Lepidagathis nickeriensis
Content
Description
Erect, perennial herb, 15-25(-30) cm tall. Stem numerous, quandrangular, narrowly winged, younger stem hispidulous, especially on the wings, older stem becoming glabrescent, internodes shorter than leaves, cystoliths inconspicuous. Leaves shortly petiolate or uppermost sessile, petiole to 5 mm long; blade rhomboid, 1.8-2.2 x 0.6-0.9 cm, acute at apex, narrowed at base to a slender, winged petiole, thin, both surfaces nearly glabrous, cystoliths inconspicuous; secondary veins in 4-5 pairs. Inflorescence of terminal, sessile to pedunculate, cylindric, uninterrupted spikes, solitary or in groups and the lateral ones shorter, central spike 6-8 cm long, 1.2 cm in diam. near midspike, lowest verticillaster subtended by a pair of small, cauline leaves, the others by lanceolate, 3-veined bracts, 5-6 x 1.9-2.1 mm, apically fringed with long cilia and shorter, capitate glands; cymes usually 5-flowered; bracteoles narrowly linear-lanceolate, 4.5 x 0.9 mm, 1-veined, fringed with cilia and glands; secondary bracteoles linear, 5 x 0.4 mm, 1-veined, fringed with cilia and glands. Flowers subsessile; calyx lobes all ending in 0.8 mm long awns, provided at base with 1 or 2 large, globose glands (vide Bremekamp), margin ciliate and glandular punctate, posterior lobe obovate, 6 x 2.5 mm, lateral lobes linear, 4 x 0.7 mm, anterior lobes linear-oblanceolate, 5 x 1 mm; corolla white with violet streaks on lower lip, 4.5 mm long, tube cylindric, 2.1 x 1 mm, upper lip 2.4 mm long, shortly 2-lobed, lobes 0.3 mm long, lower lip 2.4 mm long, lobes obtuse, 1.5 mm long; stamens 4, filaments glabrous, 1.5 and 2.0 mm long respectively, thecae 0.4 mm long, lower one slightly apiculate at base; style glabrous, 4 mm long. Capsule 3-4 mm long, sparsely pubescent near apex; seed not seen.