Matted Pratia

Images ©:
©Photo: (CC BY 2.5 AU) Kevin Sparrow via natureshare.org.au

Lobelia pedunculata


Dense prostrate herb forming mats 2-3 m wide. Tiny finely-toothed oval green leaves, can be red-purple. Masses of blue fan-shaped flowers, can be white with a bluish tinge.


Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Pratia pedunculata
Distinctive Features

Broad-spreading mat covered in tiny blue star-shaped flowers on distinctive long stems rising above the leaves.

Biology

Perennial. Permananently moist soils but not waterlogged.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Nov-Feb

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Asterales
Family
Campanulaceae
Genus
Lobelia
Species
pedunculata

From the Latin pedis = foot referring to the flowerstems rising above the leaves. The leaves are toxic to livestock.


Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native