Limosella capensis Thunb.

Scrophulariaceae, D. Philcox. Flora Zambesiaca 8:2. 1990

Morphology General Habit

Small, tufted, aquatic or marsh herb, of ten stoloniferous, rooting at nodes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 35–80(130) mm. long, crowded, erect, sublinear, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, usually attenuate at base into petiole, or floating blade 10–20(34) x 2.5–12(16) mm., ovate to broadly elliptic, obtuse to rounded at apex, broadly rounded, subcordate to broadly attenuate at base.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole 25–40(110) mm. long, filiform in floating specimens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 1–10(20) mm. long, slender to filiform, erect in flower, becoming deflexed to spreading in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2–2.5 mm. long, 5-lobed, lobes 0.5–1 mm. long, broadly ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white with lobes pale blue or purplish beneath; lobes oblong, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 2.5–3 x 1.75–2 mm., ovoid-ellipsoid.

Scrophulariaceae, S.A. Ghazanfar, F.N. Hepper & D. Philcox. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Type

Type: South Africa, Thunberg s.n. (UPS!, holo., microfiche)

Morphology General Habit

Small, tufted aquatic herb rooting in mud or floating, often with stolons

Morphology Leaves

Leaves yellow-green, usually floating or erect on mud, oblong-ovate, 1–3 cm long, 0.3–1.5 cm wide, base rounded or subcordate to peltate, apex rounded, margins entire, ± 5veined; petioles (1–)5–10 cm long, slender to narrow

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary; pedicels up to 0.5–2 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx ± 2 mm long, 5-lobed, (2 + 3); lobes broadly ovate, 0.5–1 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white to pale blue, ± 3 mm long; lobes oblong, obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with short filaments

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ovoid, subacute, exserted beyond calyx

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong, acute, multi-angular, finely ribbed.

Ecology

Muddy pools, dams, slow streams, temporary rock pools; 1800–2800 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC); common and widespread

Note

An extremely variable, ill-defined species. In South Africa plants with minute leaves and long pedicels are frequent. In FTEA area this form has not been recorded, and the distinction from L. africana Glück is often obscure.

Distribution

Flora districts: U3 K1 K3 K4 K6 T1 T2 Range: Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa