Streptocarpus confusus was originally described by Olive Hilliard in 1966 in an effort to separate it from Streptocarpus haygarthii to which it is closely related, hence also its name referring to the confusion between the two species. A distinctive characteristic of the Streptocarpus confusus flower is the way the two upper corolla lobes are positioned relative to each other. Instead of the all five of the lobes pointing outwards evenly from the centre of the flower, the two upper lobes are positioned in such a way that they approach the horizontal. This results in a tight vertical narrowing of the opening of the corolla tube.
In 1968, Hilliard and Burtt described Streptocarpus confusus ssp. lebomboensis to separate a long flowered form from the originally described short flowered form of the species. Both subspecies are apparently more drought resistant, and therefore able to occupy habitats that other Streptocarpus species cannot grow in. Both subspecies of Streptocarpus confusus are monocarpic and unifoliate with leaf dimensions up to 300 x 170 mm.
Streptocarpus confusus ssp. confusus, featured above, occurs over quite a large range from inland central KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa in the south, across Eswatini (former Swaziland) to Mariepskop in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, in the north. It grows in isolated forest patches or on cliff faces on gorge walls. Streptocarpus confusus ssp. confusus has smaller flowers than S. confusus ssp. lebomboensis. The flowers are pale to deeper mauve keyhole types (25 mm) and have a club shaped stigma.
- A close view of the flowers
- Another set of flowers
- A colony of the species growing on a near-vertical mossy bank
- A cultivated plant, with a very long flower stem
The range of Streptocarpus confusus ssp. lebomboensis is different than that of S. confusus ssp. confusus, and it occurs more easterly from northern KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa, into Eswatini and Mozambique. The name of the subspecies derives from the Lebombo Mountains where is grows in semi-shade often on very exposed cliffs and rock faces, which are covered in otherwise succulent vegetation. Streptocarpus confusus ssp. lebomboensis has larger pale mauve keyhole shaped flowers (c. 35 – 55 mm long) and has a forked stigma.
This form of the species is usually seen with very bullate leaves, as can be seen in the photos. The plants often grow on west-facing cliffs which bake in the afternoon sun, surrounded by drought resistant succulents. The bullate character of the leaves is thought to provide a defense against moisture loss for these drought tolerant plants.
- A plant with flowers growing on a vertical bank
- A robust and bullate leaf
- A composite image of a flower, showing both a profile and front view, illustrating the curved corolla tube and the keyhole opening in the corolla
