Selago geniculata L.F.

Species

Angiosperms > Lamiales > Scrophulariaceae > Selago

Characteristics

Dwarf woody shrublet c. 100-300(-500) mm tall, divaricately very well branched and twiggy, the main stems in particular often zigzag, prostrate, decumbent or erect, young parts minutely puberulous, hairs less than 0.1 mm long, recurved, closely leafy. Leaves opposite, alternate upwards, strongly fascicled, largest primary leaves (2-)4-20 x 0.5-1.1 mm, linear or very narrowly elliptic, apex acute, base narrowed then abruptly expanded and half-clasping, margins entire, thickened, revolute, texture rather thick, midrib raised or not on lower surface, glandular-punctate, very minute glands sometimes present on young leaves, mature leaves glabrous except for hairs c. 0.1 mm long on margins at base; axillary leaves similar, often longer than the primary ones (but not exceeding 20 mm). Inflorescence a long narrow spike, c. 80-150 x 5-7 mm in fruit, flowers eventually ± distant, mostly solitary at tips of branchlets, subsidiary spikes sometimes developing to form a loose narrow panicle. Bract adnate to about half calyx tube, lowermost mostly 1.7-3.2(-4) x 0.6-1 mm, narrowly triangular, apex rather abruptly very acute to shordy acuminate, usually incurved, base concave, pouched, transversely wrinkled, hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long on margins otherwise glabrous except sometimes a few hairs c. 0.1 mm long on back at extreme base. Pedicels wanting. Calyx 1.5-2 mm long, obliquely campanulate, irregularly 3-5-lobed, when 3-lobed, anticous lobes almost as broad as long, and reaching more than halfway to base, hairs c. 0.15-0.2 mm long on margins, c. 0.1-0.15 mm long outside, particularly on posticous side, together with minute globular glands. Corolla tube c. 2-2.5 mm long in hermaphrodite flowers (all parts smaller in female flowers, which are common), broadly funnel-shaped, limb 2.8-3.5 mm across lateral lobes, posticous lobes 0.8-1.2 x 0.4-0.5 mm or posticous lip undivided or shallowly notched, anticous lobe 1.2-2 x 0.8-1 mm, all lobes oblong-elliptic, mostly shades of mauve or violet, sometimes white. Stamens: posticous filaments 1.8-2.2 mm long, anticous filaments 1.8-2.2 mm long, all anthers far exerted (except in female flowers). Stigma and style c. 2-3.5 mm long, style glabrous. Ovary c. 0.5 x 0.3 mm. Cocci c. 1.2-1.7 x 0.8-1.1 mm, yellow-brown to dark brown, slightly rugulose. There are records of flowering in all months, but most frequently between January and May.
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Dwarf shrub, up to 0.5 m high. Stems divaricately well branched and twiggy, main stems often zigzag. Leaves strongly fascicled; blade linear or narrowly elliptic, 20 x 1 mm, apex acute, base narrowed then abruptly expanding and half-clasping; margins entire, thickened, revolute, mature leaves glabrous except for few hairs on margins at base. Flowers: in a long, narrow spike, 80-150 x 5-7 mm; bracts adnate to ± half the calyx tube, base pouched, with acute hairs on margins only; pedicels absent; corolla tube 2.0-2.5 mm long, broadly funnelshaped, limb 2.8-3.5 mm in diameter, all lobes oblong elliptic, in shades of mauve or violet, sometimes white; all year, mainly Nov.-May.
Woody, dwarf shrub, ± 500 mm high; twiggy. Leaves: main ones up to 20 x 1.1 mm, linear or narrowly elliptic, acute; glandular-punctate. Flowers in mostly single, long, narrow, terminal spikes, up to 150 x 7 mm in fruit, sometimes extra spikes forming a lax, narrow panicle. Bracts narrowly deltate, acute to somewhat acuminate, base pouched. Calyx irregularly 3-5-lobed. Corolla mostly mauve or ± violet or white. Flowering time all year.
Grey-hairy, finely leafy shrublet, up to 600 mm tall. Leaves tufted, linear. Flowers in elongate, narrow spikes, violet, sometimes white, calyx 3-5-lobed, bracts with abruptly acute to shortly acuminate, recurved tips.
Grey-hairy, finely leafy shrublet to 60 cm. Leaves tufted, linear. Flowers in elongate, narrow spikes, violet, sometimes white, calyx 3-5-lobed, bracts with abruptly acute to shortly acuminate, recurved tips.
Life form annual
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention -
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 0.5
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Light -
Soil humidity 1-3
Soil texture -
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-11

Usage

Uses -
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Distribution

Selago geniculata world distribution map, present in South Africa

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:813327-1
WFO ID wfo-0001137995
COL ID 4WCVK
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN)
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Selago lepidioides Walafrida geniculata Selago geniculata Selago leptostachya