Lindernia monticola

Perennials. Stems erect to prostrate, not matted, sometimes rooting at proximal nodes, 6–41 cm. Leaves basal and cauline or, rarely, basal leaves absent, most larger cauline leaves basally disposed, thick; petiole absent; blade (basal) oblanceolate, obovate, or elliptic, 5–28(–35) × 2–15 mm; blade (cauline) ovate, elliptic, oblanceolate, or linear-subulate, 1–30 × 0.2–8(–11) mm, palmately 3–5-veined, pinnately veined, or 1-nerved, leathery, margins entire or remotely toothed; distal much reduced. Pedicels 2–40(–52) mm, 1–10 times subtending leaves. Flowers: sepals 1.1–4.3 mm, connate to 1/8 lengths; corolla tube and adaxial lip lavender or blue to white, abaxial lobes white with purple to blue markings, tube 5–10 mm, adaxial lip 1/2 abaxial; stamens 2; staminodes each with appendage and distal segment. Capsules narrowly ellipsoid to ovoid, (1.8–)3.4–7.1 × 1–2.1 mm. Seeds usually 6-angled, not strongly ribbed.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Oct.
Habitat: Shallow, moist soil pockets on granite outcrops, granite or calcareous rock in streams, sand in pine-flatwoods.
Elevation: 50–300 m.

Ala., Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Plants of Lindernia monticola are almost exclusively found in intermittent pools in depressions or cracks on granite outcrops of the southeastern United States, where they typically show the basal rosette (heterophyllous) form. When it occurs in other habitats, the basal rosette is less distinct or absent, the plants having more or less homophyllous leaves.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa