Common name: Darling Pratia
Lobelia darlingensis (E.Wimm.) Albr. APNI* Synonyms: Pratia darlingensis E.Wimm. APNI*
Description: Prostrate perennial herb, dioecious, often mat-forming and to c. 50 cm in diam., glabrous or pubescent.
Leaves oblong to elliptic, 2–6 mm long, 1–3 mm wide, margins entire or ± toothed.
Flowers unisexual, solitary and ± sessile in leaf axils. Corolla c. 5 mm long, white, tube split to base; lobes 5, small, acute, all on one side of tube. Male flowers with purple anthers with several bristles on lower anthers; ovary rudimentary. Female flowers with pale sterile anthers; ovary 2–3 mm long.
Fruit 2.5–4 mm long, pubescent, ± fleshy, not splitting when ripe.
Flowering: throughout year following rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in inland divisions, especially in the Bourke–Wanaaring area. Grows in damp places, swamps, claypans and tabledrains, often forming large mats.
NSW subdivisions: SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by B. Wiecek
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW Vol 3 as Pratia darlingensis
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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