Equilabium dolomiticum
| Equilabium dolomiticum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Equilabium |
| Species: | E. dolomiticum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Equilabium dolomiticum | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Equilabium dolomiticum, commonly called the dolomite slippermint, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is endemic to South Africa's Limpopo province and is listed as Critically Rare (Least Concern) in the Red List of South African Plants.[1][2][3]
Description
This species is a perennial, semi-succulent herb forming a low, spreading plant up to 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) tall and roughly as wide. It grows from tuberous roots. The stems lie along the ground or spread outward, and are covered with a fine greyish felt.[4]
The leaves are borne on stalks 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long. The blades are broadly oval, semi-succulent, and measure about 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) long and 18–30 mm (0.71–1.18 in) wide. They are mostly smooth, with tiny colourless gland dots on the underside. The leaf tips are rounded, the bases truncate, and the margins shallowly scalloped.[4]
The flowering stems are simple or lightly branched, 70–130 mm (2.8–5.1 in) long. Flowers are arranged in small clusters of one to three, forming loose whorls of two to four flowers spaced 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) apart.[4]
The calyx is 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long in fruit, with broad teeth, the uppermost slightly larger, and covered in very fine hairs.[4]
The corolla is mauve, 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long, with a gently curved tube and a concave lower lip that curves upwards. The stamens are free and about 2 mm (0.079 in) long.[4]
Identification
Equilabium dolomiticum might easily be confused with Equilabium petiolare in the field were the two species overlapping geographically, but they do not. The former species can, in any case, be identified by its smaller flowers; smaller, semi-succulent leaves, and decumbent habit.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Equilabium dolomiticum grows on dolomite, in humus-filled rock crevices in dry bushveld. It is known only from a difficult to access site in the vicinity of the Penge mine in Limpopo, South Africa.[4]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b "Equilabium dolomiticum (Codd) Mwany. & A.J.Paton". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Klopper, R. R.; Winter, P. J. D., eds. (20 March 2025). "The South African National Plant Checklist: 2025 official yearly release". South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Equilabium dolomiticum". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g Codd, L. E. W., Dyer, R. A., Rycroft, H. B., de Winter, B. (1985). Flora of Southern Africa: The Republic of South Africa, Basutoland, Swaziland and South West Africa. Vol. 28. Govt. Printer. p. 171. ISBN 0621082686.
External links
- SANBI Biodiversity Advisor
- Data related to Equilabium dolomiticum at Wikispecies