weed, particularly in gardens, while Legousia spp. may occur in arable fields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calyceraceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Calyceraceae is a plant family in the order Asterales. The natural distribution of the about sixty species belonging to this family is restricted to the southern half of South America. The species of the family resemble both the family Asteraceae and the Dipsacaceae.

<i>Lobelia cardinalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Lobelia cardinalis, the cardinal flower, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae native to the Americas, from southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia.

<i>Lobelia siphilitica</i> Species of flowering plant

Lobelia siphilitica, the great blue lobelia, great lobelia, or blue cardinal flower, is a plant species within the family Campanulaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial dicot native to eastern and central Canada and United States. There are two recognized varieties of Lobelia siphilitica, var. siphilitica and var. ludoviciana. Blooming from August to October, it is short-lived, lasting only for a few years.

<i>Cassine</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Cassine is a genus of trees, of the plant family Celastraceae.

<i>Roscoea humeana</i> Species of plant

Roscoea humeana is a species of flowering plant in the family Zingiberaceae. It is a perennial occurring in the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces of China. Most members of the ginger family, to which it belongs, are tropical, but R. humeana, like other species of Roscoea, grows in much colder mountainous regions. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.

<i>Roscoea nepalensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Roscoea nepalensis is a perennial herbaceous plant found in Nepal. Most members of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), to which it belongs, are tropical, but R. nepalensis, like other species of Roscoea, grows in much colder mountainous regions.

<i>Roscoea debilis</i> Species of flowering plant

Roscoea debilis is a perennial herbaceous plant found in Yunnan, China. Most members of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), to which it belongs, are tropical, but R. debilis, like other species of Roscoea, grows in much colder mountainous regions.

<i>Orphium</i> Genus of flowering plants

Orphium is a plant genus in the Gentian family (Gentianaceae), endemic to South Africa. The name derives from the legendary Greek musician Orpheus. The genus contains a single accepted species, Orphium frutescens, commonly known as the sea rose. Orphium arenarium C.Presl has been proposed as another species, but data suggest that it is synonymous with Chironia arenaria E.Mey.

<i>Cautleya gracilis</i> Species of flowering plant

Cautleya gracilis is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Zingiberaceae. It is found in the Himalayas through to south China and Vietnam. It is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant, hardy to a few degrees of frost.

<i>Lobelia laxiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Lobelia laxiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is native to the Americas, where it is distributed in South, Central, and North America as far north as Arizona in the United States. It is known by several English-language common names, including Mexican lobelia, Sierra Madre lobelia, Mexican cardinalflower, looseflowers lobelia, and drooping lobelia. In Spanish and Nahuatl it is known as aretitos, acaxóchitl, and chilpanxóchitl. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as an ornamental.

<i>Cyphia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Cyphia is a genus of flowering plants in the bellflower family, native to Africa; and particularly South Africa. It has been placed in its own subfamily, Cyphioideae. It is closely related to the genus Lobelia.Cyphia comes in shades of white to mauve, whereas lobelias have strong colours of blue to purple. Species in this genus have a bilabiate corolla; with 3 lobes on top and 2 below.

<i>Wimmerella</i> Genus of flowering plants

Wimmerella is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Campanulaceae. It is also in the Lobelioideae subfamily.

References

  1. 1 2 Dyer, R. Allen, The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants". ISBN   0 621 02854 1, 1975
  2. ↑ Manning, John (2009). Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. ISBN   9781770077584.
  3. ↑ The Plant List (2010). Version 1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 8 December 2012)
  4. ↑ Phillipson, P. B. (1986). Taxonomy of Monopsis (Lobeliaceae): M. simplex, M. debilis and a new species. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 93: 329-341.
  5. ↑ Phillipson, P. B. 1989. Taxonomy of Monopsis (Lobeliaceae): M. scabra and M. unidentata. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 99: 255-272.
  6. ↑ Don, George & Miller, Philip. A general system of gardening and botany. Founded upon Miller's Gardener's dictionary, and arranged according to the natural system. Vol 3. Pub: C. J. G. and F. Rivington 1834 May be downloaded from https://archive.org/details/generalsystemofg03dong
  7. ↑ Hes, Lex and Tredler, Roy. Attracting Birds to Your Garden in Southern Africa. Publisher: Struik 2000. ISBN   978-1868724505
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