Stachys flexuosa
| Stachys flexuosa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Stachys |
| Species: | S. flexuosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stachys flexuosa | |
Stachys flexuosa, the Amathole woundwort, is a species of hedgenettle endemic to South Africa.[2]
Description
This species is a small perennial herb, 15–25 cm (5.9–9.8 in) tall, branching at the base. The stems are slender, spreading to upright, and sparsely branched. They are fairly densely covered with long, spreading hairs, with some shorter glandular hairs mixed in.[3][4]
The leaves are borne on short stalks and are ovate, 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long. They have a blunt to rounded tip, a squared to slightly heart-shaped base, and scalloped margins. The upper surface is softly hairy, while the underside is rougher, with hairs mainly along the veins.[4]
The flowers are purple and arranged in a fairly dense spike of a few small whorls, each bearing two to six flowers. The flower stalk is hairy and slightly glandular. The calyx is also hairy with some glands present. The corolla has a short tube with an upright upper lip and a downward-curving lower lip.[4]
Stachys flexuosa flowers from November to April.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Stachys flexuosa is present in a curious mix of habitats. In KwaZulu-Natal, it grows in mountain grassland at altitudes of 1,400–2,300 m (4,600–7,500 ft). In the Eastern Cape, it′s found in higher elevations between Katberg and Hogsback, but also in the coastal belt south of Port St Johns.[3]
Notes
- ^ "Stachys flexuosa". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
- ^ 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 8 January 2026.
- ^ a b 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. 66. ISBN 0621082686.
- ^ a b c d Bredenkamp, C. L. (2019). A Flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Vol. 2. SANBI. p. 1154. ISBN 9781928224280.
See also
External links
- SANBI Biodiversity Advisor
- African Plant Database
- Data related to Stachys flexuosa at Wikispecies