Lobostemon decorus

Lobostemon decorus, the Rooiberg healthbush, is a species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Lobostemon decorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Lobostemon
Species:	L. decorus
Binomial name
Lobostemon decorus Levyns

Description

This shrublet grows 50–100 cm (1.6–3.3 ft) tall. The stalkless leaves are hairy near the tips.^[1] They are narrow and oblong in shape.^[2]

Funnel-shaped flowers are present between August and October.^[1][2] They are blue with hairs on the outside and are borne in cymes.^[1] The flower buds are loosely arranged to form a globose unit, spreading slightly as they mature. There at least three flowers per cymule.^[2] Each flower is 17–30 mm (0.67–1.18 in) long, with the anterior petal lobes being larger than the rest.^[2] The anthers are borne on short filaments and the stamens only rarely protrude past the petals.^[2] The staminal scales are ridge-like and do not have lateral lobes.^[1] They occur well below the throat of the corolla tube, being inserted about 4.5–5 mm (0.18–0.20 in) above the base.^[2]

This species has been confused with Lobostemon marlothii. There are, however a few features that can be used to distinguish between the two. Lobostemon decorus has a longer calyx, fewer flowers per inflorescence, pale blue flowers (compared to deep blue with a pinkish base in L. marlothii) and narrowly oblong leaves (compared to the wider and often more lance-like leaves in L. marlothii).^[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species is found growing at Touwsberg and Rooiberg, where it grows on sandstone slopes.^[1] It usually occurs at an altitude greater than 700 m (2,300 ft).^[2]