Lobelia pubescens flower

This Lobelia pubescens flower seen in the Nuwekloof Pass during October is white, as the majority of the species. It grows on a thin pedicel of about 15 mm, usually slightly longer than the flower. The five acutely tapering calyx lobes veer away conspicuously from the base of the corolla tube that is white and widens only slightly to the bases of the corolla lobes.

There is an oblong dark blue patch immediately behind the small, erect lobe pair of the upper corolla lip. Two narrow, yellow nectar guides covered in scattered dark spots are present at the base of the lower lip. The three lobes of this lower lip have pointed tips, central folds and wavy margins. The flower is finely hairy (Manning, 2007; Mustart, et al, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).