Lobelia coronopifolia flower

The dark blue, sometimes pink or white flowers of Lobelia coronopifolia are borne on leafless stalks, growing from leaf axils or stem tips and becoming up to 28 cm long. The flowers become from 1,5 cm to 3 cm long.

In picture the anthers, joined to one another, as well as the style have curved up through the slit between the lobes of the upper lip. This seems to be uncommon. There are brush-like tufts of straight white hairs at the tips of the anthers.

Flowering happens from mid-spring to mid-autumn (Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.plantzafrica.com).