Compilation
Conostomium natalense

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Name

Identification
Conostomium natalense (Hochst.) Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE ]
Related name
  • Conostomium natalense

Flora

Entry for Conostomium natalense Hochst. Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 5, Part 1, (1989) Author: B. Verdcourt
Names
Conostomium natalense var. glabrum Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE], in Verh. K. Nederl. Akad. Wet. Afd. Natuurk., ser. 2, 48(2): 137 (1952). Type from S. Africa (Natal).
Conostomium natalense Hochst. Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE], in Verh. K. Nederl. Akad. Wet. Afd. Natuurk., ser. 2, 48(2): 136 (1952). TAB.22. Type from S. Africa (Natal).
Hedyotis natalensis Hochst. [family RUBIACEAE], in Flora 27: 552 (1844). —Sond. in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 3: 12 (1865).
Oldenlandia natalensis Hochst. Kuntze [family RUBIACEAE], Rev. Gen. Pl. 1: 292 (1891). —Phillips in Fl. Pl. S. Afr. 10, t. 364 (1930).
Oldenlandia natalensis var. hirsuta Bär [family RUBIACEAE], in Viert. Nat. Ges. Zürich 68: 430 (1923). Type from S. Africa (Natal).
Information
Herb 0.2–1.2 m. tall, the stems quadrangular and woody at the base, pubescent or ± glabrous save at nodes. Leaves 3.5–7 x 1–2.3 cm., lanceolate, narrowly tapering acute at the apex, ± rounded at the base, ± pubescent or glabrous save for midrib beneath; petiole up to 3 mm. long; stipule sheath ± 2 mm. long with 2 short fimbriae 0.5–2 mm. long. Flowers in condensed terminal inflorescences on most upper branches, 2–4 cm. wide, closely surrounded by leafy bracts; pedicels up to 2 mm. long in fruit; occasionally an isolated axillary flower at lower node with pedicels to 5 mm., perhaps a reduced axillary branch. Calyx tube subglobose, 1.5–2 mm. wide, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; lobes 2–5.5 x 0.8–1.5 mm., lanceolate, acute, ciliate. Corolla pale blue, lilac or purplish pink; tube 1–1.7 cm. long, slightly widened at the apex for 4 mm., sparsely pilose-pubescent or ± glabrous, glabrous inside but with a ring of hairs at throat rim; lobes 2.5–4.5 x 1.5–2 mm., elliptic. Anthers included but stigmatic branches 1–2 mm. long, just included or shortly exserted. Fruit 5.5–7 x 4.5–6 mm. including the hemispherical beak, ovoid-globose; calyx-lobes ± persistent.
Habitat
Open grassland to dense scrub, often on granite soils
Altitude range
960–2100 m.
2100
960
Distribution
Mozambique Z Serra do Gúruè ao km. 3 a seguir à cascata picada para o pico Namúli, fl. 23.ii.1966, Torre & Correia 14798 (C; LISC; LMA).Mozambique MS Mossurizi, Mafusi, fl. 23.ii.1907, W.H. Johnson 156 (K).Zimbabwe E Inyanga, Pungwe View, fl. 13.ii.1961, Rutherford-Smith 523 (K; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
S. Africa
Swaziland
Notes
Bremekamp recognises four varieties, three based on indumentum and one on leaf shape but the variation is such as to suggest they are unnecessary. All the Flora Zambesiaca material comes under var. glabrum.

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