Part 2 Xyridaceae — Juncaceae

by A. A. Obermeyer, John Lewis & Robert B. Faden

Botanical Research Institute

Department of Agriculture

and Water Supply

Republic of South Africa

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

All contributions should be compiled in accordance with the Guide to Contributors to the Flora of Southern

Africa (Compiled by Ross, Leistner & De Winter) which is available from the Librarian, Botanical Research

Institute, Private BagXIOl, Pretoria 0001.

Cryptogam volumes will in future not be numbered but will be known by the name of the group they cover.

The number assigned to the volume on Charophyta therefore becomes redundant.

Alien families are marked with an asterisk.

Published volumes and parts are shown in italics.

Please note that local prices as given below do not include GST. Prices given for other countries include

postage.

INTRODUCTORY VOLUMES

The genera of Southern African flowering plants

Vol. 1: Dicotyledons (Published 1975). Price: Rll,23. Other Countries: R14,00

Vol. 2: Monocotyledons (Published 1976). Price: R8,21. Other countries: RIO, 00

Botanical exploration in Southern Africa (Published 1981). Price: R40,00 (Obtainable from booksellers)

CRYPTOGAM VOLUMES

Charophyta (Published as Vol. 9 in 1978). Price: R4.25. Other countries: R5,30

Bryophyta:

Part 1: Mosses: Fascicle 1: Sphagnaceae - Grimmiaceae (Published 1981). Price: R24,34. Other

countries: R30,40

Fascicle 2: Gigaspermaceae - Bartramiaceae

Fascicle 3: Erpodiaceae - Hookeriaceae

Fascicle 4: Fabroniaceae - Polytrichaceae

Pteridophyta

FLOWERING PLANTS VOLUMES

Vol. 1: Stangeriaceae, Zamiaceae , Podocarpaceae, Pinaceae*, Cupressaceae, Welwitschiaceae, Typhaceae,

Zosteraceae , Potamogetonaceae, Ruppiaceae, Zannichelliaceae , Najadaceae, Aponogetonaceae , Junca-

ginaceae, Alismataceae , Hydrocharitaceae ( Published 1966). Price: Rl,98. Other countries: R2,60

Vol. 2: Poaceae

Vol. 3: Cyperaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae, Lemnaceae, Flagellariaceae

Vol. 4: Parti: Restionaceae

Part 2: Xyridaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Commelinaceae, Pontederiaceae, Juncaceae (Published 1985). Price:

R7,50. Other countries: R9,40

Vol. 5: Liliaceae, Agavaceae

Vol. 6: Haemodoraceae, Amaryllidaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Tecophilaeaceae, Velloziaceae, Dioscoreaceae

Vol. 7: Iridaceae: Parti: Nivenioideae, Iridoideae

Part 2: Ixioideae: Fascicle 1

Fascicle 2: Syringodea, Romulea (Published 1983)

Price: R3,96. Other countries: R5,00

Vol. 8: Musaceae, Strelitziaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cannaceae*, Burmanniaceae, Orchidaceae

Vol. 9: Casuarinaceae*, Piperaceae, Salicaceae, Myricaceae, Fagaceae*, Ulmaceae, Moraceae, Cannabaceae*,

Urticaceae, Proteaceae

(Continued on inside of back cover)

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Other countries: R9,40

Printed by Cape & Transvaal Printers (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, for the Government Printer and obtainable from

the Division of Agricultural Information, Department of Agriculture and Water Supply, Private Bag X144,

Pretoria 0001.

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER SUPPLY

DEPARTEMENT VAN LANDBOU EN WATERVOORSIENING

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

VOLUME 4

PART 2

ISBN 0 621 08271 6

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/floraofsoutherna42unse

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

which deals with the territories of

SOUTH AFRICA, CISKEI, TRANSKEI, LESOTHO, SWAZILAND, BOPHUTHA-

TSWANA, SOUTH WEST AFRICA/NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA AND VENDA

VOLUME 4

PART 2

XYRIDACEAE-JUNCACEAE

by

A. A. Obermeyer, John Lewis & Robert B. Faden

Edited by

O. A. Leistner

Editorial Committee: B. de Winter, D. J. B. Killick and O. A. Leistner

Botanical Research Institute,

Department of Agriculture

and Water Supply

1985

CONTENTS

Page

New combination published in Part 2 vi

Introduction vii

Plan of Flora of Southern Africa viii

XYRIDACEAE by John Lewis and A. A. Obermeyer 2: 1

ERIOCAULACEAE by A. A. Obermeyer 2: 9

COMMELINACEAE by A. A. Obermeyer and Robert B. Faden 2: 23

PONTEDERIACEAE by A. A. Obermeyer 2: 61

JUNCACEAEby A. A. Obermeyer 2: 71

Index 2: 93

NEW COMBINATION PUBLISHED IN PART 2*

Eriocaulon dregei Hochst. var. sonderianum (Koern.) Oberm., comb., nov., p.2: 18.

*Date of publication: April, 1985

VI

INTRODUCTION

Keys to families are provided in R. A. Dyer’s Genera of Southern African Flowering

Plants, Vol. 1 (1975) which is arranged on the lines of the Engler system. The genera are

numbered, as far as possible, according to the list published by De Dalla Torre and

Harms in their Genera Siphonogamarum (1900-1907) in order to facilitate reference,

though genera in the Flora are not necessarily arranged in this sequence.

The following condensed abbreviations for literature references are used:

C.F. A Conspectus Florae Angolensis

R. A. Dyer, Gen The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants by

R. A. Dyer, Vol. 1 (1975) and Vol. 2 (1976)

F.C Flora Capensis

F.C.B Flore du Congo et du Rwanda-Burundi

F.S.W.A Prodromus einer Flora von Sudwestafrika

F.T. A Flora of Tropical Africa

F.T.E. A Flora of Tropical East Africa

F. W.T. A Flora of West Tropical Africa

F.Z Flora Zambesiaca

This fascicle was compiled in accordance with a Guide to Contributors to the Flora of

Southern Africa (Ross, Leistner & De Winter, 1977), which is available from the Librarian,

Botanical Research Institute, Private BagXIOl, Pretoria 0001.

The family Mayacaceae, which was included in R. A. Dyer, Gen. 1: 905 (1975), and

the genus Triceratella Brenan (in Kirkia 1: 14; 1961) of the Commelinaceae given on

p. 910 of the same work, have been excluded here, as no confirmed records of representa-

tives were seen from our region.

Volume 4 of the Flora, of which the present publication is a component, will appear

in two parts (see p. viii). The number of the part, which in the present publication is ‘2’,

precedes the page number on all pages marked with arabic numerals. This was done with

a view to compiling a combined index to the entire volume.

vii

PLAN OF FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

Cryptogam volumes will in future not be numbered but will be known by the name of the group they cover.

The number assigned to the volume on Charophyta therefore becomes redundant.

Alien families are marked with an asterisk.

Published volumes and parts are shown in italics.

Please note that local prices as given below do not include GST. Prices given for other countries include

postage.

INTRODUCTORY VOLUMES

The genera of Southern African flowering plants

Vol. 1: Dicotyledons (Published 1975). Price: Rll,23. Other Countries: R14,00

Vol. 2: Monocotyledons (Published 1976). Price: R8,21. Other countries: RIO, 00

Botanical exploration in Southern Africa (Published 1981). Price: R40,00 (Obtainable from booksellers)

CRYPTOGAM VOLUMES

Charophyta (Published as Vol. 9 in 1978). Price: R4,25. Other countries: R5,30

Bryophyta:

Part 1: Mosses: Fascicle 1: Sphagnaceae - Grimmiaceae (Published 1981). Price: R24,34. Other

countries: R30,40

Fascicle 2: Gigaspermaceae - Bartramiaceae

Fascicle 3: Erpodiaceae - Hookeriaceae

Fascicle 4: Fabroniaceae - Polytrichaceae

Pteridophyta

FLOWERING PLANTS VOLUMES

Vol. 1: Stangeriaceae, Zamiaceae, Podocarpaceae, Pinaceae*, Cupressaceae, Welwitschiaceae, Typhaceae,

Zosteraceae, Potamogetonaceae , Ruppiaceae, Zannichelliaceae, Najadaceae, Aponogetonaceae, Junca-

ginaceae, Alismataceae, Hydrocharitaceae (Published 1966). Price: Rl,98. Other countries: R2,60

Vol. 2: Poaceae

Vol. 3: Cyperaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae, Lemnaceae, Flagellariaceae

Vol. 4: Parti: Restionaceae

Part 2: Xyridaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Commelinaceae, Pontederiaceae, Juncaceae (Published 1985). Price:

R7,50. Other countries: R9,40

Vol. 5: Liliaceae, Agavaceae

Vol. 6: Haemodoraceae, Amaryllidaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Tecophilaeaceae, Velloziaceae, Dioscoreaceae

Vol. 7: Iridaceae: Parti: Nivenioideae, Iridoideae

Part 2: Ixioideae: Fascicle 1

Fascicle 2: Syringodea, Romulea (Published 1983)

Price: R3,96. Other countries: R5,00

Vol. 8: Musaceae, Strelitziaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cannaceae*, Burmanniaceae, Orchidaceae

Vol. 9: Casuarinaceae*, Piperaceae, Salicaceae, Myricaceae, Fagaceae*, Ulmaceae, Moraceae, Cannabaceae*,

Urticaceae, Proteaceae

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viii

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Vol. 20:

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Vol. 22:

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Vol. 24:

Vol. 25:

Vol. 26:

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Vol. 29:

Vol. 30:

Vol. 31:

Vol. 32:

Vol. 33:

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ceae

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IX

Xyridaceae

XYRIDACEAE

2: 1

by John Lewis* and A. A. Obermeyer

Herbs, annual or perennial, usually scapigerous from tufted bases and sometimes with

swollen or rhizomatous rootstocks, usually gregarious. Leaves linear or filiform, usually sheath-

ing at base. Inflorescence usually spicate, formed of imbricated bracts in an ovoid head termin-

ating a scape, very rarely a few-flowered cyme; outer 2 to few pairs of bracts often sterile and

sometimes involucrate. Flowers bisexual, regular or partially zygomorphic. Sepals 3, or rarely

2, lower 2 placed laterally and opposite. Petals 3, free or united, regular. Stamens 3, opposite

and adnate to petals, often with 3 alternate staminodes; anthers extrorse. Ovary superior,

usually unilocular; placentation parietal, basal or free-central; ovules orthotropous, numerous;

seeds usually apiculate and longitudinally striate, albuminous.

A family comprising four genera: two smaller ones confined to the Guayana highland of South America, one (Abol-

boda H.B.K.) with about 15 spp. in north-eastern South America and the large genus Xyris itself with about 200

species, widespread in warmer regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and particularly in the Americas, but absent from

Europe. In Southern Africa 7 species are recorded in the northern areas, one of which is widespread, extending to the

southern Cape; they inhabit marshes, seepage areas, riverbanks or moist rock crevices.

826 XYRIS

Xyris L., Sp. PI. 42 (1753), Gen. PI. edn 5: 25 (1754); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 3: 842

(1883); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 3 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 7 (1901); Malme in Bot. Jb. 48: 287

(1912), and in Natiirl. PflFam. edn 2, 15a: 35 (1930); Roessl. in F.S.W.A. 158 (1967); R. A.

Dyer, Gen. 2: 906 (1976); Lewis in FI. Cameroun 22: 35 (1981). Type species: Xyris indica L.

Herbs, annual or perennial and caespitose, rush-like, scapigerous. Leaves radical, spirally

arranged, tufted, linear or filiform, isolateral, more or less sheathing at base. Scape naked,

usually much exserted above leaves, sheathed below, sheath open, terminated by a short caud-

icle. Inflorescence spicate; bracts usually tightly imbricate, sometimes marked with a median

contrasting area on dorsal surface, outer 1 or 2 pairs sterile. Sepals 3; lateral sepals opposite

and more or less conduplicate, chartaceous, usually keeled, keel varied in extent and ornamen-

tation; median sepal forming a caducous membranous hood. Petals free below, yellow, rarely

white and even in one case blue or violet. Staminodes usually present, often bipartite. Ovary

with a variable placentation; style usually 3-branched. Capsule loculicidal, splitting between

parietal placentas (in Southern African species); seeds numerous, albuminous, minute, ellip-

soid, pointed on both sides with longitudinal, raised, often moniliform ribs, connected by thin

cross bars and with secondary thinner ribs in between.

Seven species recorded from Southern Africa, none endemic; several of these widespread in the warmer parts of

Africa and elsewhere. A genus of 3 sections of which only the section Xyris occurs in Africa, characterized by the pos-

session of a unilocular capsule with parietal placentation.

The broad species concept accepted here may be clarified by reference to the detailed synonymies for five of the

species dealt with by Lewis (loc. cit.).

Name derived from the Greek in reference to the leaves possessing razor-sharp margins.

1 Leaves distichous, 2-8, from a small base; annuals, or, if perennial, with an inconspicuous rhizome; keels of lat-

eral sepals smooth, not ciliate:

2 Scape terete, green above, lower half golden brown and shiny; spikes c. 6-flowered, bracts shiny brown; (in-

cluded are paedogenic small plants, 2-leaved, 1-3-flowered, the bracts membranous, often vinaceous);

widespread 1. X. capensis

2 Scape ancipitous, uniformly green; spikes many-flowered; bracts stramineous; coarse annuals up to 0,4 m tall;

a mostly coastal tropical species extending south to Natal and north-eastern Cape 2. X. anceps

* Formerly of Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History); now, International Registrar for Conifers

(R.H.S. appointed), 83 High Street Hampton Hill, Middx TW12 INH, U.K.

Xyridaceae

2: 2

1 Leaves clustered on compact rhizomes; cataphylls, leaf-bases and peduncular sheaths sclerotic, shiny dark

brown; keels of lateral sepals ciliate:

3 Leaves terete; outer lower bracts of conical spike often somewhat longer, patent and paler than inner; roots

hard, thick 3. X. natalensis

3 Leaves linear; bracts of spike more or less uniform; roots usually thin to fairly thin:

4 Spikes ovoid, bracts dark brown, in a fairly uniform spiral:

5 Tall plants up to 0,5 m; spikes many-flowered 4. X. congensis

5 Smaller plants up to c. 0,3 m; spikes few-flowered; the base of the plant often sub-bulbous, fibrous,

twisted, mid-brown; roots thin 5 . X. nivea

4 Spikes obovoid, obtuse to broad apically; lower bracts larger than upper:

6 Bracts with scarious splitting margins; spikes c. 6-flowered 6. X. gerrardii

6 Bracts with entire margins, not scarious, fertile, often with a small greyish median patch below apex;

spikes c. 20-flowered 7. X. rehmannii

1. Xyris capensis Thunb., Prodr. 12

(1794), FI. Cap. edn 2: 81 (1823); N. E. Br.

in F.C. 7; 6 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 13

(1901); Adamson in Adamson & Salter, FI.

Cape Penins. 159 (1950); Roessl. in F.S.W.A.

158: 1 (1967); Ellis, Manders & Oberm. in

Bothalia 12: 637 (1979); Lewis in FI. Came-

roun 22: 37 (1981). Type: Cape, near Ver-

keerde valley, Thunberg 1267 (UPS, holo.,

PRE, photo.!).

X. rubella Malme in Bot. Jb. 48: 303 (1912); Roessl. in

F.S.W.A. 158: 2 (1967); Hepper in Kew Bull. 21: 424

(1968). Syntypes: South West Africa/Namibia, Okahand-

ja, Dimer 944 (B!; S ! ; SAM!); Tanzania, between Orero

and Kilwa Karingi, Braun in herb. Amani 1326 (EA,

lecto.!; S!). Considered a paedogenic variant (see notes

below).

Tufted perennials up to c. 0,3 m tall, but

also paedogenic, producing flowers when

barely past seedling stage. Rhizome small,

roots bilaterally arranged, many. Leaves op-

posite, erect, linear, laterally flattened, c.

50-150 x 4 mm, broadening slightly from

base and tapering to an acute apex, terminat-

ing in a small obtuse callosity; cataphylls

0. Scapes about twice as long as leaves,

usually terete, green and minutely papillate at

first but, with subsequent lengthening, basal

portion loses outer epidermis becoming gold-

en-brown, smooth and shiny. Spikes ellipsoid

to rounded, c. 10 mm in diam. (1 )— 3— 5-

flowered; bracts numerous, rather loosely im-

bricate at maturity, margins recurved or di-

vergent, olive brown, subtranslucent; outer 2

pairs broadly elliptic, hooded or flat, not

keeled, inner more or less straight and con-

duplicate, keeled, apex sharply acute. Lateral

sepals slightly curved, hyaline, keeled, apex

acute, keel winged in lower half, margin en-

tire or rarely with a very few broad teeth. Sta-

minodes scarcely exserted from corolla-tube.

Capsule oblong-ovoid, 3-4 mm long, obtuse;

seeds ellipsoid, 0,5 mm long. Fig. 1: 2.

A widespread and very common pioneer species in

Southern Africa as far south as the Cape Peninsula; also

in Madagascar and tropical Africa; further in South Ame-

rica and India, Sri Lanka, China and Malaysia; in

marshes, on river banks and grassy seepage areas. Map 1.

Vouchers: Acocks 20416; Burtt & Hilliard 8715;

Dieterlen 602; Galpin 9096; Rehmann 7364; Rudatis 1231;

Schlechter 289.

Plants in sites which are only seasonally wet, remain

small and ephemeral. Stunted plants no higher than

40-60 mm, with only two filiform leaves, will often pro-

duce inflorescences with only one to two flowers.

Plants in permanently wet localities will develop to

maturity and become perennial, bearing rhizomes and

producing new sets of distichous leaves bilaterally from

the centre of the plant.

2. Xyris anceps Lam., Tab. Encycl.

Meth. Bot. 1: 132 (1791); N. E. Br. in F.C.

7: 6 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 12 (1901); Lewis

in FI. Cameroun 22: 42 (1981). Type: Mada-

gascar, Commerson s.n. (P, holo.; BM, iso. !).

Soft herbs up to c. 0,7 m tall. Leaves dis-

tichously arranged, each shoot consisting of a

scape enveloped basally by 1-2 leaves and a

sheath, linear, up to 240 x 5 mm, apex acute.

Xyridaceae

2: 3

Fig. 1. — 1, Xyris congensis: la, habit, x 0,5; lb, capitulum, x 2; lc, twisted leaf blade, x 0,5; Id, bract, x 3; le,

lateral sepal with ciliate keel, x 3 (Mauve 5031). 2, X. capensis: 2a, habit, 0,5; 2b, paedogenic stage (“X. rubella”), x

0,5; 2c, capitulum, x 1,5; 2d, lateral sepal, x 3; 2e, petals, stamens and staminodes, x 2,5; 2f, fused claws of petals

splitting when ovary develops, x 3; 2g, ovary, style and stigmas, x 2 (Buitendag 409, 724). 3, X. gerrardii: 3a, habit, x

0,5; 3 b, floral bract showing lacerated membranous margin, x 3; 3c, lateral sepal with ciliate keel, x 3; 3d, capitulum,

x 1,5 (Mauve 5032).

Xyridaceae

2: 4

Scapes 2-3 times as long as leaves, strongly

two-edged, especially so above; sheath resem-

bling leaf but shorter. Spikes broadly ellipsoid

to spherical, up to c. 14 mm tall, many-

flowered. Bracts numerous and rather regu-

larly spirally arranged, broadly ovate, acute,

convex, shiny, yellow to olive green, with a

grey diamond-shaped depression below acute

apex, often splitting with age. Lateral sepals

short and curved, folded, with a glabrous en-

tire keel. Perianth typical. Capsule flattened,

oblong, obtuse; seeds ellipsoid, 0,3-0, 5 mm,

typical.

Recorded from the south-eastern Transvaal (only

once!), Natal and Transkei, as far south as Pondoland;

also in subtropical to tropical Africa, Mascarene Islands

and in Brazil; commonly inhabiting coastal swamps. Map

2.

