Lobelia sp

Perennial of the Campanulaceae family (subfamily Lobelioideae), this Pratia not determined with certainty belongs to a genus now partially revised and several species of which are in the process of being reassigned to the genus Lobelia. The exact origin of this cultivated taxon could not be established with certainty from the available photographs alone.

It forms a very compact and low creeping cushion, consisting of tiny round, dark green leaves, borne on fine stems with a characteristic reddish coloration, which root at the nodes and closely cover the substrate between the stones. This very small foliage, with an almost mossy appearance from a distance, is one of the most striking features of the plant.

The flowers, pinkish-white to pale pink, are borne individually on long, slender, reddish peduncles that rise clearly above the foliage carpet. They have five narrow petals arranged in a star shape, the buds being a deeper pink. The flowering period in cultivation seems to extend in spring and early summer.

It seems to appreciate well-drained, cool soil, in sunny to semi-shaded exposure, like other species of the genus cultivated in rock gardens. Its hardiness and precise requirements remain to be confirmed, the botanical identification of this specimen remaining uncertain.