''Lobelia urens'', commonly known as heath lobelia
or acrid lobelia is a species of flowering plant in the
bellflower family. It is predominantly native to western Europe but can also be found in northern Morocco and in the island of
Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
off Northwest Africa.
It can be found in communities on grassy heaths, rough pastures, and open heathy woodlands, often found on woodland margins on infertile acid soils. Within this they are found in low-lying terrain, often valley bottoms. The soils are seasonally waterlogged.
Description
''Lobelia urens'' is more or less hairless
perennial and can grow up to 60 cm tall. It has
rhizomes
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
. The leaves are
obovate at the base, and linear to oblong higher up. They are shiny dark green and toothed. They have very short stalks. The
calyx
Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to:
Biology
* Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...
teeth are long and very narrow.
The flowers are up to 1.5 cm long, blue-purple. They have 2 narrow lobes on upper lip, and 3 narrow teeth on the lower. The stalks are less than 1 cm, and corolla lobes are less than 2mm wide. It flowers from May until September. The flowers are
hermaphrodite
In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes.
Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...
and
zygomorphic.
The plant requires bare ground patches in which the seeds can germinate. Germination is improved in soil with a high moisture content. Seeds are produced throughout the year, peaking in production during July and August. Only those that are produced March to June survive.
[The Conservation Management of the Heath Lobelia (lobelia urens): Report to the County Wildlife Trust by Janet Dinsdale, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth (PHD thesis 1996)]
Differences from garden lobelia
Garden lobelia (''
Lobelia erinus'') is similar, but is slender, trailing, an
annual, comes in different colours, the flower stalks are up to 2 cm, and the lower 3 corolla lobes are more than 2mm wide.
Distribution
From north to south, this plant is found throughout southern England (rare, and in lowland areas up to 210 metres high), Belgium, the western portion of France (in lowland coastal areas), the humid western portion of the
Iberian Peninsula in Portugal (along the coastal plain, passing into the wet northern province valleys up to 800 metres) and western Spain (in grazed pasture of upland valleys between 600 and 915 metres high), the
Rif Mountains of Morocco and the island of Madeira. Outside of its native range it was introduced to the
Azores.
Associated species
They are often found with ''
Juncus articulatus
''Juncus articulatus'' is a flowering plant species in the rush family Juncaceae. It is known by the common name jointleaf rush or jointed rush, which can also refer to '' J. kraussii'' from Australia. It is native to Eurasia, Canada, Greenland, ...
'', ''
Juncus conglomeratus'', ''
Lotus pedunculatus'', ''
Mentha aquatica'' (water mint), ''
Molinia caerulea
''Molinia caerulea'', known by the common name purple moor-grass, is a species of grass that is native to Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid so ...
'' (purple moor grass), ''
Potentilla erecta'', ''
Pulicaria dysenterica
''Pulicaria dysenterica'', the common fleabane, or, in North America, meadow false fleabane, is a species of fleabane in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia where it grows in a variety of habitats ranging from semi-ari ...
'', and ''
Salix cinerea
''Salix cinerea'' (common sallow, grey sallow, grey willow, grey-leaved sallow, large grey willow, pussy willow, rusty sallow) is a species of willow native to Europe and western Asia.Meikle, R. D. (1984). ''Willows and Poplars of Great Britain ...
''.
Places found
*
Andrews Wood, (near
Modbury in
Devon), a site managed by the
Devon Wildlife Trust, and a
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...
- supports the largest colony of heath lobelia in
Great Britain. In 2009, 9828 plants were recorded.
[Wild Devon The Magazine of the Devon Wildlife Trust,page 9 Winter 2009 edition] Also found in
Redlake Cottage Meadows
Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), noted for its Flora and fauna of Cornwall, biological characteristics, in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, UK. Within the SSSI is Redlake Cottage Meadows nature rese ...
in
Cornwall.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3257667
urens
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus