About Lobelia gregoriana Baker f.
Lobelia gregoriana Baker f. is a species of giant lobelia native to the Afro-montane region of East Africa. Its type specimen was collected from Mount Kenya. Two subspecies are recognized: subspecies sattimae, which is known from Sattima peak in the Aberdare Range, and subspecies elgonensis, which occurs on Mount Elgon and in the Cherangani Hills. This species grows at altitudes ranging from 3200 to 4500 meters. Like some other giant lobelias, Lobelia gregoriana produces ice-nucleating polysaccharides in its water-holding central rosette. This trait is thought to protect the plant from cold injury. The species' specific epithet honors John Walter Gregory; Gregory's original collected material contained a mixture of this species' leaves and the inflorescence of Dendrosenecio keniodendron.
