256 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



alternate, the stem round, and often succulent, and the strong 

 odour of the Labiateae is lacking. The flowers are arranged in 

 a coiled cyme, which straightens as it lengthens. Stem and 

 leaves frequently rough with hairs. Fruit of four separable 

 nuts, or a berry. 



Calyx 5-parted, sepals lance-shaped. 



Lobostemon. — Corolla more or less irregular, funnel- 



FiG. 259. — Anchnsa (Alkanet). i, Corolla laid open showing corona and stamens ; 

 2, calyx ; 3, pistil with 4-lobed ovary ; 4, fruit. (From Henslow's' "South African 

 Flowering Plants.") 



shaped. Stamens joined at about the middle of the corolla, 

 each provided at base with a hairy bordered scale, which 

 protects the honey from short-tongued insects. Fruit of four 

 nuts. Herbs or shrubs with rough leaves and showy pink, 

 purple, or blue flowers. 



Echium is similar to Lobostemon. The stamens have no 

 scale at base, but its bristly calyx would discourage ants. 



Myosotis (Forget-me-not). — Corolla regular; tube closed 

 with scales, serving as a honey-guard. Softly hairy herbs. 

 Radical leaves tapering into petioles, stem leaves sessile. The 

 colour changes as the flowers grow older, from white to rosy 



