Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Incorporated

Lobelia sp. in Black Hill, Morialta and Horsnell Gully Conservation Parks

CAMPANULACEAE

Lobelia gibbosa
Black Hill CP

Lobelia sp.
Lobelias

Named after the Matthias de Lobel, Flemish botanist 1538 to 1616. Matthias de Lobel was physician to William the Silent, Prince of Orange and after moving to England became botanist to James I.

These plants have quite a distinctive flower shape and are readily recognised. There are over 300 species around the world, about 20 species native to Australia, with our Parks home to two species. There is another species, Lobelia alata which grows in the Adelaide region, but so far, is not found on the plant lists for the Parks.

• Lobelia gibbosa
• Lobelia rhombifolia

Lobelia gibbosa
30 December 2008, Black Hill CP

Lobelia gibbosa: the tall lobelia or false orchid. The name means humped or swollen. It grows between 15 and 40cm tall. The flowers although small (only about a centimetre long), are usually bright blue (sometimes purplish-blue or even white), stand out like tiny beacons against the grey-green of the summer bush-land. The flowers are held on slender stemms, are seen in early summer, by which time the leaves have usually shrivelled up and are insignificant.

Fire Response
The main way a Lobelia gibbosa survives is through its seeds. While the seeds are long lived, they all germinate with disturbance. A fire may kill the seeds stored in the soil, but there is moderate confidence that a population will survive a fire event, although a low chance of becoming established in a new area.

Lobelia gibbosa
30 December 2008, Black Hill CP

Lobelia rhombifolia, or tufted lobelia, the name is a reference to the shape of the leaves. It is more branched than the tall lobenia, and does not stand up as straight. While the flowers are about the same size, the leaves are wider than the tall lobelia.

Return to Black Hill plant page 1

Return to Horsnell Gully plant page 1

Return to Morialta plant page 1

New page added 13 January 2009
Sources: e-Flora of SA, Wikipedia, Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants