Common name: St Helena Lobelia
Scientific name: Trimeris Scaevolifolia
IUCN status: Vulnerable
Natural History
This plant was recorded to be abundantly on the centrals from High Peak to Diana's Peak by Mellis in 1875.
Today the lobelia is only found in small scattered patches on the Peaks to High Peak. Since the last century numbers of populations have considerably declined.
DESCRIPTION
The St Helena Lobelia is a fleshy stemmed scrub which grows to 1-2mm in height.
The leaves are about 75mm long and both the leaves and the stem are a bright light green colour.
The flowers are oure white with a yellow centre and about 12mm in diameter. They are usually borne in two's and there's appearing in the winter and spring months.
NUMBER OF SURVIVING POPULATIONS
There are only a few patches left growing near Actaeon, Cuckolds Point, High Peak and the Depot.
The Lobelia is often seen beside or even in the paths on the Peaks.
CONSERVATION RECOVERY PROGRAMMES
Although this species is relatively rare there is no recovery programme in place at this present time for this species. Seed will be continued to be collected.
Closer monitoring of the states of this species will be made to identify if there's a need for action to save the lobelia from declining numbers.