Lepidagathis nemorosa S.Moore

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Morphology General Habit

Suffruticose perennial, few to numerous erect or decumbent branches from a woody rootstock, 10–60 cm tall; stems antrorse-pubescent to crisped- or spreading-pilose, or glabrous except for a line of hairs at nodes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves glossy above, elliptic, narrowly oblong-elliptic to -lanceolate or spathulate, 3.3–9 × 0.9–3 cm, base cuneate to attenuate, apex acute to rounded, glabrous or pubescent mainly on principal veins; lateral veins 4–6 pairs, ± prominent beneath; petiole 0–18 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence axillary, usually opposite, fasciculate, subsessile or rarely peduncle to 4 mm long; sterile bracts green or brown with age, oblong, lanceolate or spathulate, 4–9.5 × 1–3 mm, crisped-pubescent at least on margin, parallel venation prominent; fertile bracts and bracteoles equal, together enveloping lower portion of calyx, green in proximal half and (black-)brown in distal half or turning brown-scarious throughout with age, ovate-elliptic, 5–9 × 2.5–4 mm, apex rounded to attenuate, mucronulate, ciliate, sometimes also shortly hairy on surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx colour as fertile bracts; lobes glabrous or often with short cilia, surface sometimes puberulent in distal half, anterior pair free, oblong-lanceolate, 8–13.5 × 2.5–3.7 mm, margin somewhat inrolled, apex acute to attenuate; posterior lobe oblong-elliptic to -lanceolate, 3.5–5 mm wide, margins strongly inrolled and partially enveloping other lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 20–28 mm long, white to pale blue or mauve, with pink to purple markings on lower lip, pubescent externally on lower lip and throat or rarely glabrous; tube 10–16.5 mm long; upper lip 6–8 mm long; lower lip 9.5–12.5 mm long including lobes 6–8.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Anterior (longer) stamens with filaments 7.5–10.5 mm long; thecae 2–2.8 mm long, parallel; posterior stamens with vestigial second theca.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous or with few short hairs at apex; style glabrous; stigma with spoon-shaped lobe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 10–11 mm long, glabrous or with few hairs at apex; seeds c.2.7 × 2 mm.

Distribution

Also in Tanzania and D.R. Congo.

Ecology

In miombo woodland and degraded open miombo, usually on sandy soils or rocky hillslopes; 500–1500 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: A common miombo woodland species, particularly in Zambia; assessed as Least Concern in F.T.E.A.