Monopsis decipiens (Sond.) Thulin

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Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Epworth, Harare

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path from carpark to Inyangombe Falls

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Camp Amalinda, Matobo

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Haka Game Park

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Besna Kobila farm, Matobo

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Mussapa River, Nhabawa area, lower Chimanimani Mts

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Mussapa River, Nhabawa area, lower Chimanimani Mts

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Mussapa River, Nhabawa area, lower Chimanimani Mts

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Below ridge East of Mosquito Camp plateau, Chimanimani National Park

Monopsis decipiens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Below ridge East of Mosquito Camp plateau, Chimanimani National Park

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Synonyms: Lobelia breynii Lam. var. bragae Engl.
Lobelia decipiens Sond.
Lobelia dobrowskyoides Diels
Monopsis scabra sensu E. Wimmer
Common names: Butterfly lobelia (English)
Frequency: Common
Status: Native
Description:
Erect or ascending annual or perennial herb with stems 5–45 cm long, sparsely branched, ribbed, more or less pubescent. Leaves alternate, fairly numerous, linear, mostly less than 20 mm long, harshly strigulose mainly along margins and on the prominent midrib beneath; margin entire or rarely with one pair minute teeth. Flowers solitary, axillary or apparently terminal; pedicels 15–55 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles resembling small leaves, sometimes opposite. Calyx–lobes 2–5 mm long, acute, entire, strigulose on the outside, spreading. Corolla 10–18 mm long, blue or blue and purple with yellow markings on lower lip, 2–lipped with the lower lip broadly 3–lobed and the upper lip consisting of two reflexed lobes; appressed pubescent outside, sparsely pubescent near the base inside. Capsule more or less 10–veined, subglobose to ovoid, up to 6·5 mm long, dehiscing by valves up to 2·5 mm long.
Notes: A very attractive species, sometimes occurring in abundance, especially in spring and after an area has been burnt.
Derivation of specific name: decipiens: deceptive
Habitat: In seasonally wet areas in grassland, often growing in extensive colonies.
Altitude range: (metres) 1400 - 1800 m
Flowering time:Sep - Mar
Worldwide distribution: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Tuesday 29 September 2015
Literature:

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 39.

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 26.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 58. Under Lobeliaceae

Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 137, plate 178

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 81.

Thulin, M. (1983). Lobeliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 147 - 148.

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 90.


Other sources of information about Monopsis decipiens:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Monopsis decipiens
Flora of Mozambique: Monopsis decipiens

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Monopsis decipiens
African Plant Database: Monopsis decipiens
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Monopsis decipiens
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Monopsis decipiens
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Monopsis decipiens
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Monopsis decipiens
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Monopsis decipiens
JSTOR Plant Science: Monopsis decipiens
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Monopsis decipiens
Plants of the World Online: Monopsis decipiens
Tropicos: Monopsis decipiens
Wikipedia: Monopsis decipiens


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Monopsis decipiens.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=157910, retrieved 29 March 2024

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