Trimeris

Trimeris is a monotypic genus of the plant family Campanulaceae containing the single species Trimeris scaevolifolia. It is endemic to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Its common name is St. Helena lobelia.[2] It is a stout fleshy pale bright green, glabrous shrub, 1–2 m tall, branches lactiferous, shiny, succulent with conspicuous leaf scars. Leaves 4-12 x 1–4 cm, oblong-ovate to wedge and lance tip shaped, tapered but not sharply pointed, hairless smooth, glossy and rather succulent, somewhat clustered at tips of branches, exceeding the flowers. Leaf margin regularly toothed to finely serrate, although flower leaves may be entire. Inflorescence from the leaf axil 1-2-3 flowered. Flower stems 4–6 cm, erect bare. Sepals 4–7 mm, more or less linear, entire, blunt. Corolla 5-lobed, 10–22 mm x ca 12 mm, white with yellow markings, somewhat hairy inside the tube. Upper lobes 2, linear, pointed. Lower 3 lobes forming a 3-lobed lip, with lobes 5 mm long. Stamens with stalks minutely hairy. Ovary 6-8 mm long, with 2 compartments, obconic 10 ribbed, capsules obconic to club shaped, opening by 2 valves in upper part. Seeds smooth, small. It flowers usually in the winter and spring months, August to November. It is located on the central ridge above 700 m. There are patches near Cuckhold's Point, Mt Actaeon and also at High Peak and the Depot. The population fluctuates considerably as it regenerates best in disturbed open habitats. Among else it is found along path sides and also on the trunks of tree ferns. It is relatively short lived and disappears from overgrown places. Although the capsule resembles that of a Lobelia the branching and habit is unknown in that genus. In the past it was a constituent of thick, well-shaded forests. It has been suggested that it is related to the Pacific genera Sclerotheca and Apatahia. The old vernacular name 'milkwood' given to it by early settlers derives from the milky sap exuded from cut branches.[3]

St Helena lobelia
Trimeris scaevolifolia
(Syn. Lobelia scaevolifolia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Campanulaceae
Subfamily:
Lobelioideae
Genus:
Trimeris

Species:
T. scaevolifolia
Binomial name
Trimeris scaevolifolia

See also

References
  1. Ellick, S. & Lambdon, P.W. (2016). "Trimeris scaevolifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T43987A67371563. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T43987A67371563.en.
  2. Cairns-Wicks, R. 2003. Trimeris scaevolifolia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003. Downloaded on 17 September 2015.
  3. Cronk, Q.C.B. (1995). The Endemic Flora of St Helena. Anthony Nelson Ltd., Oswestry.


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