Lobostemon
(from lobos, a lobe, and stemon, a stamen; in allusion to the stamens being inserted opposite the corolla lobes). SYN. Echiopsis. ORD. Boragineae. A genus of greenhouse, scabrous-canescent or hispid, perennial herbs, sub-shrubs, or shrubs, confined to South Africa, allied to Echium. About fifty species have been enumerated, but many of these are not sufficiently distinguished to merit specific rank. Flowers white or bluish, in terminal cymes, sometimes densely capitate, sometimes in few scorpioid, somewhat elongated, loose branches; calyx segments five; corolla tubular-funnel-shaped, with five round, imbricated lobes. Nutlets four. Leaves alternate, sessile, granuloso-tuberculate or hispid, rarely almost glabrous. For culture, see Echium.
L. argenteus (silvery). fl. in spicate racemes; corolla blue; spikes terminal, simple, leafy. June. l. lanceolate, callous-acute, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long. Stem shrubby, branched. h. 3ft. 1789. (A. B. R. 154, under name of Echium argenteum.) L. ferocissimus (very fierce). fl. in spicate racemes; corolla blue; spikes simple, terminal, leafy. June. l. 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, sessile, lanceolate. Stem shrubby, with prickly branches. h. 5ft. 1794. (A. B. R. 39, under name of Echium ferocissimum).
L. formosus (showy). fl. in sub-cymose, few-flowered racemes; corolla pink, tube twice as long as the calyx. June. l. narrow-lanceolate, papilloso-scabrous above, glabrous beneath; margin denticulate. Stem shrubby, with glabrous branches. h. 3ft. 1787. (A. B. R. 20 and B. R. 124, under name of Echium grandiflorum.) L. fruticosus (shrubby). fl. in spicate racemes; corolla reddish at first, afterwards becoming blue; spikelets crowded. May. l. lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, attenuated at base, silky-villous. Stem shrubby, branched. h. 3ft. 1759. (B. M. 1772 and B. R. 36, under name of Echium fruticosum.) L. glaucophyllus (glaucous-leaved). fl., corolla pale violet; spikelets bifid, bracteate. May. l. erect, lanceolate, acute, glabrous, glaucous; margins calloso-scabrous. Stem shrubby, branched, very glabrous. h. 2ft. 1792. (A. B. R. 165, under name of Echium glaucophyllum).
L. Swartzii (Swartz's). fl., corolla blue; spikelets terminal, bi-or trifid, few-flowered. June. l. linear-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, callous-dotted on the margin and (rarely) beneath; young ones slightly hispid, ciliated. Stem shrubby, branched above, glabrous. h. 2ft. 1816.