Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst.

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

Morphology General Habit

A rosette perennial with short stout rhizome and numerous orange-yellow roots.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; lamina broadly ovate to lanceolate, 1.5–5 x 1–3 cm., entire, broadly cuneate at base, subacute at apex, glabrous above, densely pubescent beneath, numerous parallel nerves obscure or indented above, prominent beneath, often purple beneath; petiole short and broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 4–8 cm. long, with flowers racemose in upper third, pubescent; bracts opposite, lanceolate 4–10 mm. long, shorter than the pedicels at least in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx c. 5 mm. long up to 9 mm. in fruit, shortly toothed, pubescent mainly on the nerves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla purple and white, up to 18 mm., long, upper lip short bilobed, lower lip obtusely 3-lobed the central very broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ovoid-cylindric, glabrous, slightly longer than calyx.

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

Type

Type: Ethiopia, Mt Scholada, Schimper 310 (B†, holo.; K!, P!, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Rosette perennial herb.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome short and stout with numerous orange-yellow roots

Morphology Leaves

Leaves leaves often purple beneath, broadly ovate to lanceolate, 1.5–5 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, broadly cuneate at base, apex acute to obtuse, margins entire (or crenate in Kenya), glabrous above, densely pubescent beneath, numerous parallel veins obscure or indented above, prominent beneath; petiole short and broad

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 4–8 cm long, with flowers racemose in upper third, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts opposite, lanceolate, 4–10 mm long, shorter than the pedicels at least in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx ± 5 mm long, up to 9 mm in fruit, shortly toothed, pubescent mainly on the veins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla purple and white, up to 18 mm long, upper lip shortly bilobed, lower lip obtusely 3-lobed, the central lobe very broad

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ovoid-oblong, glabrous, slightly longer than calyx.

Ecology

Shallow soil over rock; 900–2200 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC); widespread

Note

A very hairy form with leaves pubescent on both sides, but blue flowers, occurs in Kenya ( K 3, 4, 5, e.g. Timau to Isiolo road, Gilbert 6081) which is referable to C. plantagineum.

Distribution

Range: Niger, Congo-Kinshasa, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, SW Arabia Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T4