Hedgehog Sage
Pycnostachys #2
Roadside through Gatamaiyo Forest, Nakuru County, Kenya. Oct. 2016.
LEAVES: The opposite, elliptical leaves have serrations along margins and prominent veins.
HERBACEOUS: Herbaceous growth reaching a meter plus from several stems growing in a clump. Lower portions are suffrutescent.
The stems are strongly
four-angled in cross-section.
FLOWERS: A closely packed spike of pale lavender flowers. After flowering the bracts elongate and become sharp with long bristles.
RANGE: This specimen at a roadside through moist forest. There are several Pycnostachys
species native to East Africa.
FRUIT: Each spike produces several dozen capsules.
ARMED: The maturing flower spikes become sharp with bristles.