Delissea (Delissea)
Description
This is a type of native lobelia (family Campanulaceae) with herbaceous stems that sometimes branch, it also has a rosette type arrangement of leaves that cluster toward the tips of the branches and curved tubular flowers. Each leaf is elliptical in shape, about 4-10 inches long and 2 inches wide with margins that are pointedly serrated. The flowers are whitish-green and about 11/2- long and later fade to a dark maroon before falling off. The petals are small, pointed and narrow and the stamen is situated so that it perfectly dabs pollen on the head of native nectar feeding birds so that they can pollinate other flowers in return. This flower design is common among native lobelias that have co-evolved with native avifauna. Once pollinated, the flowers develop into small, fleshy fruit that are dark maroon, about -- round and are filled with many tiny seeds.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Campanulales
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Family: Campanulaceae
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Genus: Delissea
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