Lobostemon

Lobostemon is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.[2] The majority of species are limited to the winter rainfall area of the country, from Springbok to Mossel Bay.[3] In Afrikaans these species are known as agtdaegeneesbos,[4] 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.[3]

Lobostemon
Lobostemon glaucophyllus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Lobostemon
Lehm.
Species

See text.

Synonyms[1]
  • Echiopsis Rchb.
  • Isorium Raf.
  • Lobostema Spreng.
  • Oplexion Raf.
  • Penthysa Raf.
  • Traxara Raf.
Lobostemon capitatus
Lobostemon fruticosus

Taxonomy

This genus belongs to the forget-me-not family, Boraginaceae. It is closely relaated to the European genus Echium but differs by the presence of staminal scales in Lobostemon.[5] The genus name is derived from Latin lobos, meaning lobe, and the Greek word stemon, meaning stamen.[3]

Description

This genus is made up of perennial shrubs with alternate leaves that may be hairless or hairy. Plants become densely flowered in early spring. The flowers have 5 sepals, petals, and stamens and are usually bell-shaped. The sepals are mostly free (unfused) and are often dissimilar in size. The staminal filaments are typically well-developed, but they may be reduced to ridges or mere swellings and hairy. The stamen filaments are free from petals or variously fused above staminal scales.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This genus is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is confined to the winter rainfall area from Springbok to Mossel Bay, but several species have ranges that extend further eastward along the coast to about Makhanda, where rain occurs throughout the year.[3]

Ecology

Plants in this genus are resprouters, re-emerging most frequently after a fire. The majority of the species in this genus are pollinated by insects, although those with red flowers tend to be pollinated by birds instead.[3]

Species

The following species are recognised:[2]

  • Blue rocket bugloss Lobostemon argenteus (P.J.Bergius) H.Buek
  • Gouriqua lobostemon Lobostemon belliformis Buys
  • Brush healthbush Lobostemon capitatus (L.) H.Buek
  • Ash healthbush Lobostemon cinereus DC. & A.DC.
  • Pajama bush Lobostemon collinus Schltr. ex C.H.Wright
  • Largeflower healthbush Lobostemon curvifolius H.Buek
  • Infanta healthbush Lobostemon daltonii Buys
  • Rooiberg healthbush Lobostemon decorus Levyns
  • Common healthbush Lobostemon echioides Lehm.
  • Eightday healthbush Lobostemon fruticosus (L.) H.Buek
  • Renoster healthbush Lobostemon glaber (Vahl) H.Buek
  • Smooth-leaved bush bugloss Lobostemon glaucophyllus (Jacq.) H.Buek
  • Robertson healthbush Lobostemon gracilis Levyns
  • Helderberg healthbush Lobostemon hottentoticus Levyns
  • Arid healthbush Lobostemon laevigatus (L.) H.Buek
  • Limestone healthbush Lobostemon lucidus (Lehm.) H.Buek
  • Kleinkaroo healthbush Lobostemon marlothii Levyns
  • Turquoise bush bugloss Lobostemon montanus H.Buek
  • Ugly eightday curebush Lobostemon muirii Levyns
  • Hairy healthbush Lobostemon oederifolius DC. & A.DC.
  • Horrid healthbush Lobostemon paniculatus (Thunb.) H.Buek
  • Heuwel healthbush Lobostemon paniculiformis DC. & A.DC.
  • Kloof healthbush Lobostemon regulariflorus (Ker Gawl.) Buys
  • Potberg eightday curebush Lobostemon sanguineus Schltr.
  • Karoo healthbush Lobostemon stachydeus DC. & A.DC.
  • Western Karoo healthbush Lobostemon strigosus (Sw.) H.Buek
  • Bokkeveld healthbush Lobostemon trichotomus (Thunb.) DC. & A.DC.
  • Eastern healthbush Lobostemon trigonus (Thunb.) H.Buek

References
  1. "Lobostemon". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. "Lobostemon Lehm. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. Buys, Matt H. (2006). "Lobostemon | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
  4. Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora (PDF). Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288.
  5. Buys, M.H. (2006). "A morphological cladistic analysis of Lobostemon (Boraginaceae)". South African Journal of Botany. 72 (3): 383–390. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2005.10.006.
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