Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials.

Common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" for ''Monopsis unidentata'', "yellow lobelia" for ''Monopsis lutea'' or "pansy lobelia" for ''Monopsis debilis''.

Description

Their stems are variously but irregularly branched and in many species are

prostrate Prostrate may refer to:- *Prostration, a position of submission in religion etc. *Prone position, a face-down orientation of the body *Prostrate shrub A prostrate shrub is a woody plant, most of the branches of which lie upon or just above the ...

and creeping, rooting at

nodes In general, a node is a localized swelling (a "knot") or a point of intersection (a Vertex (graph theory), vertex). Node may refer to: In mathematics *Vertex (graph theory), a vertex in a mathematical graph *Vertex (geometry), a point where two ...

. Such species are horticulturally useful components of flat ground cover. The leaf placement or phyllotaxis of the various species also varies, being either opposite or alternate, depending on the species. The leaves are fairly small and generally lightly to markedly toothed. In shape the leaves are simple, and those of various species vary from elliptic, through lanceolate, to short linear. The flowers may be borne in terminal

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s or spikes, but most species bear numerous solitary flowers on

pedicels In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence. Such inflorescences are described as ''pedicellate''. Description Pedicel refers to a structure connecting a single flower to its inflorescence. In the absenc ...

in leaf

axils A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...

. The pedicels generally twist in such a manner as to present the three-petalled lip uppermost, though in some species such as ''Monopsis decipiens'' the two-petalled lip is usually on top. Consistency on this respect is most likely an

adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

to favour preferred

pollinator A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower. This helps to bring about fertilization of the ovules in the flower by the male gametes from the pollen grains. Insects are the maj ...

s, as it permits them to perform their functions most efficiently, both for the plant and for their own reproductive success. Most species have flowers of either yellow or purple; the colours being vibrant and intense, much like those of many of the ''Lobelia'' species. A few have flowers of various intermediate colours such as salmon. Flowers of some species, such as ''Monopsis decipiens'' are colourfully patterned. Some species have white flowers. 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 ...

has five lobes, its tube being fused to the

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

. The

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

has five petals, the corolla tube of most species being split nearly to its base, forming two lips or lobes. The upper lip has three of the petals, the lower lip the remaining two. In some species the petals of the two-part lip are nearly fully fused, but in others they are nearly completely split. There are five

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s; in some species they are free from the tube of the corolla, but in others they grow from near the base of the tube. The

anthers The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

, and in some species the upper parts of the filaments of the stamens, are joined into a ring around the style. The tips of the anthers are bearded with little brushes of white hair. The ovary is

inferior Inferior may refer to: * Inferiority complex * An Anatomical terms of location#Superior and inferior, anatomical term of location * Inferior angle of the scapula, in the human skeleton *Inferior (book), ''Inferior'' (book), by Angela Saini * ''The ...

and more or less fused to the calyx; it has two

locule A locule (plural locules) or loculus (plural loculi) (meaning "little place" in Latin) is a small cavity or compartment within an organ or part of an organism (animal, plant, or fungus). In angiosperms (flowering plants), the term ''locule'' usu ...

s, each containing many small ovules. The style is thread-like, bent, and divides into slender, elongated flat stigmas that are hairy at their bases and protrude from the ring of anthers. The seed capsule has two valves and splits loculicidally.

Distribution

The genus is native to the continent of Africa, all but two of the described species occurring mainly within Southern Africa, and one species being present also on the Comoro Islands. Most are those are endemic to Southern Africa, about half of them being

fynbos Fynbos (; meaning fine plants) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean clim ...

species.

Taxonomy

Omitting subspecies and other infraspecific variants, the following are the full species list as provided by The Plant list in 2012 *''

Monopsis acrodon Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' E.Wimm. *''

Monopsis alba Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' Phillipson *''

Monopsis belliflora Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' E.Wimm. *''

Monopsis debilis Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' (L.f.) C.Presl *''

Monopsis decipiens Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' (Sond.) Thulin *'' Monopsis flava'' (C.Presl) E.Wimm. *'' Monopsis kowynensis'' E.Wimm. *'' Monopsis lutea'' (L.) Urb. *'' Monopsis malvacea'' E.Wimm. *'' Monopsis scabra'' (Thunb.) Urb. *'' Monopsis simplex'' (L.) E.Wimm. *''

Monopsis stellarioides Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' (C.Presl) Urb. *''

Monopsis unidentata Monopsis is a genus of small, '' Lobelia''-like herbaceous plants indigenous to Africa. A few species are annuals, but most are perennials. Common names are not well established, but often refer to more familiar plants, as in "wild violet" fo ...

'' (Dryand.) E.Wimm. *'' Monopsis variifolia'' (Sims) Urb. *'' Monopsis zeyheri'' (Sond.) Thulin The taxonomy, nomenclature and infraspecific variation of ''

'' was discussed in Phillipson (1986), and that of ''

'' was discussed in Phillipson (1989).

Horticulture

Many of the species are desirable as informal plants because of their unobtrusive habit, simple maintenance, and vivid colours. They already were being recommended as garden ornamentals in the early nineteenth century. The creeping species such as ''Monopsis lutea'' and ''Monopsis flava'' are horticulturally useful components of flat ground cover and can be included in suitable lawns as inoffensive flowering plants among the grass. Bushier species such as ''Monopsis unidentata'' do well as deeper ground covers in damp spots or in beds and pots as well as

fillers In processed animal foods, a filler is an ingredient added to provide dietary fiber, bulk or some other non-nutritive purpose. Products like corncobs, feathers, soy, cottonseed hulls, peanut hulls, citrus pulp, screening, weeds, straw, and cere ...

in nooks and crannies in gardens where many other more formal plants either are troublesome or refuse to grow satisfactorily. Both types are rewarding in walls and hanging baskets. In some regions at least, ''Monopsis'' species are recognised as desirable in bird-friendly gardens.Hes, Lex and Tredler, Roy. Attracting Birds to Your Garden in Southern Africa. Publisher: Struik 2000.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2883028 Campanulaceae genera Lobelioideae