Vouchers; Acocks 13337; Gordon-Gray 6167; Reh-

mann 8560; Tinley 3061; Ward 7717; Wood 11989.

Not as variable a species as its synonymy from out-

side our area would suggest; readily recognized by its pale

green colour and sharply 2-angled scape.

3. Xyris natalensis Nilsson in Ofvers. K.

Vet. Akad. Forhandl. 1891: 157 (1891), and

in K. svenska VetensAkad. Handl., ny foljd

24, 14: 28 (1892); Durand & Schinz, Consp.

FI. Afr. 5: 421 (1895); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 4

(1897). Syntypes: Natal, Natal Bay, Krauss

(141) (M, putative lecto.!; BM!; K!; Z!);

Natal without precise locality, Sanderson 455

(wrongly cited by Nilsson as 456) (S; K!);

Cape, without precise locality, Wahlberg s.n.

(S).

X. foliolata Nilsson in K. svenska VetensAkad.

Handl., ny foljd 24, 14: 65 (1892); Durand & Schinz,

Consp. FI. Afr. 5: 420 (1895); N. E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 10

(1901); Malme in Ark. Bot. 24A: 2 (1932). Type: Angola,

Malange, Mechow s.n. (Z, holo.l).

Tufted perennials up to 0,85 m tall. Rhi-

zome subhorizontal, hard, compact, covered

by persistent, shiny, brown leaf-bases and

cataphylls; roots thick, hard. Leaves clus-

tered, terete, up to 500 mm long, c. 1 mm

thick, wiry, apex acute, widened abruptly be-

low to form an open, auriculate sheath.

Spikes on exserted, terete, wiry peduncles en-

closed basally by an open, cylindrical sheath;

heads often cone-like, ovoid to oblong-ovoid,

c. 10-28 mm long, mid-brown, shiny; lowest

sterile bracts very narrowly ovate, smooth,

frequently aristate, fertile ones with a mi-

nutely punctate median area, margin entire or

mildly erose. Lateral sepals folded, falcate,

apiculate; keel prominent, densely ciliate es-

pecially in upper half. Capsule narrowly cylin-

drical, 3 mm long, thin-walled. Seeds typical.

Natal to Transkei, confined to the coastal areas;

known also from Angola, Burundi, Zambia and Zim-

babwe. Common in swamps, on river banks and along

lakes. Flowering in summer. Map 3.

Vouchers: Hilliard 3182; Gordon-Gray 6170; Strey

4488, 4905; Venter 929; Ward 2857; Wood 9939.

4. X. congensis Buettn. in Verh. bot.

Ver. Prov. Brandenb. 31: 71 (1889); N. E.

Br. in F.T.A. 8: 23 (1901); Lewis in FI. Cam-

eroun 22: 46 (1981). Type: Zaire, Congo

River between Lukolela and Equatorville,

Biittner 583 (B, holo.l, PRE, photo.!).

X. umbilonis Nilsson in K. svenska VetensAkad.

Handl., ny foljd 24, 14: 30 (1892); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 4

(1897). Type: Natal, Mbilo waterfall, Rehmann 8139

(Herb. Schinz in Z, holo.l; Z, iso.!; BM, iso.!).

X. batokana N. E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 22 (1901). Type:

Zambia, Batoka highlands, Kirk s.n. (K, holo. ! ).

Xyridaceae

2: 5

Perennial, strongly tufted; rhizome hard,

compact, covered by persistent shiny reddish

brown contorted leaf-bases and cataphylls up

to 60 mm long; roots fairly thin, soft. Leaves

clustered, stiff, linear, up to 500 x 4 mm (less

in our area), acuminate above, sometimes

mildly twisted. Scapes up to 0,6 m long, wiry,

terete or flattened when dry. Spikes ellipsoid,

up to 15 x 7 mm, bracts fairly uniform and

somewhat gaping at anthesis, shining chest-

nut-brown, convex, mucronate, margin

smooth, entire except for an occasional me-

dian split. Lateral sepals folded, curved with

thick dark keels bearing a narrow wing more

or less densely ciliate, especially above. Ca-

lyptriform sepal brownish yellow. Corolla yel-

low, fading to white, lobes of petals denticu-

late. Style with 3 capitate stigmas. Capsule

narrowly ovoid, 2-3 mm long; seeds ovoid.

Fig. 1:1.

As conceived here, a species widely spread in South-

ern Africa from Transvaal through Swaziland to Natal,

and further north in tropical Africa from west Africa east-

wards to Tanzania and Madagascar. A plant of damp

areas, often beside streams, forming large flourishing

tufts; often in montane areas, sometimes dominant in

swampy conditions. Map 4.

Vouchers: Bos 1087; Galpin 1223, 9097; Mauve &

Venter 5201; Pegler 1018; Rogers 24991; Rudatis 397.

5. Xyris nivea Welw. ex Rendle, Cat. Afr.

PI. Welw. 2, 1: 69 (1899); J. Lewis in FI.

Cameroun 22: 40 (1981). Type: Angola, Huil-

la, between Lopollo and Monino, Welwitsch

2468 (BM , holo . ! , PRE , photo . ! ) .

Xyris obscura N.E. Br. in F.T.A. 8, 1. 16 (1901, June);

Malme in Bot. Jb. 48: 288, 301 (1912), in obs. sub X.

brunnea\ Hepper in Kew Bull. 21: 424 (1968); Type: Zim-

babwe, near Salisbury [Harare], Six-mile Spruit, Mrs

Cecil 152 A(K, holo.!).

Xyris brunnea Nilsson in Bot. Jb. 30: 271 (1901, July);

Malme in Bot. Jb. 48: 300 (1912), and in Bot. Notiser

1932: 12 (1932). Type: Tanzania, Livingstone Mts, west-

ern Ubena, Goetze 822 (B, holo.!; BM, iso.!; EA, iso.!).

Xyris aberdarica Malme in Notizbl. bot. Gart. Mus.

Berl. 8: 663 (1924). Type: Kenya, Mt Aberdare, near Ki-

nangop Forest Station, R. E. & T. C. E Fries 2905 (UPS,

holo.!; K, iso.!; B, iso.!).

Xyris sp. near obscura N.E. Br., sensu Hepper in

F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 54 (1968).

Perennial, with base inflated and some-

times sub-bulbous. Leaves somewhat stiff,

very narrow and even appearing terete (es-

pecially from burnt culms) but characteristi-

cally flat and parallel-sided at maturity, up to

180 mm long, c. 1 mm wide, frequently tortu-

ous, minutely cross-striate, especially at mid-

length. Scapes (l-)3 times as long as leaves,

terete and multistriate, frequently irregularly

compressed, green or obscurely pale brown at

base (within sheath); sheaths often short and

obscure, especially on high mountain plants,

with a lanceolate caudicle about 10 mm long,

or sheaths sometimes 3 to 5 times as long as

taller scapes, and broader, rarely to as much

as 4-5 mm wide. Capitula broadly ellipsoid

or sub-spherical, 6-8 mm long, few-flowered.

Bracts numerous, rather loosely imbricate

when mature, tough, brittle, more or less

concave and medium to dark brown; outer el-

liptic, more or less flat, frequently keeled and

with or without a hard mucro or seta; inner

somewhat broader, more often keeled and

usually with lighter coloured, frequently re-

curved margins; apices obtuse. Lateral sepals

slightly curved, even sometimes mildly re-

curved above, hyaline, keeled; apices some-

times blunt, usually acute, hard, black, with

or without short terminal setae; keels moder-

ately wide, sometimes more or less uniformly

so but usually diminishing below and above,

regularly and somewhat distantly shortly pu-

bescent or puberulent, especially in mid-part,

diminishing towards apices. Flowers yellow,

very rarely white ( Welwitsch 2468). Capsule

and seeds not seen.

Recorded from the central and north-eastern Trans-

vaal; rare. Widely distributed in central Africa from An-

gola and Mozambique northwards to Kenya; a species of

wet areas in upland rocky steppes; also more rarely on

lake-side marshes. Map 5.

Vouchers: Junod 2758; Lavranos 9366; Prosser 1797;

Rogers 14930; Smuts & Gillett 2270; Stirton 224; Werder-

mann & Oberdieck 2075.

6

Xyridaceae

Plate 1. — Seeds of Xyris species: 1, X. anceps: la, 120; lb x 420 (De Winter & Vahrmeijer 8560).

2, X. gerrardii: 2a, x 120; 2b, X 600 ( Downing 74). 3, X. rehmannii: 3a, x 120; 3b, x 600 ( Van Vuuren

1324).

Xyridaceae

2: 7

Map 5. — Xyris nivea

6. X. gerrardii N.E. Br. in F.C. 7: 5

(1897); Malme in Bot. Jb. 48: 299 (1912);

Malme apud Norlind & Weimarck in Bot.

Notiser 1932: 12 (1932). Type: Natal, Zulu-

land, Gerrard 1526 (K, holo.!; NH, iso.!;

BM, iso.!).

Tufted perennials up to c. 0,3 m tall; rhi-

zome hard, compact, densely covered with

dark, hard shiny sheathing leaf-bases and

cataphylls up to c. 50 mm long; roots thin.

Leaves grass-like, numerous, linear, 0,35 m

long and 1 mm wide, soft, thin. Spikes on

long thin peduncles up to c. 0,55 m long; el-

lipsoid to obovoid, 5-8-flowered, up to

7,5 mm long and 5 mm in diam. Bracts

strongly carinate above, acute, 5-7 mm long,

dark shiny brown with a broad scarious mar-

gin, lacerate with age. Flowers : several often

flowering simultaneously on one spike. Lat-

eral sepals obovate-attenuate, keeled, keel

not winged, fringed with a short distinct pu-

berulence, especially medially, rarely glab-

rous. Calyptriform sepal deep orange-red. Pe-

tals yellow, lobes rotundate, coarsely dentate.

Stamens and staminodes typical. Stigmas di-

lated, fimbriate. Capsule oblong-ovoid, c.

4 mm long; seeds typical. Fig. 1: 3. Plate 1: 2.

Recorded from Transvaal and Natal; also in Zim-

babwe; mostly in colder montane swamps. Map 6.

Vouchers: Codd & Dver 9076; Hilliard & Burn 7903,

9350, 9413, 8738; Gilfillan 401; Mauve 5032, 5263; Rand

89, 1045; Schlechter 3815.

7. Xyris rehmannii Nilsson in K. svenska

VetensAkad. Handl., ny foljd 24, 14: 28

(1892); Durand & Schinz, Consp. FI. Afr.

5: 421 (1895); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 5 (1897);

Malme apud Norlindh & Weimarck, in Bot.

Notiser 1932: 11 (1932), and in Ark. Bot.

24 A, 5: 4 (1932); Hepper in Kew Bull. 21: 424

(1968); Lewis in FI. Cameroun 22: 50 (1981).

Type: Transvaal, Houtbosch, Rehmann 5764

(Z, holo.!; Z, iso.!; BM, iso.!).

X. rigidescens Welw. ex Rendle, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw.

2,1: 67 (1899). Type: Angola, Lopollo, Welwiisch 2474

(BM, holo.!).

X. dispar N.E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 12 (1902). Type: Zim-

babwe, near Salisbury [Harare], Cecil 152 (K, holo.!).

Tall perennials forming large tufts; rhi-

zome hard, thick; roots thin. Leaves rather

coarse, linear, up to 650 x 3-4 mm, tapering

to an acute apex; persistent wide leaf-bases up

to 150 mm long, shining orange-brown below;

cataphylls resembling leaf-bases, caudicled.

Scape up to 1 m tall, terete to somewhat com-

pressed. Spikes subspherical, 10 x 12 mm.

Map 7. — Xyris rehmannii

Xyridaceae

2: 8

aristate bracts and lateral sepals give it a

prickly appearance. Lower bracts large,

broadly elliptic, apiculate, stiff, shiny dark

brown; fertile bracts smaller, and light brown,

often with a central grey patch below an aris-

tate apex. Lateral sepals exserted from bracts,

curved, keels hard, dark, margin shortly and

regularly ciliate, apex bearing a short bent

bristle. Capsule narrowly ovoid, c. 3 mm

long; seeds ovoid. Plate 1: 3.

Recorded from the warmer parts of the Transvaal

and Swaziland; also in tropical Africa in Cameroun, An-

gola and Zimbabwe; in swamps and beside streams. Map

7.

Vouchers: Burn Davy in PRE 1606; Compton 26488,

31379; McCallum 649; 137; Mogg 14706.

Species insufficiently known

Xyris filiformis sensu N. E. Br. in F.C. 7,1: 7 (1897),

non Lam. (1791), and in F.T.A. 8,1: 19 (1901), in synon.

X. stramineae Nilsson, sed falso. Described from a speci-

men reportedly collected at Apies (sic) river, Transvaal by

J. Burke.

Excluded species

Xyris decipiens N. E. Br. in F.C. 7,1:3 (1897). Type:

Angola, Curror s.n. (K, holo.l). Mistakenly believed to

have been collected in our area.

Xyris multicaulis N. E. Br. A specimen from Aapies

river, Burke s.n. (K!), determined by Malme as X. multi-

caulis N. E. Br., a species described from Malawi [Nyasa-

land], is a variant of Xyris capensis Thunb. of unusual

habit.

Eriocaulaceae

2: 9

ERIOCAULACEAE

by A. A. Obermeyer

Hygrophytic tufted annuals or perennials forming a basal leaf rosette or rarely a leafy

stem. Roots many. Leaves radical, spirally arranged, numerous, linear. Inflorescence a capitu-

lum on a naked peduncle, surrounded at the base by a well developed sheath, which in the early

stages envelopes both capitulum and peduncle; involucral bracts somewhat to much larger than

floral bracts. Flowers very small, numerous, crowded, unisexual, the capitula bearing male and

female flowers variously arranged on the receptacle; occasionally some capitula with male flow-

ers only. Female flowers with 3, or rarely 2 free sepals; petals 3, 2 or 0, free or partly fused;

ovary 3-2-locular, superior; style simple with 3-2 long, filiform simple or bifid branches;

appendages often present; ovule solitary and pendulous in each locule. Male flowers with 3-2

sepals, free or fused into an oblique tube; petals 3-2, placed on a stipe, often with a dark

gland on inner surface near apex; stamens 6-4, the filaments free, anthers bilocular, dorsi-

fixed, introrse, black or rarely white; rudimentary pistil in centre. Capsule loculicidal, 3-2-

lobed; seed ovoid, minute, endospermous.

Genera 13, species c. 500, tropical and subtropical regions, predominantly South American, rare in colder climates.

Genera 2 in Southern Africa.

The family description given here is based mainly on the 2 Southern African genera. The South American genera

and species exhibit far more specialization; some are suffrutescent with leafy stems and some produce corymbose inflo-

rescences; in others the involucral bracts are enlarged and their heads therefore resemble those of some Asteraceae.

1 Stamens 6-4; scapes and leaves glabrous; petals of female flowers free or 0; style with

3-2 filiform stigmatic branches, without appendages; peduncular sheath breaking up

irregularly at apex 1. Eriocaulon

1 Stamens 3; scapes and leaf-bases glandular-hairy and setose; petals of female flowers

united in the middle; style with 3 filiform stigmatic branches and 3 filiform sterile ap-

pendages ending in swollen tips; peduncular sheath forming and arum-like spathe at

apex 2. Syngonanthus

828 1. ERIOCAULON

Eriocaulon L., Sp. PI. 87 (1753); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 51 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 231

(1901); Ruhl. in Pflanzenreich 4, 30 (Heft 13): 30 (1903); M. Friedrich et al. in F.S.W.A.

159(1967); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2; 907 (1976). Type species: E. decangulareL.

Tufted perennials or annuals, rarely with a leafy stem. Roots many, swollen with a white

latticed parenchyma. Rhizome in perennial species densely woolly. Leaves numerous, rosulate,

linear-acuminate, glabrous, their bases with a white latticed parenchyma; in species producing

stems leaves densely crowded. Capitula globose, at first enveloped in a closed cataphyll which

splits obliquely and irregularly when peduncle lengthens; involucral bracts 6-12, usually some-

what larger than floral bracts; receptacle discoid, globose or cylindrical, glabrous or pilose.

Female flowers sessile or shortly pedicelled; sepals 3-2, free, usually dark and resembling

bracts; petals 3-2-0, free, usually narrowly spathulate, whitish, soft, often with a dark gland

on inner side below apex, occasionally raised above sepals by a stipe; ovary superior, sessile or

on a stipe, 3-2-locular with a solitary pendulous ovule in each locule, with the terminal style

ending in 3-2 long stigmatic branches. Male flowers with sepals 3-2, obliquely fused at the

base, lobed above; petals 3-2, placed on a stipe, with a dark gland below apex in some

species; stamens 6-4, biseriate, arising from centre of petals, filaments free, erect, anthers in-

trorse, dorsifixed, black or rarely white; rudimentary pistil present in centre, dark. Capsule

3-2-lobed, loculicidal, locules globose; seed ovoid, c. 0,75 mm long, endospermous, epidermis

hygroscopic, when enlarged, appearing reticulated, the transverse ribs usually more pro-

nounced than the longitudinal ones, and sometimes white-fringed ( E . ruhlandii Schinz is an

exception; here the longitudinal ribs are more strongly developed).

2: 10

Eriocaulaceae

Species c. 250; distribution as for family. In Southern Africa 12 species, 3 of these apparently endemic, the others

widespread but absent from dry interior areas and south-western Cape.

The name Eriocaulon (woolly stem) is derived from the Greek and refers to the lanate pubescence on the rhizome

of perennial species.

The small annuals are probably wind-distributed. They produce much seed, possibly parthenogenetically; there are

usually few staminate flowers. They appear wherever there is an open wet space, whether temporary or permanent,

dying when the habitat dries up or becomes too cold. The perennial species inhabit permanently wet, usually montane

habitats in fresh running water or are immersed aquatics with only the capitula emergent.

Key to species (based mainly on female flowers)

1 Leaves closely arranged on an elongated stem; a submerged aquatic with only the capitula exserted 1 . E. setaceum

1 Leaves in basal rosettes; stems suppressed; small marsh plants, ruderals or rarely aquatics:

2 Annuals, small, fast growing pioneers, dying when the habitat dries up; capitula without coarse white setae,

predominantly female, producing much seed; receptacle cylindrical;

3 Antherswhite;sepals3or2;petals0 2 . E. cinereum

3 Anthers black; sepals and petals various:

4 Petals absent, rarely 1, 2 or 3, much reduced; plants c. 100-200 mm tall; usually submerged except for

black capitula; testa of seed with transverse, white, fringed ridges 9. E. hydrophilum

4 Petals present; plants c. 30-100 mm tall; leaf rosettes not submerged; testa of seed with reticulations, not

fringed:

5 Petals with a ciliate margin and a black apical gland; testa of seed with c. 8 longitudinal ridges

8. E. ruhlandii

5 Petals with a glabrous margin and without a black apical gland; testa of seed reticulate:

6 Sepals 2; petals 2 3. E. angustisepalum

6 Sepals 3 or 2; petals 3:

7 Sepals 2; petals 3; sepals boat-shaped with a convex, distended papillate keel, protruding laterally

from floral bract when in fruit 7 . E. maculatum

7 Sepals 3; petals 3:

8 Sepals with a smooth margin:

9 Capitula dark, except involucral bracts; bracts and sepals broadly ovate, obtuse; receptacle

usually quite glabrous 4. E. abyssinicum

9 Capitula whitish with the bracts and sepals linear-aristate, giving it a bristly appearance; re-

ceptacle with few to many silky hairs 5. E. welwitschii

8 Sepals with a fimbriate margin:

10 Sepals linear, flat, white, with long fine hairs along margin 5. E. welwitschii

10 Sepals boat-shaped, deeply concave, dark, with margin pale, membranous, bearing some

short coarse setae 6. E. gilgianum

2 Perennials, more robust plants; capitula sparsely to densely covered with short, coarse, white setae; receptacle

globose to discoid:

1 1 Anthers black ; leaves aerial :

12 Plants solitary, 60-100 mm tall; capitula many, dark, globose, c. 5 mm in diam.; white setae on bracts.

sepals and petals usually few; testa of seed with white, transversely fringed ribs .... 10. E. transvaalicum

12 Plants rhizomatous, 100-500 mm tall; capitula few, globose to semi-discoid, c. 10 mm in diam., densely

covered with short white setae; testa of seed reticulate 11 . E. dregei

11 Anthers white; aquatic with submerged leaves, often viviparous and stoloniferous 12 . E. africanum

1. Eriocaulon setaceum L., Sp. PI. 87

(1753); Ruhl. in Pflanzenreich 4, 30: 89, t. 9

(1903); Meikle in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 62, fig.

337/9 (1968). Type from India (LINN 105.5).

E. melanocephalum Kunth, Enum. PI. 3: 549 (1841);

Ruhl., l.c. 89 (1903). Type: Brazil, St. Paulo, Sellow (K,

ex herb. Kunth, holo.).

E. bifistulosum Van Heurck & Miill. Arg. in Van

Heurck, Obs. Bot. 105 (1870); N. E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 239

(1901); Ruhl. in Pflanzenreich 4, 30: 90 (1903); H. Hess in

Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 130, t. 7: figs 3, 4, 5, p. 127:

fig. 3 (1955). Type: Tropical Africa, Niger Territory, Bar-

ter 1021 (K, holo.).

Rooted aquatic. Stems elongated, dense-

ly leafy, floating near surface of water. Leaves

numerous, filiform, 20-100 mm long, weak.

Capitula numerous at apex of stem, emergent

on long peduncles, sheathed in lower half; in-

volucral bracts broadly ovate, often torn

lengthwise; floral bracts ovate, concave, bear-

ing a few minute white setae; receptacle glab-

Eriocaulaceae

2: 11

rous. Female flowers with 3 equal, obovate,

concave sepals; petals 3, obovate to spathu-

late, enclosed by sepals; ovary 3-locular. Male

flowers pedicellate; sepals forming an

obliquely funnel-shaped, 3-lobed tube; petals

stipitate, minute; stamens 6, anthers black.

Capsule 3-lobed; seed ellipsoid. Fig. 2: 1.

Recorded from Botswana. Widespread in tropical

and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australia and America.

Map. 8.

Voucher: Biggs M613; P. Smith 631.

2. Eriocaulon cinereum R. Br., Prodr.

254 (1810); Meikle in F.W.T.A. edn 2,3: 63

(1968). Type: Australia, R. Brown (BM,

holo.).

Eriocaulon amboense Schinz in Bull. Herb. Boissier 4,

App. 3: 35 (1896); N. E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 258 (1900);

Ruhl. in Pflanzenreich 4, 30: 112 (1903); H. Hess in Ber.

schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 176, t. 9: fig. 3, p. 160: fig. 1

(1955); M. Friedrich et al. in F.S.W.A. 159: 1 (1967).

Type: South West Africa/Namibia, Ovambo, Uashitenga

near Olukonda, Schinz 859 (Z, holo.; K).

Small dome-shaped annuals 50-100 mm

tall. Leaves rosulate, narrowly linear, attenu-

ated into a fine point 10-30 mm long. Capitula

globose, 3-4 mm in diam., pale at first,

grey with age, on peduncles up to 90 mm

long; involucral and floral bracts small, ovate;

receptacle conical, glabrous. Female flowers

pedicelled; sepals 3-2, narrowly linear with

scattered long white hairs mostly near the

base or glabrous; petals 0; ovary on a short

stipe, 3-locular; style long, stigmas 3. Male

flowers typical; stamens 6, bearing white

anthers. Capsule 3-lobed; seed ellipsoid,

smooth. Fig. 2: 2.

Recorded from South West Africa/Namibia, Bot-

swana and from Zimbabwe, Angola, other parts of tropi-

cal Africa, Australia, tropical Asia, Japan and America;

in seasonally flooded areas. Map 9.

Vouchers: Giess 9943; Merxmiiller 2134; Smith 2022.

Map 9. — Eriocaulon cinereum

3. Eriocaulon angustisepalum H. Hess in

Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 170, t. 9: figs 6 &

7, p. 160: figs 7 & 8 (1955); M. Friedrich et

al. in F.S.W.A. 159: 2 (1967). Type: Angola,

Guanhama, road verges 45 km S. of Cas-

singa, H. Hess 52/2004 (ZT, holo.).

Dome-shaped annuals 15-70 mm tall.

Leaves few, short, linear-acuminate. Capitula

many, globose, c. 2 mm in diam., black, shiny,

on peduncles 15-70 mm long; involucral

bracts obtuse, margin erose; floral bracts

slightly smaller; receptacle conical, glabrous.

Female flowers with 2 half-folded, convex,

narrow, aristate sepals; petals 2, linear, erect,

obtuse; ovary 2-locular, sessile; style with 2

stigmatic branches. Male flowers with 2 fused

sepals; petals 0; stamens 4, black. Capsule bi-

lobed with 2 globose locules; seed minutely

reticulate and muricate. Fig. 3: 3.

A pioneer species recorded from Transvaal and

Angola; in sandy, marshy places, in seepage areas along

road verges or wet rocky outcrops. Map 10.

Vouchers: Hilliard & Burn 9895B; Strey 2833; Venter

4358a.

4. Eriocaulon abyssinicum Hochst. in

Flora 28: 341 (1845); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 53

(1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 257 (1901); Ruhl. in

Pflanzenreich 4, 30 (Heft 13): 282 (1903); H.

Hess in Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 165, t. 9:

fig. 8, p. 160: figs 2 & 3 (1955); Meikle in

F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 63 (1968). Type: Ethi-

opia, Shire Province, Schimper 1944 (K; G).

2: 12

Eriocaulaceae

Fig. 2. — 1, Eriocaulon setaceum, habit, x 0,7 (Biggs M613). 2, E. cinereum, female flower, x 7 (Merxmiiller 2134).

3, E. angustisepalum, female flower, x 50 ( Venter 4358A). 4, E. ahyssinicum, habit, x 2; 4a, male flower, x 20; 4b, fe-

male flower, x 18; 4c, floral bract, x 9 ( Killick 1888). 5, E. welwitschii, female flower, x 10 ( Dinter 7220A). 6. E. gil-

gianum, sepal and petal of female flower, x 7 ( Edwards 2496b). 7, E. maculatum, female flower, x 10 (Mauve & Venter

5060).

Eriocaulaceae

2: 13

Small tufted, dome-shaped annuals

20-100 mm tall. Leaves few, linear-acumi-

nate. Capitula oblong-globose, c. 3 mm long,

dull greyish black, on peduncles up to 45

(-100) mm long; involucral bracts c. 10, pale,

about half as long as capitulum, reflexed with

age; floral bracts smaller, dark; receptacle

conical, glabrous or rarely with a few stray

hairs. Female flowers on short pedicels; sepals

3, ovate, concave, half-folded, dark; petals

linear, acute, glabrous; ovary sessile, 3-locu-

lar; style typical. Male flowers : sepals 3,

obliquely fused below; petal-lobes minute

with an apical black gland; stamens 6, with

black anthers. Capsule trilobed, locules glob-

ose; seed ellipsoid, smooth, shiny, but reticu-

late and muricate under 400 x magnification.

Widespread pioneer annual found all over Africa; in

Southern Africa recorded from northern South West Afri-

ca/Namibia, Transvaal, Orange Free State, Swaziland,

Natal and Transkei; in wet places at low or high altitudes.

Often found growing together with other annual Erio-

caulon species and Xyris cupensis seedlings. Map 1 1 .

Vouchers: Acocks 22080; Culverwell 0674; Dieterlen

777; Killick 1888; Leistner, Oliver & Vorster 218, 313;

Muller 1881 ; Schmitz 7618; Van der Schijff2MA.

5. Eriocaulon welwitschii Rendle, Cat.

Afr. PI. Welw. 2: 97 (1899); N. E. Br. in

F.T.A. 7: 249 (1901); Ruhl. in Pflanzenreich

4, 30 (Heft 13); 102, t. 13 (1903); H. Hess in

Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 270 (1955). Type:

Angola, Pungo Andongo, Welwitsch 2441

(BM).

E. welwitschii var. pygmaeum Rendle, l.c. 98. Type:

Angola, Huilla, near Lopollo, Welwitsch 2444 (BM,

holo.; K, iso.).

E. aristatum H. Hess in Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges. 65:

163, 271, t. 9: fig. 5, p. 160: figs 11 & 12 (1955). Type:

Angola, Humpata district, H. Hess 52/1755a (ZT, holo.).

Small dome-shaped annuals up to 40 mm

tall. Leaves many, linear-acuminate, 10-20

mm long. Capitula oblong-globose, c. 2,5 mm

in diam., numerous, on filiform peduncles; in-

volucral bracts c. 10, narrowly ovate-aristate,

white, shiny, about half as long as capitulum,

recurved when old; floral bracts resembling

involucral bracts but somewhat smaller; re-

ceptacle conical to cylindrical, with soft, long

hairs. Female flower : sepals 3, narrowly lin-

ear, white, margin glabrous or fimbriate; pe-

tals 3, filiform, slightly exceeding sepals;

ovary 3-locular, sessile to shortly stipitate,

style with 3 long stigmas. Male flower: typical,

stamens 6, black. Capsule 3-lobed; seeds with

the testa reticulate. Fig. 2: 5.

Recorded from South West Africa/Namibia, and

Botswana, as well as Angola and Zimbabwe and further

north; in seasonally flooded areas. Map 12.

Map 12. — • Eriocaulon welwitschii

A Eriocaulon gilgianum

2: 14

Eriocaulaceae

Vouchers: Dinter 7220; Smith 1812; Volk 1806.

E. aristatum H. Hess has sepals with a fimbriate mar-

gin whereas in E. welwitschii they are described as entire,

glabrous. However, Dinter 7220, a gathering consisting of

many plants, was seen to possess either fimbriate sepals or

entire ones. No other important differences were observed.

6. Eriocaulon gilgianum Ruhl. in Bot. Jb.

27: 84 (1899), and in Pflanzenreich 4, 30

(Heft 13): 99, t. 13 (1903); N. E. Br. in

F.T.A. 8: 257 (1901); H. Hess in Ber.

schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 158, t. 8: figs 11,12, p.

160: figs 4, 5, 6, 12; p. 270 (1955). Type: An-

gola, Antunes 168 (B, PRE, photo. ! ).

Dome-shaped annuals up to 130 mm tall.

Leaves linear-acuminate, c. 10 mm long. Ca-

pitula oblong-globose, 2-3 mm in diam., dark

grey on peduncles 20-100 mm long; invol-

ucral bracts c. 10, large, pale, acute, floral

bracts smaller, dark, but much larger than se-

pals; receptacle conical with some long hairs.

Female flower, sepals 3, c. 1-2 mm long, con-

chiform, not keeled, enclosing rest of flower,

ovate-acuminate, blackish, margin whitish,

bearing some coarse setae; dorsal sepal some-

what smaller; petals 3, narrowly spathulate,

somewhat longer than sepals; ovary 3-locular;

style short with 2 longer stigmas. Male flower

typical; anthers black. Capsule 3-lobed, seeds

ovoid, minutely reticulate and muricate. Fig.

2: 6.

Only once recorded from Southern Africa, namely

from the Natal Drakensberg, but widespread in Angola

and Zimbabwe (often collected at Victoria Falls in rain

forest area). Map 12.

Voucher: Edwards 2496B (mixed with E. hydro-

philum).

The Natal plants, coming from a colder climate, are

much smaller than those from the main distribution area

in the tropics north of our borders. Further collections

may shed more light on this taxon.

7. Eriocaulon maculatum Schinz in Bull.

Herb. Boissier ser. 2, 6: 709 (1906). Type:

Transvaal, Blouberg, Schlechter 4651 (Z,

holo.; PRE!; SAM!).

Small annuals up to 100 mm tall. Leaves

rosulate, linear, c. 15 mm long, 1-2 mm

broad, apex acute, soft. Capitula usually sev-

eral, oblong-globose, c. 5 mm in diam., pale

to dark brown on erect, long, thin peduncles

100-160 mm long; involucral and floral bracts

ovate, obtuse; receptacle cylindrical, with

many long, silky hairs. Female flower: sepals

2, c. 2 mm long, lateral, boat-shaped with a

broad curved keel consisting of large bulbous

cells, with a dark central area, the sides

rounded above, attenuated below, enveloping

the ripe seed at maturity; petals 3, unequal,

narrowly linear, exserted. Ovary on a stipe,

3-locular; style with 3 stigmas. Capsule 3-

lobed; seeds ovoid, the testa transversely rib-

bed, the ribs white-fringed. Fig. 2: 7. Plate 2:

1.

Recorded from N. Transvaal to Zimbabwe, Zambia

and Malawi; in moist sandy areas along streams, marshes

or temporary wet places. Map 13.

Voucher: Mauve & Venter 5060.

This species closely resembles the tropical species E.

buchananii Ruhl., but the specimens of our species stu-

died lacked the reduced third posterior sepal in the female

flower, and there are differences in the surface of the tes-

ta.

8. Eriocaulon ruhlandii Schinz in Bull.

Herb. Boissier ser. 2, 6: 710 (1906); Ross in

FI. Natal 116 (1972). Type: Natal, near Clair-

mont, Schlechter 2955 (Z, holo.; K!; PRE!;

NH!;GRA!).

Annuals up to c. 0,16 m. Capitula glob-

ose, light to dark brown and shiny, c. 4 mm in

diam., with ovate involucral and floral bracts; re-

ceptacle cylindrical with long fine silky hairs.

Female flower: sepals 2, linear, c. 2-3 mm

long, dark, glabrous; petals 3, narrowly spa-

thulate, white with a black spot at apex, mar-

gin with long cilia; ovary sessile, 3-locular,

style with 3 stigmas. Male flower: sepals 2,

free, broadly linear-acuminate, dark; petals

white with an apical gland; stamens 4, anthers

black. Capsule 3-locular; testa of seed with c.

8 longitudinal ridges. Fig. 3: 1. Plate 2: 2.

Largely confined to the coastal region of Natal and

northern Transkei; in wet areas. Map 14.

Vouchers: Strey 6507; Ward 8130, 9097.

Eriocaulaceae

2: 15

Plate 2. — Seeds of Eriocaulon species: 1, E. maculatum: la, x 120; lb, x 1200 (Mauve & Venter 5060).

2, E. ruhlandii: 2a, x 120; 2b, x 1200 (Schlechter 2955). 3, E. hydrophilum: 3a, x 120; 3b, x 1200 (Hilliard

& Bum 9026).

2: 16

Eriocaulaceae

Fig. 3. — 1, Eriocaulon ruhlandii, sepal and petal, x 5 ( Ward 2868). 2, E. hydrophilum, female flower, x 6 ( Burtt &

Hilliard 9026). 3, E. transvaalicum, habit, x 0,5; 3a, female flower, x 12; 3b, petal, x 15; 3c, floral bract, x 18 (Bos-

nian sub PRE 37863). 4, E. dregei var. sonderianum, habit, x 1; 4a, sepal and petal, x 8; 4b, sheath of peduncle, x 2

(Mauve 5033). 5, E. africanum, sepal and petal, x 8 (Strey 7629).

Eriocaulaceae

2: 17

9. Eriocaulon hydrophilutn Markotter in

Ann. Univ. Stellenbosch 8: 10 (1930). Type:

Orange Free State, Witzieshoek, Quaqua

Mtn, Thode 8274 (STE, holo. !).

Annuals, usually submerged with only

the heads emergent, c. 100 mm(-260 mm)

tall. Leaves rosulate, linear-acuminate, with

long filiform tips, thin, soft. Capitula small,

depressed-globose, 3-5 mm in diam., shiny

black; peduncles erect, thin; involucral bracts

c. 6, ovate; floral bracts smaller, receptacle

shortly cylindrical, glabrous or with a few

long soft hairs. Female flower : sepals 3, c. 2,5

mm long, equal, half-folded, enclosing inside

of flower, keel convex; petals 0, rarely 1, 2 or

3, small, linear; ovary 3-lobed; style with 3

stigmas. Male flower, few towards apex; se-

pals linear, fused below to form an oblique 3-

lobed tube; petals 3, minute; stamens 6,

black. Capsule 3-lobed; seeds with white

transverse, fringed ridges. Fig. 3: 2. Plate 2:

3.

A montane species recorded from the eastern Trans-

vaal, eastern Orange Free State, Lesotho and Natal on

the Drakensberg complex at altitudes up to 2 000 m. Map

15.

Vouchers: Beverley & Hoener 526: Devenish 1701;

Hilliard & Burn 9026; Moss 16429; Siam 424.

10. Eriocaulon transvaalicum N. E. Br.

in F.C. 7: 54 (1897); Ruhl. in Pflanzenreich 4,

30 (Heft 13): 81 (1903); H. Hess in Ber.

schweiz. bot. Ges. 65: 155 (1955). Type:

Transvaal, Bosveld near Boekenhoutskloof,

Rehmann 4787 (K, holo.).

E. tofieldiifolium Schinz in Bull. Herb. Boissier ser 2,1:

779 (1901); H. Hess, I c. 266, t. 5 on p. 265 (1955); M.

Friedrich et al., in F.S.W.A. 159: 2 (1967). Type: South

Map 15. — • Eriocaulon hydrophilum

A Eriocaulon transvaalicum

West Africa/Namibia, Waterberg, Dinter 378 (Z, holo.!,

PRE, photo.! ).

Fairly robust annuals or perennials up to

0,16 m tall, with many erect, black heads.

Leaves broadly linear, acute, c. 30 x 5 mm,

widening at base. Capitula globose, c. 5 mm

in diam., shiny black, bearded with a few to

many short stiff, white setae; peduncles firm,

up to c. 0,16 m long; basal sheaths about as

long as leaves, loose; involucral bracts c. 10,

somewhat lighter in colour, reflexed with age;

floral bracts ovate, acute; receptacle bearing

fine, long, white hairs. Female flower: sepals

3, c. 2 mm long, the lateral half folded with

a convex, acute keel, attenuated below, inner

sepal reduced, flat; petals raised on a stipe,

linear, widened and dark above, obtuse, ex-

serted; ovary 3-lobed, sessile, style and stig-

mas typical. Male flower : typical, anthers

black. Capsule 3-lobed; seeds pale yellow

with transverse ribs somewhat fringed. Fig. 3:

3.

Recorded from South West Africa/Namibia, Trans-

vaal, Orange Free State, Natal and further north to tropi-

cal Africa. Map 15.

Vouchers: Boss in TRV 35083; Repton 3572; Van der

Schijff 2131.

11. Eriocaulon dregei Hochst. in Flora

28: 341 (1845); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 55 (1897).

Type: Eastern Cape, Drege 4101 (K! ).

Caespitose perennials forming colonies,

compact hard rhizome covered with .white

soft tomentum of multicellular hairs. Leaves

rosulate, linear-acuminate, up to 250 x 8 mm,

but usually much smaller, apex acute, obtuse

or drawn out into a long fine point. Capitula

2: 18

Eriocaulaceae

1-3 per rosette on long thin peduncles, glob-

ose, c. 10 mm in diam., usually densely cov-

ered by a tomentum of hard, short, white se-

tae; monoecious with male flowers

predominating or some capitula entirely

male; involucral bracts glabrous, usually re-

flexed, oblong, pale; floral bracts dark with

white setae near apex; receptacle glabrous to

villous. Female flower : sepals 3, black,

boatshaped, 2-4 mm long, with a convex, oc-

casionally toothed keel, apex acute, tufted

with white setae, margin fimbriate; petals 3,

spathulate, pale, densely setose and with a

black gland; ovary 3-lobed. Male flower, se-

pals 3, dark, setose at apex; petals 3, unequal

in size, white, setose above with a black

gland; stamens 6, anthers black. Capsule 3-

lobed; seeds smooth, testa with a rectangular

network; ripe seeds rare.

Widespread in the eastern parts of Southern Africa

from the eastern Cape to Transkei, Natal, eastern Orange

Free State, Swaziland, and Transvaal; in montane areas

around springs.

Two varieties are recognized:

1 Leaves c. 100-250 mm long, linear-acuminate,

the apex obtuse, ending in a small knob; larger

plants found mainly in the eastern Cape to Na-

tal (a) var. dregei

1 Leaves up to 80 mm long, long acuminate ending in a

fine point; smaller plants found mainly in the Trans-

vaal and Natal (b) var . sonderianum

(a) var. dregei.

E. dregei Hochst. in Flora 28: 341 (1845); N. E.

Br. in F.C. 7: 55 (1897).

Plants robust, up to 0,35 m tall. Leaves

linear, attenuated into an obtuse apex, ending

in a small knob, up to 250 x 10 mm, but

usually smaller. Capitula globose, c. 12 mm in

diam. when bearing male and female flowers,

smaller and more discoid when male flowers

only are present. Flowers 2-4 mm long.

Common in Natal, also in eastern Cape, Transkei

and Transvaal; usually montane but also recorded from

near the coast. Map 16.

Vouchers: Hilliard 2146; Kluge 821; Pooley 1759; Sim

2828; Strey 4467.

(b) var. sonderianum (Koern.) Oberm.,

comb. nov.

E. sonderianum Korn, in Linnaea 27: 669 (1854); N. E.

Br. in F.C. 7: 55 (1897). Syntypes: Transvaal, Magalies-

berg, Zeyher 1731 (K; SAM! ); Burke s.n. (K).

E. baurii N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 54 (1897). Type: Trans-

kei, Bazeia Mountain, Baur 622 (K, holo.; SAM! ).

Plants smaller, up to 100 mm tall. Leaves

linear-acuminate, 50-100 mm long, apex at-

tenuated into a long filiform point. Capitula

globose to depressed globose, c. 8 mm in

diam., bearing male and female flowers (no

capitula with only male flowers seen). Flowers

c. 2 mm long. Fig. 3: 4.

Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal, Lesotho and Transkei;

usually montane and found at high altitudes. Map 17.

Vouchers: Baur 622; Beverley & Hoener 528; Codd

6721; Compton 20268; Flanagan 1863; Killick 4178; Moll

1432b; Venter 690.

Mr R. D. Meikle of Kew suggested that E. sonderi-

anum could be a variety of E. dregei , and the ample col-

lections available now support this view. E. dregei appears

to be a polyploid. E. dregei var. sonderianum is the com-

mon variety in the Transvaal; in Natal both varieties occur

but in the eastern Cape the larger var. dregei becomes

common whereas var. sonderianum is rare.

At high altitudes, where ice and snow occur in win-

ter, the dwarfed plants of var. sonderianum are found.

Eriocaulaceae

2: 19

The sheath that covers the young inflorescence splits api-

cally into 4 small spreading dry lobes, which is very

characteristic of this form. Normally the sheath bursts

sideways forming one large, somewhat hooded lobe and 1

or 2 small ones.

12. Eriocaulon africanum Hochst. in

Flora 28: 340 (1845); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 56

(1897); H. Hess in Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges.

65: 266 (1955). Type: Natal, Mgeni River

near Pietermaritzburg, Krauss 375 (K, iso. ! ).

E. woodii N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 57 (1897). E. natalensis

Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boissier No. 10: 76 (1900). Type:

near Murchison, Wood 3053 (K, holo.!; NH! ).

Perennial, often stoloniferous aquatics,

submerged except for the emergent capitula,

often viviparous. Leaves rosulate, linear-

acuminate, 40-200 mm long, apex acute,

soft. Capitula subglobose, c. 10 mm in diam.,

dark; peduncles long, thin; involucral bracts

c. 10, short, rounded, glabrous; floral bracts

narrower, black, glabrous; receptacle discoid.

Female flower, sepals 3, free, boat-shaped,

black with sparse white setae; petals 3, nar-

rowly obovate, attenuated below, white, with

an apical black gland and setose above; ovary

3-lobed, style short, stigmas 3, long. Male

flower: predominant, sepals 3, fused below,

lobes broad, black, sparsely and irregularly

setose; petals 3, obovate, white with an apical

black gland and densely setose above; sta-

mens 6, anthers pale yellow. Capsule 3-lobed;

testa of seed forming an irregular network of

4-6-sided rectangles. Fig. 3: 5.

Recorded from Transvaal, Natal and Transkei and

from Zimbabwe and Zambia; rare, usually in flowing

water. Map 18.

Vouchers: Hemm 216; Schlechter 3319; Strey 7629;

6856; Tyson 2551.

832A 2. SYNGONANTHUS

Syngonanthus Ruhl. in Urban, Symb. Antill. 1: 487 (1900), and in Pflanzenreich 4, 30 (Heft

13): 242 (1903), and in Natiirl. PflFam. edn 2, 15a: 55 (1930); Meikle in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 67

(1968); R.A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 908 (1976). Type species: S. umbellatum (Lam.) Ruhl.

Annuals or perennials with a basal rosette of leaves (in Southern African species). Capi-

tula on long peduncles sheathed at base. Female flowers: sepals 3, free; petals 3, with free

claws, fused in middle, with free lobes above; ovary 3-locular, style simple, with 3 filiform,

glandular-papillate stigmatic branches alternating with 3 glabrous filiform appendages. Male

flowers: sepals 3, free; petals 3, connate into a subtruncate tube; stamens 3, anthers white.

Capsule 3-lobed; seeds with a few longitudinal ribs (in Southern African species).

Species c. 80, mostly from South America with a few in tropical and subtropical Africa, one reaching the Transvaal.

Syngonanthus wahlbergii ( Koern .) Ruhl.

in Pflanzenreich 4, 30 (Heft 13): 247 (1903);

Meikle in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 67 (1968).

Paepalanthus wahlbergii Koern. in Mart. FI. Bras. 3,

1: 459 (1863); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 69 (1897) and in

F.T.A. 8: 263 (1902). Type: Transvaal, Kaapse Hoop,

Wahlberg (S, holo., PRE, photo.! ).

Small compact perennials c. 50-100

(-160) mm high, all parts sparsely to densely

covered by patent gland-tipped hairs. Rhi-

zome compact, densely lanate from disinte-

grating leaf-bases; roots long, white spongy.

Leaves numerous (± 100) in compact ro-

settes, the upper arched inwards, subulate,

c. 12 mm long. Capitula numerous, devel-

oping in close succession, globose, c. 5 mm in

diam.; peduncle erect, thin, glandular-pubes-

cent especially so below capitulum; basal

sheath cylindrical, forming an open arum-like

spathe at apex. Flowers numerous, small,

pedicelled on a villous receptacle; involucral

bracts more or less similar to floral bracts.

Eriocaulaceae

2: 20

Fig. 4. — Syngonanthus wahlbergii: 1, habit, x 1; 2, capitulum, x 5; 3, spathc at base of peduncle, x 7; 4, female

flower in fruit, showing empty locule and tepals fused and shrunk above, x 30; 5, gynoecium, x 90; 6, female flower at

anthesis, x 30; 7, male flower, x 30; 8, stamens with rudimentary gynoecium inside tube, x 30 (Mauve & Venter 5197).

Eriocaulaceae

2: 21

ovate, glabrous, membranous, shiny, light to

dark brown. Female flowers: sepals 3, ovate,

half-folded, acute, fimbriate; petals 3, trans-

parent, villous, free below, fused above, api-

cal lobes short, triangular, soon rolled in-

wards; ovary 3-locular; style fairly stout,

cylindrical, with 3 apical, filiform, glandular

stigmatic branches and 3 filiform, glabrous

appendages somewhat swollen at the apex.

Male flowers: sepals 3, ovate; petals 3, on

a short stipe, crenulate apically ; stamens

3. Capsule trilobed; seed ovoid with c. 8 long-

itudinal ridges. Fig. 4.

Widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa. Re-

corded from warmer parts of the Transvaal, with a single

record from Natal; in running water, the leaf-rosettes sub-

merged. Map 19.

Vouchers: Du Plessis 860; Mauve & Venter 5175;

Nelson 294; Schlechter 3718.

One of the plants mounted on the type sheet of Erio-

caulon ruhlandii Schinz (Z), viz. Schlechter 2955 from

Claremont (Natal: 2930 DD, as 'Clairmont') belongs to

S. wahlbergii (cf. H. Hess in Ber. schweiz. bot. Ges. 65:

271; 1955). This appears to be the only record so far from

Natal. The sheet Schlechter 2955 at Kew has no Syngo-

nanthus specimens.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 23

COMMELINACEAE *

by A. A. Obermeyer and Robert B. Faden **

Perennials, chamaephytes or annuals, often somewhat succulent; the perennials of diverse

habits, sometimes rhizomatous or stoloniferous, very rarely forming a small bulb; roots adven-

titious, fibrous, thin or swollen. Leaves basal and/or cauline, spirally arranged, with a basal,

usually closed sheath enveloping the stem, often ciliate at the mouth; blade often petiolate.

Inflorescences terminal, or terminal and axillary, rarely all axillary, composed of cymes which

may be few or numerous and aggregated into thyrses; sometimes subtended by or enclosed in

spathaceous bracts. Flowers regular or zygomorphic, bisexual or male, occasionally cleistoga-

mous. Sepals 3, free or united, persistent. Petals 3, free or united, deliquescent. Stamens 6,

hypogynous or united with corolla, in 2 whorls; in some genera 1-4 modified into staminodes

or some suppressed; filaments often bearded; anthers basifixed, dorsifixed or versatile, opening

by longitudinal slits or rarely by basal or apical pores. Ovary superior, 2-3-locular with 1-

many ovules in each locule; style simple, stigma apical, small or capitate. Fruit a 2-3-valved

capsule, rarely indehiscent; seeds with a dot-like or elongate hilum and a dorsal to lateral

(rarely terminal) circular embryotega.

Genera about 50, species about 700, cosmopolitan in warm regions; a few of them widespread weeds. Zebrina

pendula Schnizl. (= Tradescantia zebrina Loud.) has been recorded as a garden escape in southern Natal.

Lit. Brenan in Kew Bull. 7: 179 (1952); Brenan in Kew Bull. 14: 280 (1960); Brenan in Kew Bull. 15: 207 (1961);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 19: 63 (1964); Brenan in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 349 (1966); Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 22

(1968); Bruckner in Bot. Jb. 61, Beibl. 137: 1 (1926); Bruckner in Pflanzenfam. edn 2, 15a: 159 (1930); C. B. Cl. in A.

DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 113 (1881); C. B. Cl. in F.C. 7: 7 (1897); C. B. Cl. in F.T.A. 8: 25 (1901); Faden in Agnew,

Upland Kenya Wild Flowers 653 (1974); Faden & Suda in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 81: 301 (1980); Jones & Jopling in Bot. J.

Linn. Soc. 65: 129 (1972); Lewis & Tadesse in Kirkia 4: 213 (1964); Lewis in Sida 1: 274 (1964); Morton in J. Linn.

Soc., Bot. 55: 507 (1956); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 431 (1966); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 167 (1967);

Tomlinson in Metcalfe, Anatomy of Monocotyledons 3 (1969); Tomlinson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 371 (1966); Troll,

Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen 36: 326 ( 1961).

1 Flowers actinomorphic; stamens 6, all fertile:

2 Inflorescences axillary, perforating the sheaths 4. Coleotrype

2 Inflorescences terminal or terminal and axillary, never perforating the sheaths:

3 Flowers white; petals free; cymes regularly paired 7. Tradescantia

3 Flowers pink or purple to violet; petals united basally into a tube; cymes usually not

paired 5. Cyanotis

1 Flowers slightly to strongly zygomorphic; stamens 6, usually unequal, all fertile or 3-4

sterile:

4 Inflorescences consisting of 1-2 cymes enclosed in or closely subtended by folded or

obliquely funnelshaped leafy bracts (spathes); staminodes typically with 4(-6)-lobed

anthers 1. Commelina

4 Inflorescences not enclosed in bracts, consisting of 1 to many cymes; staminodes lack-

ing or (if present) with 2-3-lobed anthers:

5 Capsules trivalved; fertile stamens 2; 3 or more filaments bearded 3. Murdannia

5 Capsules bivalved; fertile stamens 3 or 6; all filaments glabrous or 2 bearded and 4

glabrous:

6 Fertile stamens 6; ovary and capsule glabrous 6. Floscopa

6 Fertile stamens 3, staminodes 3; ovary and capsule puberulous 2. Aneilema

* The kind cooperation of Prof. J. P. M. Brenan, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is gratefully

acknowledged.

** Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560,

U.S.A.

2: 24

COMMELINACEAE

896 1. COMMELINA

Commelina L., Sp. PI. 40 (1753); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 138 (1881) and in

F.C. 7: 8 (1897) and in F.T.A. 8: 33 (1901); R.A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 909 (1976). Type species:

C. communis L.

Perennial or annual herbs. Roots thin or swollen. Stems branched, erect to spreading or

rarely succulent; when perennial usually dying down in winter to a persistent knobbly crown

with long hard roots (chamaephytes); sometimes underground stolons bearing cleistogamous

flowers, capsules and seeds are often developed in C. benghalensis L. and C. forskaolii Vahl.

Leaves with a sheathing base usually ciliate at mouth. Flowers in 1 or 2 1-6-flowered cymes

enclosed in a terminal or leaf-opposed, obliquely funnel- to boat-shaped spathe which has either

free margins and is dry inside or margins of proximal end are fused and straight and spathe is

mucilaginous inside when flowering; upper cyme 1- or rarely 2-3-flowered, usually male (with

or without a pistillode), exserted on a long peduncle, in some species absent or represented by

a vestigial peduncle, often enclosed within a spathe; lower cyme included, borne on a short pe-

duncle, flowers 2-6, all bisexual or some male, just exserted in turn at anthesis; pedicels re-

curved inside spathe when in fruit; flowers open in morning for a few hours, soon deliquescent.

Sepals 3, free or lower 2 fused. Petals 3, free; upper 2 flat, long-clawed, blue, white or yellow

or related colours, lower one reduced, often colourless. Stamens 3, anterior (lower) fertile,

with central one usually with a larger anther with a broad connective; 3(-2) posterior (upper)

staminodial, reduced, antherodes cruciform or variously deformed. Ovary 3(-2)-locular with 2

ventral locules and 1 dorsal locule which may be reduced to absent; ventral locules 2- or 1-ovu-

late, dorsal locule 1-ovulate or sterile. Capsule loculicidal, dehiscent; in some species dorsal lo-

cule indehiscent, smooth, or striate-muricate with capsule-wall fused to seed and laterally at-

tached to part of walls of ventral locules, forming a shallow cup. Seeds 5(-2), globose, ellipsoid

or cylindric-truncate; testa various; hilum linear; embryotega lateral. Chromosomes', basic

numbers are 15 (in most species), 14, 13, 12 and 11 (Faden & Suda, 1980).

Species about 170 in the warmer countries of the world. In Southern Africa 16 species, widespread.

The genus was named after the Dutch botanists Jan Commelijn (1629-1692) and his nephew Caspar

(1667/1668-1731).

Capsule and seeds are important for the identification of species but unfortunately they are often absent from her-

barium sheets. In species 1-1 1 the ventral locules are 2-seeded, but the dorsal locule usually develops only one seed, or

it may be sterile and indeshiscent. Species 12-16 have 3 one-seeded locules, but here too the dorsal locule may be inde-

hiscent and often sterile as well. The shape of the seed and its testa are typical for the species.

1 Spathes simply folded, dry inside, proximal end free, convex:

2 Annuals; spathes subsessile, falcate; cyme solitary, c. 3-flowered, the flowers only just exserted at anthesis,

one at a time 1 . C. subulata

2 Perennials, spathes pedunculate; cymes 2; flower(s) of upper cyme exserted:

3 Petals blue, rarely white; hygrophilous trailing plants rooting at the nodes:

4 Leaves narrowly linear, 50-250 mm long, 1-3 mm broad; aquatic or semi-aquatic (S.W. A. /Namibia and

Botswana) 2. C. fluviatilis

4 Leaves broadly linear to ovate, 50-90 mm long, c. 10 mm broad; margin of leaf raised and covered with

minute white pustules 3. C. diffusa

3 Petals yellow: chamaephytes from drier areas; stems erect or procumbent from a hard knobbly rootstock:

5 Leaves mesophytic, oblong to linear, 30-60 mm long; stems with normally developed side branches; a

widespread variable species 4. C. africana

5 Leaves scleroid, wiry, linear, falcate, up to 30 mm long, placed on abbreviated, imbricate side branches;

northern Transvaal 5. C. rogersii

1 Spathes obliquely fused, mucilaginous inside when flowering, proximal side connate, straight (cf. C. imberbis

and C. petersii where margins are connate towards the base only):

6 Capsule quadrate; ventral locules 2-secded, constricted between seeds; dorsal locule 1 -seeded or often

aborted:

7 Annuals with thin roots (cf. C. forskaolii which can be a chamaephyte occasionally):

8 Leaves (at least upper) sessile and cordate at the base; plants not producing subterranean flowers

8. C. imberbis

COMMELINACEAE

2: 25

8 Leaves narrowed at the base; both cymes developed; plants usually producing clcistogamous flowers and

capsules on subterranean stolons:

9 Leaves ovate, green, margin smooth, leaf-sheaths with often long red setae at the mouth; petals ink

blue; dorsal cell of capsule smooth 6. C. benghalensis

9 Leaves oblong to linear, usually greyish green, margin strongly undulate, leaf-sheaths with short

colourless setae at the mouth; flowers pale sky blue; dorsal cell of capsule tuberculatc .. 7. C. forskaolii

7 Perennials (usually chamaephytes) with thick roots (slender in C. petersii ):

10 Leaves usually linear, soft, smooth; cymes 2; seeds globose with a reticulate testa 9 . C. eckloniana

10 Leaves narrowly ovate-acuminate, rough; upper cyme reduced to a peduncle or rarely bearing a flower;

11 Seeds globose with irregular, raised, pale ridges, minutely punctate in between; lamina auriculate at

junction with sheath 10. C. zambesica

11 Seeds long-ellipsoid, with deep transverse grooves and strong ridges converging towards embryotega;

lamina attenuate at junction of sheath 11. C. petersii

6 Capsule triangular with 3 one-seeded, subglobose locules, or with only the 2 ventral locules bearing seeds, the

dorsal locule smaller or absent, or indehiscent and tuberculate (in C. erecta):

12 Cymes 2 in each spathe, both lower and upper well developed; leaf-margin white, undulate; spathes

sessile, clustered at the apices; flowers large; Springbok Flats, Transvaal 16. C. bella

12 Cymes 1 in each spathe, the upper aborted:

13 Capsule with all 3 locules (occasionally 2 when dorsal locule is aborted) dehiscent, smooth:

14 Annuals; spathes sessile, congested above, falcate-rostrate; petals pale orange; capsule oblong-glob-

ose; annual weeds 12. C. aspera

14 Perennials (chamaephytes):

15 Spathes solitary, rarely with a younger one above it; leaves flat, narrowly linear, c. 4 mm broad,

tapered into the sheath; plants tenuous, saxicolous 15 . C. modesia

15 Spathes clustered and subsessile at the apices of the stems; leaves folded, linear to oblong, up to c.

10 mm broad, eared at the base, abruptly narrowed into the sheath 13. C. livingstonii

13 Capsule with the dorsal locule indehiscent, tuberculate 14. C erecta

1. Commelina subulata Roth, Nov. PI.

Sp. 23 (1821); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 148 (1881), and in F.C. 7; 9 (1897),

and in F.T.A. 8: 38 (1901); Morton in J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 189 (1967); Brenan in

F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 47 (1968); Schreiber et al.

in F.S.W.A. 157: 9 (1969); Hilliard & Burtt

in Notes R. bot. Gdn Edinb. 37: 294 (1979).

Type: India, Heyne (B, holo.; K, iso., PRE,

photo.!).

C. violacea C.B. Cl. in F.T.A. 8: 39 (1901). Syntypes:

South West Africa/Namibia, in marshy places at Olukon-

da, Schinz 21, 33 (Z; K!; BM; US); cf. Norlindh in Bot.

Not. 1948: 17 (1948).

Short-lived annuals flowering precocious-

ly, at first with a simple, erect stem but be-

coming many-stemmed and dome-shaped, up

to 0,25 m tall, with long internodes, glabrous

except for ciliate open leaf-base and margin

of spathe. Leaves linear, 40-70 x 3 mm,

margins smooth, apex acute. Spathe folded,

falcate, sharply recurved, c. 5-10 mm long,

subsessile, often striate. Cyme solitary, 2-3-

flowered, flowers in turn just exserted at an-

thesis, small; petals yellow, orange, pink,

apricot, blue or brownish violet. Stamens 3,

fertile, coloured like petals; staminodes yel-

low. Ovary with 2 ovules in each ventral cell,

dorsal cell with 1 or 0 ovules. Capsule ovoid,

acute, often beaked, with dorsal locule short-

er than ventral ones and with a solitary larger

seed; seeds of ventral locule subrectangular,

with 3 cross-furrows, scarcely tuberculate,

smooth below.

Widespread in tropical Africa to the Arabian Penin-

sula and southern India; reaching the northern parts of

Southern Africa. Weed-like in behaviour, short-lived, in

seasonally wet areas such as margins of pans. Map 20.

Vouchers: De Winter & Marais 4925; Hilliard &

Burtt 9924; Leistner 3016; Schlechter 4249; Smith 839;

Wild & Drummond 7039; Volk 11930.

Map 20. — • Commelina subulata

k Commelina fluviatilis

2: 26

COMMELINACEAE

2. Commelina fluviatilis Brenan in Mitt,

bot. StSamml. Munch. 6: 253 (1967); Schrei-

ber et al. in F.S.W.A. 157: 8 (1969). Type:

Zambia, Mpika district, Luitikila River, Rich-

ards 14984 (K, holo.!).

Aquatic or semi-aquatic, glabrous herb

with long, floating or trailing stems rooting at

nodes, side-branches short, erect. Leaves few,

emergent, narrowly linear, 50-250 x 1-3,5

mm, sheath up to 30 mm long, striate.

Spathes usually solitary, terminal, peduncu-

late, folded, 10-20 mm long, straight or fal-

cate, acute to acuminate, striate. Cymes with

upper exserted, 1-flowered, lower c. 4-

flowered, shortly exserted at anthesis. Flow-

ers small with petals long-clawed, c. 15 mm

long (in dried flowers), pale mauve, blue or

white. Stamens with 3 lower fertile; stami-

nodes 3, shorter. Ovary 5-ovuled; style c. 12

mm long. Capsule oblong-apiculate, up to 7

mm long 2(-4?)-seeded; seeds greyish brown,

usually ellipsoid, 2-3 mm long, irregularly

foveolate.

Recorded from Zambia, Botswana and northern

South West Africa/Namibia; on riverbanks trailing into

the water or in moist sandy places. Map 20.

Vouchers: De Winter & Marais 4884; Dinter 7201;

Gibbs Russell 2820.

3. Commelina diffusa Burm. /. , FI. Ind.

18, t. 7, f. 2 (1768); Merrill in J. Am. Arb.

18: 64 (1973); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

55: 521, f. 18 (1956); l.c. 60: 181, f. 3 (1967);

Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 47, f. 332

(1968). Type: India, Burman coll. (G).

Annual or perennial hygrophilous

spreading herbs sometimes covering large

stretches of ground, creeping stems forming

short, erect side branches, rooting at nodes.

Leaves linear to ovate or oblong, 50-140 x

15-25 mm, apex acuminate, glabrous or pu-

berulous, margins often encrusted with white

pustules. Spathes pedunculate, folded, broad

and acute to long and attenuate. Upper cyme

exserted on an erect, glabrous or pubescent

peduncle, (l-)2(-3)-flowered, rarely aborted;

lower peduncle pubescent, with 3-8 bisexual

flowers. Sepals white, membranous. Petals

blue or white. Stamens with yellow, red, blue

or black filaments and anthers. Capsule quad-

rate; 2 ventral locules 2-seeded, dorsal locule

indehiscent, fusiform, 1-seeded, or empty;

seeds reniform, reticulate with tuberculate

hexagonal areoles.

A widely distributed pantropical innocuous hygro-

phytic weed; in Southern Africa recorded from South

West Africa/Namibia, Botswana, Transvaal, Swaziland,

Natal to eastern and southern Cape.

Two subspecies are recognized:

1 Leaves ovate, c. 50 x 15 mm; usually soft, meso-

phytic plants; widespread (a) subsp. diffusa

1 Leaves linear, c. 100-150 x 10 mm; more robust

plants, found mainly in the northern parts of

Southern Africa and somewhat further north

(b) subsp. scandens

(a) subsp. diffusa.

C. nudiflora L., Sp. PI. 41 (1753) partly, excl. lectotype

of Merrill, l.c.; C. B. Cl. in F.C. 7: 8 (1897), and in

F.T. A. 8:36(1902).

C. werneana Hassk. in Schweinf., Beitr. FI. Aethiop.

206, 295 (1867). C. nudiflora var. werneana (Hassk.) C.

B. Cl. in F.C. 7: 9 (1897). Type: ? Egypt, Werne (B).

The typical variety is a smaller and weak-

stemmed, more mesophytic plant with soft,

ovate leaves c. 50 mm long and shorter

nodes.

Pantropical; recorded from the northern, eastern and

southern parts of Southern Africa. Fig. 5. Map 21.

Vouchers: Boucher 3474; Scheepers 4; Smith 2541;

Strey 8496; Ward 5439, 6254.

(b) subsp. scandens (C.B. Cl.) Oberm. in

Bothalia 13: 437 (1981).

C. scandens Welw. ex C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 146 (1881), and in F.T. A. 8; 37 (1901); Schreiber

et al. in F.S.W.A. 157: 9 (1969). Type: Angola, Pungo

Andongo, banks of River Cuanza near Nbilla, Welwitsch

6642 (BM, holo.).

More robust, long-stemmed herb with

linear to narrowly oblong, attenuate leaves up

to c. 0,14 m long.

Common on the banks of the Okavango River and

swamps amongst dense vegetation in northern South West

Map 21. — • Commelina diffusa subsp. diffusa

▲ Commelina diffusa subsp. scandens

COMMELINACEAE

2: 27

Fig. 5.— Commelina diffusa: 1, habit, x 0,6; 2, inflorescence, x 2; 3, flower and bud, x 6; 4. floral diagram; 5, dor-

sal sepal, x 8; 6, sepal, x 8; 7, petal, x 8; 8, keeled petal, x 8; 9, stamen, x 8; 10, stamen (one of pair), x 8; 11, stami-

node, x 8; 12 gynoecium, x 8; 13, fruit, x 2; 14, seeds, x 6; (1 from Gillen 15348; 2-12, from Gillen 15295a; 13, 14

from Okeke FHI 18228. Reproduced from the ‘Flora of West Tropical Africa' with permission of the Director of the

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

2: 28

COMMELINACEAE

Africa/Namibia and Botswana; also recorded from Trans-

vaal and Natal; further north in Angola to western tropi-

cal Africa. Map 21.

Vouchers: Codd 5507; Marais & De Winter 4524;

Pooley 1360; Scheepers 1204; Smith 1332, 1543; Wells

2479; Wild & Drummond 7107.

4. Commelina africana L., Sp. PI. 41

(1753); Red., Liliac. 4, t. 207 (1808); Ker-

Gawl. in Curtis’s bot. Mag. 35, t. 1431

(1811); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan.

3: 164 (1881), and in F.C. 7: 9 (1897), and

in F.T.A. 8: 45 (1901); Marloth, FI. S. Afr. 4;

68, t. 18 (1915); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

515 (1956), and in l.c. 60: 147 (1967); Adam-

son in Adamson & Salter, FI. Cape Penins.

159 (1950); Brenan in Mitt. bot. StSamml.

Munch. 5: 203 (1964), and in F.W.T.A. edn

2,3: 45 (1968); Schreiber et al. in F.S.W.A.

157: 6 (1969). Type: a cultivated plant in

hort. Upsal. (LINN 65.3, holo., PRE,

photo.!).

Spreading perennial herbs (chamae-

phytes) up to 0,5 m tall, glabrous or variously

pubescent; rootstock hard, woody, with hard,

thick, long roots. Leaves variable, oblong to

linear, flat or folded, up to 120 mm long but

usually smaller, glabrous to variously hairy.

Spathes folded, dry inside, solitary, peduncu-

late; apex acute to long-acuminate, often

falcate. Both cymes well developed. Flowers

varying in size, petals yellow. Ovary 5-ovuled.

Capsule oblong, with dorsal locule indehis-

cent, 1-seeded or often empty, ventral locules

dehiscent, each 2-ovuled but usually 1-seeded,

lower ovules aborting. Seeds oblong-ellipsoid,

reticulate.

Widespread in Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian

Peninsula; in forests, savanna, grassland, etc., often on

rocky outcrops. Very common in Southern Africa.

This very variable species was divided into twelve

varieties by Brenan in Mitt. bot. StSamml. Miinch.

5: 199-222 (1964), of which nine have been recorded for

Southern Africa. As several of these varieties are not

clearly distinguished in our region it was decided to divide

the Southern African material into 4 varieties:

1 Leaves fiat, oblong, narrowed at the base, usually

glabrous (a) var. africana

1 Leaves folded, usually linear, not or hardly nar-

rowed at the base:

2 Spathes usually narrow, long-acuminate; leaves

glabrous or glabrescent, broadly to narrowly

linear:

3 Flowers small (upper petals c. 8 mm long);

leaves usually more than 50 mm long

(b) var. lancispatha

3 Flowers large (upper petals c. 15 mm long);

leaves narrow, short, falcate, the margins

often crenulatc (c) var. barberae

2 Spathes usually short and broad; leaves pubes-

cent (d) var. krebsiana

(a) var. africana.

C. welwitschii C.B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3:

175 (1881). Type: Angola, Humpata, Welwitsch 6586 (K,

BM).

Mesophytic, usually glabrous with flat

oblong leaves.

From the Cape Peninsula eastwards along the eastern

Cape to Natal and the eastern Transvaal and further north

to tropical Africa; in undergrowth along forest edges and

riverbanks. Map 22.

Vouchers: Arbuthnot sub PRE 37948; Codd 8404;

Compton 31792; Pegler 2191; Strey 4510.

Map 22. — Commelina africana var. africana

(b) var. lancispatha C.B. Cl. in F.C.

7: 10 (1897); Phillips in Flower. PI. Afr. 9, t.

321 (1929); Brenan in bot. StSamml. Miinch.

5: 211 (1964). Type: E. Cape, Zuurberg

Range, Drege 8779 (K!).

C. dinteri Mildbr. in Notizbl. bot. Gart. Mus. Berl.

9: 253 (1925). Type: South West Africa/Namibia, Gaub,

Dinter 2445 (B).

C. krebsiana var. glabriuscula T. Norl. in Bot. Notiser

1948: 20 (1948). C. africana var. glabriuscula (T. Norl.)

Brenan in Mitt. bot. StSamml. Miinch. 5: 217 (1964).

Type: Zimbabwe, near Inyanga, Fries, Norlindh & Wei-

marck 3141 (PRE, iso.!).

Leaves linear, folded, often falcate, apex

attenuate, not, or only somewhat narrowed at

the base, glabrous or glabrescent. Spathe

usually narrow, attenuate towards the apex,

often falcate. Fig. 6: 2.

Widespread and common in many areas of Southern

Africa, including the N.W. Cape, western Orange Free

State and western Transvaal. Map 23.

Vouchers: Hanekom 2241; Marais 172; Rogers 2191;

Smith 134; Van Nouhuys sub PRE 7938; Werger 236.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 29

Map 23. — Commelina africana var. lancispatha

(c) var. barberae (C.B. Cl.) C.B. Cl. in

F.C. 7: 10 (1897); Brenan in Mitt. bot.

StSamml. Munch. 5: 215 (1964). Type: Vaal

River, Barber 10/75 (K, holo.).

C. karooica C.B. Cl. var. barberae C.B. Cl. in A. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 166 (1881).

C. karooica C.B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 166

(1881), and in F.C. 7: 10 (1897). Type: Cape, Griqualand

West, between Griqua Town and Witte Water, Burchell

1999 (K, syn.).

This dainty variety has linear, short, of-

ten crisped, falcate leaves. The flowers are

relatively large: the upper petals may reach a

length of c. 15 mm. As in var. lancispatha the

spathe is attenuate.

Var. barberae has been recorded mainly from drier

regions. Map 24.

Vouchers: Bolus 10823; Leistner 1260; Reyneke 437;

Rodin 3520.

(d) var. krebsiana (Kunth) C.B. Cl. in A.

DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 164 (1881); Brenan in

Mitt. bot. StSamml. Munch. 5: 216 (1964).

Type: Cape, Krebs (B, holo.).

C. krebsiana Kunth, Enum. PI. 4: 40 (1843); C. B. Cl.

in F.C. 7: 10(1897).

C. barbata Lam. var. villosior C.B. Cl. in A. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 167 (1881).

C. africana var. villosior (C.B. Cl.) Brenan in Mitt,

bot. StSamml Miinch. 5: 207 (1964). Lectotype: Natal,

30 °S., 1855, Sutherland s.n. (K!).

C. boehmiana K. Schum. in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr.

(C): 135 (1895). C. africana var. boehmiana (K. Schum.)

Brenan in Mitt. bot. StSamml Miinch. 5: 213 (1964).

Type: Tanzania, Gonda, Boehm 12 (B).

C. africana var. brevipila Brenan in Mitt. bot. StSamml.

Miinch. 5: 219 (1964). Type: Zambia, Kapiri Mposhi,

Fanshawe 1823 (K, holo.!).

C. africana var. milleri Brenan in Mitt. bot. StSamml.

Miinch. 5: 221 (1964). Type: Zimbabwe, Besna Kobila,

Miller 4061 (K, holo.').

The pubescent plants, which vary from

hispid to densely tomentose, are here placed

in this variety. Scabrid, long, several-celled

setae may also be present. The leaves are

often broader and shorter than in var. lanci-

spatha.

This variety is widely distributed. Map 25.

Vouchers: Adamson D255; Bolus 6417; Bunt Davy

1274; Giess & Muller 14819; Hutchinson 2658; Mauve

5038.

5. Commelina rogersii Burtt Davy in J1 S.

Afr. Bot. 4: 125 (1938). Type: Transvaal: Pie-

tersburg, F. A. Rogers 14142 (K, holo.!;

PRE, iso.!).

Erect or spreading, wiry, puberulous

chamaephytes up to c. 0,3 m tall. Stems with

Map 24. — Commelina africana var. barberae

Map 25. — Commelina africana var. krebsiana

2: 30

COMMELINACEAE

elongated thin, woody internodes below.

Leaves imbricate on short side shoots above,

narrowly linear, up to c. 30 x 3 mm, striate,

margins raised, white with few to many long

white septate setae above mouth of short

sheath. Spathes on patent peduncles up to 15

mm long, folded, narrowly ovate-acuminate,

falcate, striate, setose, margins raised, lined

on the inside with white flat hairs. Upper

cyme on a patent stipe 10-15 mm long, oc-

casionally fertile. Lower cyme c. 4-flowered.

Sepals membranous, speckled with brown.

Petals yellow. Capsule narrowly ovoid, c. 6

mm; seeds absent.

A rarely collected species recorded from grasslands

around Pietersburg and with one collection from the Sout-

pansberg near Louis Trichardt; flowering January-April.

Map 26.

Vouchers: Bredenkamp & van Vuuren 114; Moss

15689; Rodin 4001; Schlechter 4350.

ing petiole beset with long, red, or rarely

colourless, several-celled setae at the mouth.

Spathes subsessile, clustered at apices of

branches, obliquely fused, triangular, 10 x 15

mm, apex short, acute. Cymes 2, the upper

one often suppressed later in the season.

Flowers small, petals a deep ink-blue. Cap-

sule 5-seeded; dorsal locule 1-seeded, indehis-

cent, shed with part of adjoining wall of the

2-seeded ventral locules; seeds oblong, 4 mm

long in dorsal locule, 2 mm long in ventral

locules, dark brown with deep cross furrows.

Fig. 6: 3.

A common, troublesome, widespread weed found

throughout Southern Africa, tropical Africa and Asia;

naturalized in North and South America. Because of the

subterranean, seed-bearing capsules it is difficult to eradi-

cate in cultivated lands. Map 26.

Vouchers: Compton 27457; De Winter & Marais

4489; Pont 364; Ross 2227.; Scheepers 57.

Map 26. — •

▲

Commelina benghalensis

Commelina rogersii

6. Commelina benghalensis L., Sp. PI. 41

(1753); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan.

3: 159 (1881), and in F.C. 7: 9 (1897), and in

F.T.A. 8: 41 (1901); Phillips in Flower. PI. S.

Afr. 2, t. 42 (1922); Morton in J. Linn. Soc.,

Bot. 55: 519, f. 15 (1956); l.c. 60: 176 (1967);

Flenderson & Anderson in Mem. bot. Surv.

S. Afr. 37, t. 31 (1966); Brenan in F.W.T.A.

edn 2, 3: 48 (1968); Schreiber et al. in

F.S.W.A. 157: 7 (1969). Types: India (LINN.

65.4, 65.5, PRE, photos!).

Spreading annual herbs, sparsely and

shortly pubescent, sometimes bearing subter-

ranean runners with cleistogamous, reduced

flowers; roots thin. Leaves ovate, up to c. 80

x 30 mm, pale apple green, apex obtuse to

acute, base abruptly narrowed into a sheath-

7. Commelina forskaolii Vahl , Enum. PI.

2: 172 (1806); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 168 (1881), and in F.T.A. 8: 44

(1901); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 55: 522,

f. 19 (1956), l.c. 60: 185 (1967); Maheshwari

& Baldev in Phytomorphology 8: 277 (1958);

Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 48 (1968);

Schreiber et al. in F.S.W.A. 157: 8 (1969).

Type: Arabia, Forsskal (C, holo.).

Spreading annual herb or chamaephyte

with long, trailing stems rooting at nodes and

forming short erect branches and often sub-

terranean stolons bearing reduced cleisto-

gamous flowers. Leaves folded, linear to ob-

long, 20-70 mm long, margins wavy, pale

greyish green, glabrous or puberulous.

Spathes 1-2, terminal and leaf-opposed,

shortly pedunculate, obliquely funnel-shaped

with a short, acute apex, c. 10 mm long. Both

cymes developed. Petals blue. Lateral stamens

with filaments more or less winged. Capsule

sub-obovoid; dorsal locule indehiscent,

striate-muricate, 1-seeded; 2 ventral locules 2-

ovulate but usually forming only 1 seed; testa

smooth.

Widespread in Africa, Arabia, Socotra, Madagascar

and India; recorded from the northern parts of Southern

Africa in sandy, dry bushveld vegetation. Map 27.

Vouchers: De Winter & Wiss 4324; Pole Evans 4561;

Ross 2343; Van Son sub TRV 29040; Wild 5093; Zwanzi-

ger 75 1 .

Maheshwari & Baldev in Phytomorphology 8: 284-

285 (1958) observed an inverse relationship in the devel-

opment of aerial and subterranean branches. Under

drought conditions the plants developed poorly above

ground but the underground branches showed luxuriant

COMMELINACEAE

2: 31

Fig. 6. — 1, Commelina livingstonii: la, flower exsertcd from spathe, (lower cyme only developed), front view, x

0,8; lb, side view, x 0,8; lc, capsule with style, x 1,5; Id, transverse section through capsule, x 1 (after C. Letty in

Flower PI. Afr. 9, t. 323); 2, C. africana var. lancispatha, 2a, flowering branch with both cymes developed, x 0,8; 2b,

spathe with buds, x 0,8; 2c, immature capsule, x 2; 2d, staminode, x 3 (after C. Letty in Flower. PI. Afr. 9. t. 321);

3, C. benghalensis. 3a, flowering branch, with both cymes developed, x 0,8; 3b, stamens and pistil, x 2; 3c, seed, x 1,5;

3d, young inflorescence with half of spathe removed, x 0,8; 3e spathe, x 0,8; 3f, capsule, x 3; 3g, root system showing

underground stolons bearing reduced, cleistogamous flowers and fertile seeds, x 0,3 (figs 3a-f, after M. Page in Flower.

PI. Afr. 2, t. 42); 4, C. erecta, capsule bursting, showing indehiscent dorsal locule and dehiscent ventral locules with

freed seeds, x 4,5 ( Mol 1 2907).

2: 32

COMMELINACEAE

growth and seed development. The opposite occurred in

well-watered plants. This suggests “an adaptation to survi-

val under unfavourable conditions”. The seed from the

underground flowers proved to be more fertile than that

of the aerial flowers, which may be self-pollinated. The

authors neither mention nor depict the warty surface of

the indeshiscent dorsal locule, which was observed in

material from Africa as well as the Arabian Peninsula.

Map 27. — • Commelina forskaolii

A Commelina imberbis

8. Commelina imberbis Hassk. in

Schweinf. , Beitr. FI. Aethiop. 209, 295

(1867); C. B. Cl. in F.T.A. 8: 49 (1901); Bre-

nan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 48 (1968). Type:

Ethiopia, Togodele, Ehrenberg (B|).

Weedy annuals with long, straggling

stems rooting at the nodes, usually glabrous.

Leaves broadly linear-acuminate, cordate and

amplexicaul at the base, 50-90 x 10-15 mm,

pale green, margins often crenulate, minutely

and sparsely setaceous with the setae ap-

pressed to the leaf-surface. Spathes peduncu-

late, short and broad, free or fused basally,

acute, c. 20 x 10 mm. Upper cyme 0 or repre-

sented by a peduncle. Flowers with blue pet-

als. Capsule quadrate with the dorsal locule

aborted or rarely 1-seeded; seeds cylindric-

ellipsoid, 3 mm long, smooth, farinose with a

short thick hilum, slightly marbled.

South West Africa/Namibia, Transvaal and Swazi-

land; widespread in tropical Africa, from Ethiopia and

tropical West Africa; also recorded from the Arabian

Peninsula. Weed-like in behaviour. Said to be weed-killer

resistant. Map 27.

Vouchers: Brenan & Vahrmeijer 14259; Gertenbach

5416; Wild & Drummond 7021.

The relationship between this species and C. kolschvi

Hassk., described at the same time, needs further investi-

gation.

9. Commelina eckloniana Kunth, Enum.

4: 57 (1843); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 174 (1881), and in F.C. 7: 11 (1897);

Phillips in Flower. PI. S. Afr. 9, t. 326 (1929).

Type: Cape, Ecklon (K, iso. , PRE photo. !).

C. weimarckiana Norl. in Bot. Notiser

1849: 22 (1948). Type: Zimbabwe, Inyanga,

Norlindh & Weimarck 4269 (S, holo.; PRE,

iso.!).

Chamaephytes, glabrous except for some

long white straggling hairs; stems annual

spreading, arising from a knobbly rootstock

bearing long, fusiform, dark roots covered by

root hairs. Stems c. 200-350 mm long, inter-

nodes up to c. 90 mm long. Leaves linear-acu-

minate to ovate-acuminate, 60-100 mm long,

(-3)8-25 mm broad, pale grey-green. Spathes

solitary, obliquely funnelform, broad and

short, recurved, 10-15 mm long, on straight,

patent peduncles 10-25 mm long. Upper

cyme exserted, 1 -flowered, lower with flowers

just exserted. Petals blue. Capsule quadrate,

flat, c. 5 mm long; the dorsal locule not devel-

oped, the raised margin constricted between 4

seeds; seeds globose, tuberculate, c. 2 mm

diam.

Widespread in Southern Africa; found as far north as

Ethiopia; usually growing in rocky habitats. Map 28.

Vouchers; Galpin 1188; Scharf 1155; Strey 4979;

Thode A468; Van der Schijff 1526.

Sometimes eaten as spinach and known in Venda as

damba.

Map 28. — • Commelina eckloniana

A Commelina zambesica

10. Commelina zambesica C.B. Cl. in

A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 161 (1881), and in

F.T.A. 8: 43 (1902); Brenan in Kew Bull.

15: 209 (1961); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 33

60: 190 (1967); Brenan in F.W.T.A., edn

2,3: 48 (1968). Syntypes: Zimbabwe, near

Zambesi R., Kirk s.n. (K!); near Lake Nyassa,

Simons (BM).

Straggling, robust, pale green annual

herbs. Leaves narrowly elliptic, attenuate

above and below, c. 100 X 25 mm, scabrid,

especially so along margins, sparsely hairy

(hairs multicellular), sheath up to 20 mm

long, auriculate at the apex, ciliate. Spathe on

a firm erect peduncle c. 10 mm long, funnel-

form, broadly ovate, apex abruptly acute, his-

pid. Upper cyme well-developed or reduced

to a short stalk; lower cyme c. 3-flowered.

Flowers with petals, stamens and staminodes

ink-blue; ovary smooth, green, 3-celled, 5-

ovuled. Capsule asymmetrically obovoid, ob-

tuse; dorsal locule with 1 large seed; 2 ventral

locules with smaller seeds; seeds globose to

oblong-globose, brown with some irregular,

raised, white ridges converging towards

embryotega and minutely papillate.

Widespread in West and East tropical Africa to Zim-

babwe, South West Africa/Namibia and northern Trans-

vaal. Map 28.

Vouchers: Codd 6827; Edwards 4539; Smith 2355.

In appearance and size resembling C. erecta L. (no.

14), but the capsule is 5-seeded (not 3-seeded) and the

seeds are brownish with whitish ribs converging towards

the embryotega, whereas in C. erecta they are smooth and

farinose.

11. Commelina petersii Hassk. in Peters,

Reise Mossamb., Bot. 522 (1864); C. B. Cl. in

A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 169 (1881), and in

F.T.A. 8: 50 (1901); Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn

2, 3: 48 (1968). Type: Mozambique, Peters

(Bt).

Perennial herb, erect or scrambling, up

to 0,8 m tall with long internodes; roots hard,

covered by roothairs. Leaves narrowly ovate-

acuminate, up to 100 x 20 mm, abruptly nar-

rowed at base into a pseudo-petiole and a

long membranous sheath, dark green above,

paler below, laxly and minutely asperous.

Spathe solitary, falcate, c. 25-30 mm long,

acuminate, shortly fused at base, mucilagi-

nous inside; on a peduncle 20-30 mm long.

Upper cyme on a long exserted peduncle,

bearing a male flower or barren. Flowers with

petals blue, sometimes with a mauve tinge.

Capsule oblong; ventral locules 2-seeded;

seeds long-ellipsoid with deep transverse

grooves and minutely tuberculate ridges.

Recorded from Ethiopia and West Tropical Africa to

the northern part of the Flora area, where it is rare. Map

29.

Vouchers: Merxmuller & Giess 30579; Rogers 20986;

Schinz 6 (K).

Map 29. — • Commelina petersii

A Commelina aspera

12. Commelina aspera Benth. in FI. Nigrit.

542 (1849); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 180 (1881); Dur. & Schinz, Consp.

FI. Afr. 5: 423 (1895); C. B. Cl. in F.T.A.

8: 56 (1901); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

55: 518, f. 14 (1956); l.c. 60: 176 (1967);

Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 50 (1968);

Schreiber et al. in F.S.W.A. 157: 7 (1969).

Type: Upper Guinea, Gold Coast, Accra,

Don (BM).

Annuals, flowering precociously, simple-

stemmed at first, becoming bushy and strag-

gling with age, densely asperous (the setae

uni- to multi-cellular). Leaves linear-acumi-

nate, c. 70 mm long, folded. Spathes clustered

apically, subsessile, funnel-form, obliquely

triangular, c. 12 mm long, apex sharply re-

curved. Flowers with petals yellow, apricot or

white, only just exserted at anthesis. Capsule

small, ovoid, apiculate, trilocular, locules

papery, one-seeded, separating and splitting;

seeds ellipsoid, 3 mm long, hilum forming a

long, white double ridge; testa with sparse

short white tubercles irregularly spaced.

Botswana and northern South West Africa/Namibia;

also northwards to Zimbabwe and other parts of tropical

Africa; in savanna and grassland, usually in sandy soil, of-

ten a weed in cultivated lands and open spaces. Map 29.

Voucher: Kruger s.n. sub PRE 57930.

2: 34

COMMELINACEAE

13. Commelina livingstonii C.B. Cl. in

A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 190 (1881), inch

var. b, and in F.C. 7: 11 (1897), and in

F.T.A. 8: 59 (1901); Schreiber et al. in

F.S.W.A. 157: 9 (1967). Type: Zimbabwe,

near Zambesi River, Kirk (K, holo., PRE,

photo.!).

C. erecta L. subsp. livingstonii (C.B. Cl.) Morton in J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 184 (1967).

C. livingstonii var. villosa C.B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 190 (1881). Syntypes: N.W. Cape, near Kuru-

man, Hamapery, Burchell 2515; Apies River, Burke s.n.;

Mooi River, Burke 339; without locality, Zeyher 1729 (all

K, PRE, photos!).

C. albescens sensu C.B. Cl. in F.C. 7; 11 for Galpin

599; sensu Phillips in Flower. PI. Afr. 9, t. 323 (1929);

non Hassk.

Chamaephytes with spreading branched

stems c. 100-300 mm tall, from a woody,

hard crown; roots thick, hard and long. Stems

angled, shortly setose. Leaves narrowly

ovate-acuminate, c. 70 x 20 mm, auriculate

at junction with sheath, usually folded, grey-

ish green, glabrescent to pubescent with long

and short setae. In some vernal stages the

leaves may be long and narrow, folded.

Spathes fused, (l)-3, clustered apically, sub-

sessile, broad and short, apiculate, c. 15 mm

long, finely ribbed, setulose. Only the lower

cyme developed, 3-5-flowered. Flowers with

petals blue to whitish. Capsule symmetrically

3-locular with the locules dehiscent, smooth,

or 2-locular when dorsal locule is aborted,

pale cream, shiny, with closely placed hori-

zontal lines; seeds compressed-globose, c. 4

mm long, smooth, farinose, with a long, linear

hilum and a semi-circle of large, lighter-

coloured cells above embryotega. Fig. 6: 1.

Widespread in the drier parts of tropical and South-

ern Africa: South West Africa/Namibia, Botswana, Trans-

vaal, N.W. Cape, Orange Free State and Natal; in grass-

lands and dry bushveld in summer rainfall region. Map

30.

Vouchers: Burtt-Davy 2348; De Winter 7497; Ester -

huysen 2228; Leistner 1253; Liebenberg 108; MerxmiXller

& Giess 1057; Rodin 3519; Schlechter 3757.

14. Commelina erecta L. , Sp. PI. 1: 41

(1753); Dill., Hort. eltham., tab. 77, fig. 88.

Type: to be decided.

C. undulata R. Br., Prodr. 270 (1810); C. B. Cl. in

A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 179 (1881) excl. var. setosa

C. B. Cl.; Rolla Rao fn Notes R. bot. Gdn Edinb. 26: 351

(1966). Syntypes: N. Australia, R. Brown 5735, 5736

(both BM!, PRE, photo.!).

C. bainesii C.B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 184

(1881), and in F.T.A. 8: 57 (1901). Type: Zimbabwe,

S.W. of Bulawayo, Baines (K!).

C. gerrardii C.B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 183

(1881), and in F.C. 7: 11 (1897). Type: Natal, Gerrard (K,

holo.).

Perennials (chamaephytes), erect or

spreading and rooting at nodes; roots hard,

when young covered with a velamen of root-

hairs. Leaves narrowly ovate-attenuate,

60-120 mm long, pseudo-petiolate at junc-

tion of lamina with apex of auriculate, ciliate

sheath, margins minutely white-pustulate,

glabrous or puberulous. Spathe pedunculate

and solitary or clustered apically, fused,

broadly ovate-acute, 15—30 mm long,

glabrous to puberulous. Lower cyme absent.

Flowers with petals blue. Capsule with 3 one-

seeded locules; dorsal locule indehiscent,

tuberculate, seed fused to wall; ventral locules

dehiscent, smooth; seeds globose smooth,

farinose. Fig. 6: 4.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 35

A species first described from N. America; common

in Asia and Africa, coming as far south as Natal and the

E. Cape, where it is common on dunes or sandy flats near

the sea; also found in wet habitats, e.g. in spray of Rua-

cana Falls in South West Africa/Namibia. The spathes

are single and shortly pcdicellcd in typical plants but,

especially along the Natal coast, they become clustered

and sessile. Map 31.

Vouchers: De Beer 577; De Winter 3989; Galpin

3409; Kotze 79; Pott 5562; Seydel 966; Strey 4511; Vorster

2578.

In this species, as in C. forskaolii (no. 7), the dorsal

indehiscent locule of the ripe capsule breaks away with

the included seed and part of the adjoining walls of the 2

ventral locules, thus setting free their seeds as well. The

ventral locule walls attached to the dorsal locule take on

the shape of a shallow cup.

15. Commelina modesta Oberm. in Bo-

thalia 13: 347 (1981). Type: Transvaal, Bar-

berton, lower hill slopes, Galpin 808 (PRE,

holo.!).

Small spreading, diffusely branched, glab-

rescent bushes (chamaephytes) up to c. 0,3

m tall. Rootstock woody, gnarled, knobbly

(the knobs presenting remains of swollen

bases of annual stems); roots woody, long, in-

itially covered by roothairs. Stems several,

erect, with long internodes up to 60-100 mm

long, 1-2 mm in diam. Leaves with lamina

linear, flat, 80-100 x 4-10 mm, attenuated

at base into a pseudo-petiole, white-punctu-

late; sheath membranous, sub-auriculate.

Flowering spathe solitary (rarely 2), terminal,

sessile or nearly so, fused, shortly triangular,

15 mm long, 10 mm broad, apex short, acute,

minutely puberulous and with scattered white

setae. Cyme solitary. Flowers small, petals

blue or white (“pink” fide Galpin 808). Sepals

ovate, c. 5 mm, membranous, upper minute.

Petals: upper ones rounded, c. 15 mm, lower

one minute. Stamens typical, the anthers oc-

casionally with dark margins, the central

semicircular; staminodes with yellow, bulbous

antherodes. Capsule with globose, shiny,

cream-coloured locules; seeds globose, 5 mm

in diam., smooth, farinaceous, dorsal seed

occasionally aborted.

Widespread in Transvaal, Natal and Swaziland, also

in Transkei and eastern Cape; in rocky habitats. Flow-

ering November- March. Map 32.

Vouchers: Compton 29564; Lang sub TRV 32156;

Moll & Pooley 4197; Strey 10343; Wild 7624.

This species was usually placed under C. livingstonii

(no. 13), but is a more slender bush found in rocky habi-

tats. The leaves narrow gradually below into a pseudo-

Map 32. — • Commelina modesta

T Commelina bella

petiole, whereas in C. livingstonii they widen below and

then narrow abruptly into the sheath.

16. Commelina bella Oberm. in Bothalia

13: 436 (1981). Type: Transvaal, 20 km S. of

Warmbaths, on Great North Road, along

grassy roadside, Smook 1494 (PRE, holo.!).

Sturdy erect, compact bushes c. 0,35 m

tall, setulose, setae short, white; chamae-

phytes with a hard gnarled root-crown and

woody roots. Stems erect, firm, setulose or

smooth, internodes c. 50 mm long. Leaves

folded, linear, c. 50 x 10 mm, apex cirrhose

to acuminate-recurved, base merging into a

short, open, light greyish green sheath, mar-

gins undulate, forming a thick white rim.

Spathes terminal, opposite the upper leaves,

subsessile, fused, triangular, apex acuminate,

recurved, c. 25 mm long. Cymes 2, upper

much exserted on a hairy peduncle c. 25 mm

long, with one male flower, petals pale blue

to lilac, large; lower cyme c. 3-flowered, flow-

ers bisexual, petals c. 20 mm; stamens 3, two

normal with blue locules, central curled up

with a large connective, filaments white; sta-

minodes with purple filaments and orange-

yellow antherodes consisting of 4 bulbous or-

gans and 2 smaller ones; ovary narrowly

ovoid, style exserted below. Capsule oblong-

globose, hard, c. 10 mm long, 3-seeded; seeds

smooth (no normal ripe capsule seen).

Recorded from the Springbok Flats in the Transvaal;

usually in turf soil. Map. 32.

Vouchers: Emmenis sub PRE 38063; Mauve 4279;

Pole Evans 3852.

2: 36

COMMELINACEAE

899 2. ANEILEMA

Aneilema R. Br., Prodr. 270 (1810); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Moriogr. Phan. 3: 195 (1881), and in

F.C. 7: 12 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 62 (1908); Bruckner in Bot. Jb., Beibl. 137: 62 (1926);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 7: 180 (1952); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 431 (1966); Faden in

Agnew, Upland Kenya Wild Flow. 664 (1974), and in Bothalia 15: 89 (1984); R. A. Dyer, Gen.

2: 909 (1976). Type species: A. biflorum R. Br.

Perennial or annual herbs of various habits with fibrous or tuberous roots. Leaves petio-

late or sessile, distichous or spirally arranged. Inflorescences thyrses (sometimes reduced to a

single cyme), terminal or terminal and axillary, rarely all axillary. Bracteoles persistent, usually

cup-shaped and perfoliate. Flowers bisexual, bisexual and staminate, or bisexual, staminate

and pistillate, all types produced in same inflorescence. Sepals 3, free, predominantly green.

Petals 3, free, upper 2 (paired petals) clawed, lower one (medial petal) usually reduced and

discolorous (rarely subequal and concolorous, but then different in form). Staminodes 3, posti-

cous (on the upper side), filaments glabrous, antherodes bilobed. Stamens 3, anticous (on the

lower side), medial (antepetalous) one different in form and size from lateral (antesepalous)

ones, filaments all glabrous or laterals sparsely to densely bearded. Ovary bi- or trilocular,

dorsal locule suppressed or 1-ovulate, ventral locules each with 1-6 uniseriate ovules; style

simple, stigma capitate or not enlarged. Capsule usually dehiscent and bivalved (rarely ± inde-

hiscent), dorsal locule suppressed or 1-seeded, ventral locules each 1-6-seeded. Seeds with a

linear hilum and lateral embryotega.

Species about 60, mainly tropical Africa; in Southern Africa 11 species, mainly in eastern and tropical regions.

The name Aneilema ( = without covering) refers to the absence of a spathe.

1 Plants prostrate, mat-forming; inflorescences all axillary, perforating the sheaths, consisting of 1 (—2) cyme(s)

6. A. zebrinum

1 Plants (or at least the flowering shoots) erect to ascending or decumbent; some or all inflorescences terminal,

thyrsiform, composed of several to many cymes:

2 Bracteoles not cup-shaped, apex drawn out into an elongate, swollen, glandular tip; lateral stamen filaments

densely bearded with blue-purple hairs; annuals 11. A. nicholsonii

2 Bracteoles cup-shaped, apex not drawn out into an elongate, glandular tip; lateral stamen filaments glabrous

or bearded with white hairs; annuals or perennials:

3 Flowers yellow to orange; inflorescences lax:

4 Leaves spirally arranged; flowers orange-yellow; inflorescences with c. 10-20 cincinni; inflorescences,

sepals and stamen filaments glabrous 4 . A. johnstonii

4 Leaves distichous; flowers yellow; inflorescences with 2-7 cincinni; inflorescences and sepals puberulous,

lateral stamen filaments bearded 3 . A. aequinoctiale

3 Flowers pink to blue-purple (or white); inflorescences lax to dense:

5 Perennials with thick roots; flowers 13,5-40 mm wide; lateral stamen filaments undulate, glabrous; cap-

sules 8- 14 mm long:

6 Leaf margins scabrid; branches of the inflorescence mostly subopposite or subverticillate; stamen fila-

ments fused basally; fruiting pedicels erect; capsules emarginate at the apex 1. A. hockii

6 Leaf margins smooth; branches of the inflorescence mostly alternate; stamen filaments free; fruiting

pedicels decurved; capsules rounded to truncate at the apex 2. A. longirrhizum

5 Perennials or annuals with thin roots; flowers 6,5-17,5 mm wide; lateral stamen filaments sigmoid,

bearded or glabrous; capsules c. 3-7,5 mm long:

7 All 3 petals similar in colour and size; stamen filaments glabrous; capsules trilocular .... 5. A. indehiscens

7 Lower petal distinctly smaller than the upper 2 and different in colour; lateral stamen filaments

bearded; capsules bilocular:

8 Perennials; capsules oblong-elliptic to obovate-oblong or oblong, (3,5— )5— 7,5 mm long, locules

2-seeded 1. A. dregeanum

8 Annuals; capsules broadly elliptic to obovate or obovate-orbicular, 2,8-4,5(-5) mm long, locules

1-seeded:

9 Pedicels 1,5-3 mm long, ± erect in fruit; capsules with valves relatively planar; cells of the outer

capsule wall (with 20x lens) transversely elongate; seeds buff or light brownish orange

8 .A. arenicola

Comm ELI NACEAE

2: 37

9 Pedicels 2-8 mm long, strongly recurved in fruit; capsules with valves strongly convexo-concave;

cells of the outer capsule wall longitudinally elongate or ± isodiametric; seeds dark brown or

pale pinkish grey:

10 Inflorescences composed of (6— )10— 20(— 29) cymes; pedicels puberulous for up to half their

length; cells of the capsule wall longitudinally elongate; seeds dark brown

9. A. brunneospermum

10 Inflorescences composed of 3-13 cymes; pedicels puberulous for more than half their length;

cells of the capsule wall ± isodiametric; seeds pale pinkish grey 10. A. schlechteri

1. Aneilema hockii De Wild, in Feddes

Reprium 12; 290 (1913); Brenan in Kew Bull.

7: 190 (1952); Schreiber et al. in F.S.W.A.

157; 2 (1967); Faden in Agnew, Upland

Kenya Wild Flow. 664 (1974). Type; Zaire:

Upper Katanga, Elisabethville, 1911, Hock

s.n. (BR!).

Aneilema aequinoctiale (P. Beauv.) Loudon var. kirkii

C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 222 (1881). Syn-

types: Mozambique: Chupanga (Shupanga), in damp

spots, 10 January 1863, Kirk s.n. (K!, lectotype of Bre-

nan, l.c., 193); same locality, January 1859, Kirk s.n.

(K!); Near Sena (Senna), 3 January 1860, Kirk s.n. (Kl).

Aneilema aequinoctiale auct. p. p., e.g. Schinz in Bull.

Herb. Boissier 4, App. 3: 36 (1896), p. p.; C. B. Cl. in

F.C. 7: 12 (1897), p. p., and in F.T.A. 8: 65 (1901), p. p.;

Van Druten in Flow. PI. Afr. 33: 1302 (1959), non

(P. Beauv.) Loudon (1830).

Aneilema wildii Merxm. in Suessenguth & Merxmiiller,

Trans. Rhod. Sci. Assoc. 43: 152 (1951). Type: Zim-

babwe: Marandellas, 14 January 1941, Dehn 251 (Ml).

Tufted perennial with erect to ascending

or straggling shoots 0,3- 1,2 m tall. Roots

thick, fleshy. Leaves spirally arranged, leaf-

blades sessile or petiolate, usually linear-

lanceolate to lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate,

(30-)50- 150(— 245) x (3-)10-35(-48) mm,

apex usually acuminate. Inflorescences mostly

terminal, (25-)40-105 x 35— 100(— 120) mm,

with 4— 11(— 16) mostly opposite or whorled

cincinni. Flowers perfect and staminate,

(15-)20-40 mm wide; paired petals bluish

purple, mostly c. 15 x 15 mm; lateral stamen

filaments c. 15—30 mm long, glabrous; style c.

15-25 mm long. Capsules oblong to oblong-

elliptic, bilocular, 7-13 x 4-5,5 mm, locules

3-5-seeded. Seeds transversely rectancular to

trapezoidal or ovate, 1,5-3,25 x 2,15-2,85

mm, testa shallowly scrobiculate to slightly

rugose. Fig. 7: 1.

South West Africa/Namibia, Botswana, Transvaal

and Swaziland and north to Zaire, Uganda and southern

Ethiopia; c. 640-1 280 m altitude (in our area); woodland

and bushland, often on rocky slopes; growing in partial

shade. Map 33.

Vouchers: De Winter & Leistner 5599; Faden &

Faden 74/215; Pole Evans 2593; Schlechter 4565; Thorn-

croft 265.

The large, bluish purple flowers (variously described

as blue, mauve, lavender, etc.) readily distinguish this

species. The capsules arc generally longer, less pubescent

(commonly nearly glabrous) and have more seeds per

locule than those of A. aequinoctiale (no. 3). Typically the

capsules are emarginate and lack a terminal apicule (the

persistent style base), unlike the capsules of A. aequinoc-

tiale.

2. Aneilema longirrhizum Faden in Botha-

lia 12: 565 (1978); Flow. PI. Afr. 45: 1785

(1979). Type: Transvaal, Burgersfort-Pieters-

burg road, 3,4 km towards Pietersburg from

crossing of the Olifants River, 24 February

1974, Faden & Faden 74/217 (K, holo.!; B!;

BOL!; BR!; C!; EA!; F!; FI!; G!; HBG!; M!;

MO!; NH!; NU!; P!; PRE!; S!; SRGH!;

UPS!; WAG!, iso.).

Rhizomatous perennial. Roots thick,

fleshy. Leaves distichous or spirally arranged,

leaf-blades sessile, linear-lanceolate to nar-

rowly lanceolate-elliptic, 30-130 x 6-20

mm. Inflorescences terminal, ovoid thyrses

40— 130(— 180) mm long, with (6-)8-15(-24)

mostly alternate cincinni. Flowers perfect and

staminate, fragrant, 13,5-18 mm wide; ped-

icels to 9 mm long, recurved c. 270° (i.e.

pointing downwards) in fruit; sepals puberu-

lous, 3, 7-4, 5 mm long; paired petals pale lav-

ender, 7,5-11,5 x 6-9 mm, medial petal

5.5- 7 mm long; lateral stamen filaments

8. 5- 9, 5 mm long; style 8,5-12 mm long.

Capsules oblong-elliptic, bilocular, 8-11 x

2: 38

COMMELINACEAE

Fig. 7. — 1, Aneilema hockii: la, flower, front view, X 2; lb, flower, side view, x 2 (Faden & Fadert 74/190).

2, A. longirrhizum: 2a, flower, front view, x 2; 2b, flower, side view, x 2; 2c, habit, x 0,25 ( Faden & Faden 74/217).

3, A. johnstonii: 3a, flower, front view, x 2; 3b, flower, side view, x 2; 3c, inflorescence, x 1 (Pawek 12327). 4. A.

aequinnctiale: 4a, flower, front view, x 2; 4b, flower, side view, x 2 ( Faden & Faden 74/199).

Comm ELI NACEAE

2: 39

4-5 min, apex rounded to truncate, locules

2(-l)-seeded. Seeds 3, 4-4, 9 mm long, dense-

ly white-farinose. Fig. 7:2.

Local endemic in northern Transvaal, 760-850 m

altitude. Dry habitats; recorded from Blepharis-Commi-

phora-Schmidtia bushed grassland on red loamy soil, and

outcrops and residual soils of the Old Granite. Map 34.

Vouchers: Bremekamp & Schweickerdt 404; Faden &

Fuden 74/217; Matthie 567 (PRU); Mogg 1156.

This species can be confused only with A. hockii (no.

1) which differs, in addition to the characters mentioned

in the key, by its larger flowers, striped sepals with hook-

hairs of two size classes, differently shaped staminodes,

and smaller, more numerous seeds (per locule) which lack

farinose granules.

Map 34. — Aneilema longirrhizum

3. Aneilema aequinoctiale (P. Beauv.)

Loudon, (Loudon’s) Hort. Brit., 15 (1830);

Kunth, Enum. PI. 4: 72 (1843); C. B. Cl.

in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 221 (1881), p.

p. and in F.C. 7: 12 (1897), p. p. and in

F.T.A. 8: 65 (1901), p. p.; Brenan in Kew

Bull. 7: 194 (1952); Morton in J. Linn. Soc.,

Bot. 59: 443 (1966); Brenan in F.W.T.A., edn

2, 3: 30 (1968); Ross, FI. Natal, 117 (1972);

Faden in Agnew, Upland Kenya Wild Flow.,

664 (1974); Gibson, Wild Flow. Natal, PI- 4,

fig. 5 (1975); Compton, FI. Swaziland, 83

(1976). Type: Nigeria: Oware and Benin,

without specific locality. Palisot de Beauvois

s. n. (G!).

Commelina aequinoctialis P. Beauv., FI. Oware 1: 65,

t. 38 (1806). Lamprodithyros aequinoctialis (P. Beauv.)

Hassk. in Schweinfurth, Beitrag FI. Aethiop., 211 (1867).

Aneilema adhaerens Kunth, Enum. PI. 4: 72 (1843).

Lamprodithyros adhaerens (Kunth) Hassk. in Schwein-

furth, Beitrag FI. Aethiop., 211 (1867). Aneilema aequi-

noctiale (P. Beauv.) Loudon var. adhaerens (Kunth) C. B.

Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 222 (1881). Type: Cape,

St. John’s River, 1839, Drege 4466 (G, lecto.l; B; FHO!;

MO!;P!;S!).

Decumbent perennial with ascending or

straggling shoots. Roots thin, fibrous. Leaves

distichous, sheaths “sticky”, leaf-blades (ex-

cept the upper) petiolate, usually lanceolate-

elliptic to ovate, 35— 130(— 165) x ( 10— )15—

40(-50) mm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflo-

rescences mostly terminal, 30-115 x 20-70

mm, with 2-7 alternate, opposite or whorled

cincinni. Flowers perfect and staminate, c.

18-30 mm wide; paired petals yellow, c. 15 x

15 mm; lateral stamen filaments c. 11-18 mm

long, bearded; style 11-21 mm long, purple.

Capsules oblong-elliptic to obovate-oblong or

obovate, trilocular or bilocular, (5 — )7 — 10 x

3,5-6 mm, dorsal locule l(-0)-seeded, ven-

tral locules 2-3-seeded. Seeds mostly ovate to

trapezoidal or subquadrate, 1 ,9—2,6 x

1,95-2,15 mm, testa brown, faintly to shal-

lowly foveolate-reticulate. Fig. 7: 4.

Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and Transkei; also

throughout tropical Africa to Guinea and Ethiopia.

Grows at c. 0-1 000 m (-2 000 m?) in our area, in moist

places, especially forests, forest edges and along streams,

also roadsides, bush, thickets and occasionally grassland,

usually in partial shade. Map 35.

Vouchers: Bos 1235; Compton 27284; Faden & Fa-

den 74/199; Galpin 3193; Strey 7074.

The stems and sheaths often feel sticky because of

the presence of hooked hairs. The plant is sometimes de-

scribed as scrambling or scandent because the long shoots

often become entangled in other plants. Aneilema aequi-

noctiale is easily separated from A. johnstonii (below) by

its larger flowers and fewer-branched, pubescent inflores-

cences. When flowers are not available, it can be confused

with A. hockii (no. 1), which differs by its more tufted

habit, proportionally narrower leaves, usually more

branched inflorescences in which the branches (cincinni)

are mostly whorled, and usually non-apiculate capsule

valves. Under high magnification the cells of the capsule

2: 40

COMMELINACEAE

wall of A. aequinoctiale are isodiametric whereas those of

A. hockii are transversely elongate.

4. Aneilema johnstonii K. Schum. in

Engl. Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C, 135 (1895); C.

B. Cl. in F.T.A. 8: 67 (1901); Faden in Ag-

new, Upland Kenya Wild Flow. 664 (1974).

Syntypes: Tanzania: Kilimanjaro, October,

1884, Johnston s.n. (B; BM!; K!); West of

Pare, 1887-88, von Hohnel 159 (B!); Kili-

manjaro, below Marangu, 24 April 1984, Vol-

kens 2146 (B, lecto.!; BM, isolecto.!).

Tufted perennial with annual flowering

shoots to c. 600 mm tall. Roots with distal,

fusiform tubers. Leaves spirally arranged,

leaf-blades sessile or petiolate, linear-lanceo-

late to lanceolate (or lanceolate-elliptic),

50-150 x (6-)10-25(-33) mm, apex usually

acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, glabrous,

c. 40-100 x 35-70 mm, with mostly 10-20

cincinni arranged in 2-6 whorls. Flowers per-

fect and staminate, c. 12-18 mm wide; paired

petals orange-yellow, 7-9,5 mm long; lateral

stamen filaments 9-12 mm long, glabrous;

style 10-13 mm long. Capsules elliptic to

obovate, trilocular or bilocular, (3,5-)4-6 x

3-4,5 mm, dorsal locule l(-0)-seeded, ven-

tral locules l-2(-3)-seeded. Seeds of ventral

locules elliptic to ovate, 1,8-3, 2 x 1,6-2, 2

mm, testa smooth to faintly reticulate. Fig.

7:3.

Botswana; also Mozambique and Zimbabwe to

southern Ethiopia; c. 950 m altitude (in our area). Wood-

land, grassland or bushland, sometimes thickets, often in

rocky places. Map 35.

Vouchers: Curson 747; Henry 34 (SRGH).

The completely glabrous inflorescences of A. john-

stonii are unique among our species and readily separate

this plant from A. aequinoctiale (above), the only other

yellow-flowered Aneilema in the area. Furthermore, the

two species occur in different habitats and do not overlap

geographically in Southern Africa. The subequal, horse-

shoe-shaped anthers of the staminodes in A. johnstonii

are highly distinctive.

5. Aneilema indehiscens Faden subsp.

lilacinum Faden in Bothalia 15: 97 (1984).

Type: Natal, Ingwavuma-Ndumu road, 15,5

km towards Ingwavuma from junction with

Ndumu-Maputa road, c. 27°06'S, 32°12'E, 16

February 1974, Faden & Faden 74/202 (US,

holo.!; BR!; EA!; K!; LISC!; MO!; NH!;

NU!; PRE!; US!; WAG!, iso.).

Aneilema dregeanum sensu Compton, FI. Swaziland, 83

(1976), p. p., non Kunth (1843).

Perennial with long-trailing vegetative

shoots. Roots thin, fibrous. Leaves spirally

arranged, leaf-blades shortly petiolate, nar-

rowly lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic, lanceo-

late-ovate or ovate-elliptic, (25-)30-100(-130)

x (7-)10-25(-35) mm. Inflorescences ter-

minal or terminal and axillary, ovoid thyrses

(20-)25-50(- 80) x (15-)20-50(-70) mm with

(1 — )3— 9 mostly ascending cincinni. Flowers

perfect and staminate, (9— )13— 17,5 mm wide;

pedicels recurved usually c. 180° in fruit; pet-

als pale lilac, medial petal large, cup-shaped,

usually obovate; lateral stamen filaments

usually ± parallel, 7, 7-8, 5 mm long, glab-

rous. Capsules obovate-elliptic to obovate-

oblong, oblong or oblanceolate, trilocular, de-

hiscent, (4-)4,5-6(-6,8) x (l,9-)2,3-3(-3,4)

mm, dorsal locule 1-seeded, ventral locules

2-seeded. Seeds elliptic or ovate to trape-

zoidal, 1,5-2, 9 x l,35-2,2(-2,5) mm, testa

shallowly scrobiculate. Fig. 9: 2.

Northern Transvaal, Swaziland and northern Natal;

also southern Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique; c.

10-550 m altitude. Open forest, woodland, thickets, low-

veld bush and edges of marshes in sandy or clayey soils,

usually in partial shade. Map 36.

Vouchers; Codd 6891; Faden & Faden 74/202; Faden

& Faden 74/208; Moll 4152; Strey 10326.

This species is readily distinguishable from A. drege-

anum (no. 7) and A. brunneospermum (no. 9), with which

it has been confused, by its laxer inflorescences with fewer

cincinni, large, cup-shaped medial petal, glabrous stamen

filaments, and trilocular ovaries and capsules. Subsp. in-

dehiscens is restricted to eastern Kenya and northeastern

Tanzania.

6. Aneilema zebrinum Chiov. in Webbia

8: 38, fig. 12, p. 39 (1951). Syntypes: Ethi-

opia, Gemu-Gofa Prov., rive del Caschei, 5

Map 36. — Aneilema indehiscens subsp. lilacinum

COMMELINACEAE

2: 41

Fig. 8. — Aneilema zebrinum: 1, part of flowering plant, x 1; 2, single node of plant, showing adventitious roots and

inflorescence perforating the leaf-sheath, x 2; 3, hairs on stem (similar ones on sepals), x 60; 4, flower from front, x 4;

5, flower from side, x 4; 6, flower from side with sepals and petals partly removed, x 9; 7, androecium. split on one

side of central staminode and spread out, x 9; 8, fertile anther, from side, x 16; 9, fertile anther, from back, x 16; 10,

apex of staminode, x 20; 11, ovary, cross-section, x 18; 12, hairs on surface of ovarv, x 60; 13, stigma and apical part

of style, x 24; 14, fruit, before dehiscence, x 4; 15, seeds, from a one-seeded loculus to left, from a two-seeded loculus

to right, x 9; 16, seed, from embryotegal edge, x 9. All from Bally 12145 (cultivated). Reproduced, from 'Kew Bull-

etin' with permission of the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew.

2: 42

COMMELINACEAE

July 1939, Corradi 2154 (FI!, K, photo.!);

same locality, 4 July 1939, Corradi 2163 (FI!,

K, photo.!); Caschei, 6 July 1939, Corradi

2155 (FI!; lectotype of Brenan in Kew Bull.

19: 67 (1964); K, photo.!).

Ballya zebrina (Chiov.) Brenan in Kew Bull. 19: 64,

fig. 1, p. 66 (1964); Cufodontis in Bull. Jard. bot. nat.

Belg. 41, Suppl., 1519 (1971); Ross, FI. Natal, 117 (1972);

Faden in Agnew, Upland Kenya Wild Flow. 653 (1974).

Repent, often mat-forming perennial.

Roots thin, fibrous. Leaves distichous, sessile,

succulent, ovate to ovate-elliptic or occasion-

ally elliptic, 10-35(-40) x 5-20 mm, puberu-

lous, often mottled with maroon above, veins

contrastingly pale above. Inflorescences axil-

lary, perforating the sheaths and largely hid-

den beneath leaves, consisting of l(-2) short,

few-flowered cincinnus. Flowers perfect, 7-10

mm wide; petals all pale lilac, paired petals

4-5,7 x 3, 1-4, 5 mm, medial petal cup-

shaped, 3, 5-4, 7 x 2,7-4 mm; filaments fused

basally, lateral stamen filaments 3-3,5(-4,5)

mm long; style 2,7-3,2(-3,6) mm long.

Capsules obovate-elliptic, indehiscent or par-

tially dehiscent, trilocular, 3-4 x 2,l-2,5(-3)

mm, dorsal locule 1-seeded, ventral locules

2-seeded. Seeds 1,25-1,8 mm long, testa

shallowly reticulate. Figs 8 & 9: 3.

Northern Natal to southwestern Ethiopia; c. 25-30 m

altitude (in the Flora area); thickets and open forest. Map

37.

Vouchers: Faden et al. 74/205; Pooley 1255 (K, MO);

Strey 4752.

This species is unmistakable because of its prostrate

habit and strictly axillary inflorescences. Its unusual

features led to its being described as a distinct genus by

Brenan. However, it is connected to the rest of Aneilema

by a series of local, endemic taxa from Tropical East Africa.

The low stature and inconspicuous flowers of A. ze-

brinum render it easily overlooked. Its relatively recent

discovery in South Africa was a remarkable range exten-

sion from northern Tanzania, the then nearest locality.

The plant has not been collected in Mozambique, but it is

almost certainly widespread there.

7. Aneilema dregeanum Kunth , Enum. PI.

4: 73 (1843); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 229 (1881), and in F.C. 7: 13 (1897);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 15: 215 (1961); Faden in

Bothalia 15: 90 (1984). Type: Pondoland, be-

tween Umtata River and St. Johns River,

1839, Drege 4471 (B, holo. !; B!; BM; FHO!;

G!;K!;MO!;P!;S,iso.).

subsp. dregeanum.

Decumbent perennial. Roots thin, fibrous.

Leaves spirally arranged, leaf-blades with

long to fairly short petioles, narrowly lanceo-

late or lanceolate-elliptic to ovate or ovate-el-

liptic, (20— )30— 1 10(— 150) x (6-)10-45 mm.

Inflorescences terminal or terminal and axil-

lary, moderately dense ovoid thyrses 20-55 x

10-35(-40) mm, with (8— )1 1—27, mostly

alternate, ascending to patent cincinni. Flow-

ers perfect and staminate, 9,5-14,5 mm wide;

pedicels 3,5-8 mm long; sepals 2,3-4 mm

long, sparsely puberulous; paired petals blue

to blue-violet, (6-)7-9,5 x 5, 5-6, 5 mm,

medial petal 3-4 mm long; lateral stamen

filaments 6-11 mm long, finely bearded api-

cally with minute white hairs; style 7-11 mm

long, violet apically. Capsules shortly stipi-

tate, bilocular, usually oblong-elliptic, (3,5-)

5-7,5 x (2,8-)3,5-4,2 mm, locules 2-seeded.

Seeds ovate to trapezoidal, 1,95-3 mm long,

testa foveolate-scrobiculate. Fig. 10: 3.

Natal, eastern Cape Province; moist or mesic habi-

tats, most commonly in forests, also in bush and, rarely,

(derived?) grassland; c. 0-940 m. Map 38.

Vouchers: Acocks 13312; Faden & Faden 74/214;

Huntley 63; Strey 9484; Wells 3493.

The Southern African plants all belong to subsp. dre-

geanum. Subsp. mossambicense Faden (Bothalia 15: 90,

1984), which differs by its generally narrower, more short-

ly petiolate leaves, laxer inflorescences, longer-bearded

stamen filaments and rugose to scrobiculate seeds, is con-

fined to northern Mozambique.

8. Aneilema arenicola Faden in Bothalia

15: 94, f. 2 (1984). Type: Natal, Ubombo-

Sordwana Bay road, 2,6 km towards Sordwa-

na Bay from Shongwe, 19 February 1974, Fa-

den & Faden 74/211 (US, holo.!; B!; BR!;

EA!; K!; MO!; NH!; NU!; P!; PRE!; UPS!,

iso.).

Map 37. — Aneilema zebrinum

COMMELINACEAE

2: 43

Fig. 9. — 1, Aneilema nicholsonii: la, inflorescence, x 2; lb, flower, side view, x 3; lc, flower, front view, x 3 ( Pa-

wek 12545). 2, A. indehiscens subsp. lilacinum: 2a, flower, side view, X 3; 2b, flower, front view, x 3 ( Faden & Faden

74/208). 3, A. zebrinum: 3a, flower, side view, x 6, 3b, flower, front view, x 6 ( Faden & Faden & Faulkner 74/330).

2: 44

COMMELINACEAE

Map 38. — Aneilema dregeanum subsp. dregeanum

Densely branched annual. Roots thin,

fibrous. Leaves distichous, leaf-blades usually

sessile to shortly petiolate, lanceolate-elliptic

to ovate, 15— 45(— 65) x 7-20(-25) mm.

Inflorescences terminal, ovoid thyrses 20-50

mm long and wide with (2— )5 — 13 ascending

cincinni. Flowers perfect, 6,5-8,5(-9,5) mm

wide; pedicels 1,5-3 mm long; sepals puberu-

lous, (l,5-)2-3,5(-3,8) mm long, subapical

glands bilobed; paired petals pale lilac, 3,5-5

x 2, 7-3, 5 mm, medial petal 2-2,5(-2,8) mm

long; lateral stamen filaments 2,5-3 mm long,

densely bearded; style 1,5-2, 3 mm long.

Capsules broadly elliptic to obovate-orbicu-

lar, bilocular, 3-4 x 2,6-3,75 mm, locules

1-seeded. Seeds elliptic, 2,2-3, 1 x 1,5-1, 9

mm, testa buff to light brownish orange,

foveolate-reticulate.

Northern Natal; also southern Mozambique, 10-60

m altitude. Sandy soil along roadsides and tracks and in

partially open woodland. Map 39.

Vouchers: Faden et al. 7 4/204 ; Faden & Faden

74/211; Moll 4621; Pooley 1679; Stewart 1698 (MO).

This species can be confused only with A. brunneo-

spermum (below), the only other annual species in its

range. Aneilema arenicola differs in its ecology, more

branched habit, more widely spaced bracteoles, smaller,

solely perfect flowers, less firm capsule valves with the

outer wall cells transversely elongate, and larger, paler,

more dorsiventrally flattened seeds. Fig. 10: 2.

9. Aneilema brunneospermum Faden in

Bothalia 15: 91, fig. 1 (1984). Type: Natal, c.

5 km on road to Ndumu from the junction

of the Ingwavuma-Ndumu and Ingwavuma-

Ubombo roads, 18 February 1974, Faden,

Faden & Pooley 74/209 (US, holo.!; B!; BR!;

K!; MO!; P!; PRE!; WAG!, iso.).

Aneilema dregeanum Kunth var. galpinii C. B. Cl. in

F.C. 7: 13 (1897); Brenan in Kew Bull. 15: 216 (1961),

pro syn. Type: Transvaal, Barberton (details of specific

iocalities differ on all three specimens), 16 December

1890, Galpin 1187 (K, holo.!; NH!; PRE!).

Aneilema schlechteri sensu Brenan in Kew Bull. 15: 216

(1961), p. p.

Aneilema dregeanum sensu Compton, FI. Swaziland, 83

(1976), p. p., non Kunth (1843).

Tufted annual. Roots thin, fibrous. Leaves

with petioles usually long to short, leaf-blades

lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptic to ovate,

25-100(-140) x (6-)10-35(-60) mm, apex

acute to acuminate. Inflorescences all or most-

ly terminal, (20-)25-60(-75) x ( 15— )20—

45(-60) mm, with (6— )10— 20(— 29) ascending

cincinni. Flowers perfect and staminate,

(9—) 1 1 —15 mm wide; pedicels (2,2-)2,5-

7(-8) mm long, puberulous above the middle;

sepals (2-)2,5-3,6(-4,3) mm long; paired

petals lavender or pale lilac, 5,3-7,5(-9) mm

long; lateral stamen filaments 4, 8-9, 5 mm

long, bearded, anther sacs blue-black; style

Map 39. — Aneilema arenicola

Map 40. — Aneilema brunneospermum

COMMELINACEAE

2: 45

Fig. 10. — 1, Aneilema brunneospermum: la, flower, front view, x 3; lb, flower, side view, x 3; lc, capsule, x 6;

Id, seed, dorsal view, x 12,5; le, seed, ventral view, x 12,5 (Faden & Faden & Pooley 74/209). 2, A. arenicola: 2a,

flower, front view, x 3; 2b, flower, side view, x 3; 2c, capsule, x 6; 2d, seed, ventral view, x 12,5; 2e, seed, dorsal

view, x 12,5 (Faden & Faden Pooley 74/204). 3, A. dregeanum: 3a, flower, front view, x 3; 3b, flower, side view, x

3; 3c, capsule, x 6 (3a & 3b from Faden & Faden 74/214; 3c from Bolus 10348).

2: 46

COMMELINACEAE

(3-)4,5-9 mm long, yellow with violet tip.

Capsules mostly broadly elliptic to obovate,

bilocular, (2,8-)3-4,5(-5) x (3,3-)3,8-

4,5(-4,8) mm, locules 1-seeded. Seeds ellip-

tic, 2-2,5(-2,8) x 1,7-2,05 mm, testa dark

brown, usually foveolate-reticulate. Fig. 10:

1.

Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal; also southern

Mozambique. Scrub or forest (rarely grassland or pool-

sides), often in rocky places; usually growing in partial

shade; 150-950 m. Map 40.

Vouchers: Compton 26824; Faden, Faden & Pooley

74/209; Galpin 1187; Strey 8140; Thorncroft 9620.

This species has usually been called A. schlechteri

(below), from which it differs by its longer petioles, larger

inflorescences with usually more numerous cincinni, larger

flowers, less pubescent pedicels, blue anthers, and dark

brown seeds. Aneilema brunneospermum similarly differs

from A. arenicola (above) in its longer petioles, usually

more numerously branched inflorescences, larger flowers,

less pubescent, usually longer and more recurved ped-

icels, and dark brown, thicker seeds.

10. Aneilema schlechteri K. Schum. in

Bot. Jb. 33: 376 (1903); Brenan in Kew Bull.

15: 216 (1961), p. p. Type: Transvaal, Komati

Poort, 15 December 1897, Schlechter 1 1748

(B, holo. ! ; BM!; BOL!; BR!; COI!; G!; K!;

NSW!; PRE!; S! ; Z!, iso.).

Tufted annual. Roots thin, fibrous. Leaves

with leaf-blades sessile to shortly petiolate,

lanceolate-elliptic or elliptic to ovate-elliptic

or ovate, 15-45 x 10—23 mm, apex acute to

obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, ovoid thyrses

15-30 x 10-30 mm, with 5-10 ascending

cincinni. Flowers perfect and staminate; ped-

icels 2-5 mm long, puberulous almost to

base; sepals puberulous, 2-3,2 mm long;

petals apparently white; lateral stamen fila-

ments c. 3-4,5 mm long, bearded, anthers

yellow; style c. 3-4 mm long. Capsules

broadly elliptic to obovate-elliptic, bilocular,

3, 9-4, 5 x 3, 4-4, 6 mm, greenish tan, locules

1-seeded. Seeds elliptic, c. 2,8 x 2 mm, testa

light pinkish grey, foveolate-reticulate.

Transvaal; also southeastern Zimbabwe. Basaltic soil

in woodland or weed in cultivation (Zimbabwe). Map 41.

Vouchers; Net 5570; Schlechter 11748.

This species should be looked for in northern Trans-

vaal. It can be separated from A. brunneospermum

(above), with which it has been confused, by its sessile or

subsessile leaves, smaller inflorescences with generally

fewer cincinni, smaller, apparently white flowers on more

pubescent pedicels, yellow lateral anthers and lighter

coloured seeds.

Map 41. — • Aneilema nicholsonii

B Aneilema schlechteri

11. Aneilema nicholsonii C.B. Cl. in

F.T.A. 8: 70 (1901). Type: Zambia(?): road

from Missala to Linga Luia River, January,

1897, Nicholson s.n. (K!).

Branched annual to 0,6 m tall. Roots

thin, fibrous. Leaves spirally arranged, leaf-

blades petiolate, lanceolate-elliptic to ovate-

elliptic or ovate, 30-105 x 10-40 mm, apex

usually acuminate. Inflorescences terminal

and axillary from the upper leaves, ovoid to

ellipsoid, c. 20-35 x 15-20 mm, dense,

usually with c. 20-35 cincinni. Flowers per-

fect and staminate, 8-14,5 mm wide; paired

petals blue to blue-purple or lavender, 6-7,5

mm long; lateral stamens densely bearded,

5,5-7 mm long; style 4-6 mm long. Capsules

oblong-elliptic, trilocular or bilocular, 4,5-6

x 2-3 film, dorsal locule indehiscent, l(-0)-

seeded, ventral locules usually 3-seeded.

Seeds of ventral locules ± 3-lobed, 1,25-2,05

x 1,35-1,6 mm, testa tan, foveolate-scrobi-

culate. Fig. 9: 1.

South West Africa/Namibia (Caprivi Strip); also Zim-

babwe and Mozambique to southern Kenya; bushland and

woodland, sometimes in rocky places, occasionally in

moist situations, often in sandy soil; usually growing in

partial shade; c. 1 000 m (in our area). Map 41 .

Vouchers: Curson 1248; Venter 638.

In addition to the bracteole form and densely and con-

spicuously bearded lateral stamen filaments, A. nichol-

sonii is distinctive because of its trilobed seeds which have

a longitudinal groove on the back. The cincinni frequently

bear long, uniseriate hairs in addition to shorter, hooked

hairs.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 47

899a 3. MURDANNIA

Murdannia Royle , Illustr. Bot. Himal. 403, t. 95, fig. 3 (1839), nom. cons.; Brenan in Kew

Bull. 7: 179 (1952); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 910 (1976). Type species: M. scapiftora Royle.

Annual or perennial fierbs with sessile leaves; roots various. Flowers in terminal or ter-

minal and axillary thyrses or in axillary fascicles, regular or slightly zygomorphic; sepals 3,

free; petals 3, free, not clawed, blue, purple or white (rarely yellow). Stamens 3-2, fertile,

antesepalous; staminodes (4-)3(-0), antepetalous, (when 4, 1 antesepalous). Ovary 3-locular,

ovules one to many per locule, uniseriate or biseriate. Capsule 3-locular; seeds various.

Species c. 50, in S.E. Asia, Australia, S. America and tropical Africa, variable. One species in Southern Africa.

The genus was named after Murdan Aly, a plant collector and keeper of the Herbarium at Saharunpore, whom

Royle found to be very knowledgeable on the Himalayan flora.

Murdannia simplex (Vahl) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 8: 186 “(1952)” 1953; Brenan in J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 349, figs 3 & 9 (1966);

Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 202 (1967);

Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 24, fig. 327

(1968); Schreiber et al. in F.S.W.A. 157: 11

(1969). Faden in Agnew in Upland Kenya

Wild Flow. 667, 668 (1974). Type: Guinea,

Thonning (C, holo.).

Commelina simplex Vahl, Enum. PI. 2: 177 (1806).

Aneilema sinicum Ker-Gawl. in Bot. Reg. t. 659 (1822),

C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 212 (1881), and in

F.C. 7: 12 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 63 (1901); Hutch. &

Dalziel in F.W.T.A. edn 1,2: 312, t. 286 (1936). Murdan-

nia sinica (Ker-Gawl.) Briickn. in Pflanzenfam. edn 2,

15a: 173 (1930). Type: ex hortus Kew (seed said to have

come from China) (K).

Gregarious, herbaceous, sub-scapose

chamaephytes, 0,3-0, 6 m tall, from a small

hard rhizome, bearing long, hard roots (Note:

plants from Natal possess thinner roots).

Leaves mostly basal, 3-4, linear, up to c. 200

mm long and c. 10 mm broad, smooth, glab-

rous except for ciliate, open, sheathing basal

part. Flowering shoot up to 0,5 m tall, the

peduncle bearing a few reduced leaves; thyrse

terminal or terminal and axillary, with few to

many divaricate branches bearing close-set,

secund scars of early flowers. Flowers slightly

zygomorphic, opening in late afternoon for a

few hours. Sepals 3, ovate, c. 5 mm long,

green, persistent. Petals 3, equal, obovate, c.

10 mm long, mauve. Stamens: 2 upper ante-

sepalous, fertile, and curved downwards, the

3rd sterile; filaments yellow with long, purple,

beaded hairs; 3 antepetalous staminodes with

glabrous filaments, the empty anthers tri-

lobed. Ovary with 2 superposed ovules in

each locule; style curved upwards, stigma ter-

minal, small. Capsule oblong-globose, c. 6

mm long, shiny; seeds oblong-globose, trun-

cate where they meet, c. 1,5 mm long, the

transverse ribs tuberculate, reticulate. Fig.

11.

Recorded from the northern parts of Transvaal,

Natal, Botswana and South West Africa/Namibia; wide-

spread in subtropical and tropical Africa to Asia; usually

in moist localities. Map 42.

Vouchers: Killick & Leistner 3004; Ross 2359; Strey

4725; Van der Schijff 3202, 2036.

2: 48

COMMELINACEAE

Fig. 11. — Murdannia simplex: 1, flowering branch, x 1; 2, basal part of plant, x 1; 3, flower, x 2; 4, open capsule

with separated locules, x 2 ( Killick & Leistner 3004).

COMMELINACEAE

2: 49

Fig. 12. — Coleotrype natalensis: 1, flowering shoot, x 1; 2, side view of flower emerging from split spathe below

lamina, x 1; 3, flowers from dichasium (after E. Liebenberg in Flower. PI. Afr.).

903 4. COLEOTRYPE

Coleotrype C.B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 120, 238, t. 8 (1881), and in F.C. 7: 13

(1897); Bruckner in Pflanzenfam. edn 2, 15a: 169 (1930); Morton in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 171

(1967); Perrier in Notul. syst., Paris 5: 196 (1936); Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 36 (1968); R.

A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 911 (1976). Type species: C. natalensis C.B. Cl.

2: 50

COMMELINACEAE

Perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, sheathing at the base. Flowers regular to slightly zygo-

morphic in axillary, sessile, contracted cymes perforating base of leaf-sheaths. Sepals 3, free or

fused basally, equal. Corolla tubular, limb 3-lobed. Stamens 6, equal or unequal, arising from

near throat of corolla-tube; filaments usually bearded with long moniliform hairs. Ovary 3-

locular with 1-2 superposed ovules in each locule. Capsule loculicidal, seeds 1-2 per locule,

hilum linear, embryotega lateral.

Species 9, in Africa and Madagascar; only 1 in Southern Africa.

The name Coleotrype , meaning sheath-borer, refers to the inflorescence piercing through the sheath.

Coleotrype natalensis C.B. Cl. in A. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 120, 238, t. 8 (1881), and in

F.C. 7: 13 (1897); Wood & Evans, Natal

Plants 1: 39, t. 48 (1898): Troll in Beitr. Biol.

Pflanz. 36; 343 (1961); Oberm. in Flower. PI.

Afr. 37, t. 1465 (1966). Syntypes: Natal,

Inanda, Wood 479 (K!), Sanderson 438 (K!).

Perennials with trailing leafy stems, root-

ing at the lower nodes, turning upwards, up

to 0,8 m tall. Leaves alternate, spreading, ob-

long, c. 100 x 15-20 mm, apex long acumi-

nate, base narrowed into a sheath, margin

purple or red. Inflorescences in axils of upper-

most leaves, sessile, contracted, piercing leaf-

sheaths, the 4-6 flowers appearing consecu-

tively in 2 rows. Sepals 3, free, resembling

hairy bracts, c. 8 mm long. Corolla with a

narrow tube c. 15 mm long, lobes patent,

broadly ovate, c. 16 mm long, deep purple.

Stamens 6, inserted on corolla-throat, fila-

ments densely bearded above with long,

beaded hairs; anthers basifixed with locules

curved around discoid connective. Ovary

slightly hairy above, 3-locular, with 1-2

ovules in each cell; style just exserted, fili-

form, stigma shallowly cup-shaped with 3

erect, small papillate lobes. Capsule obovate-

trigonous, 5-7 mm long, rostrate, hairy;

seeds oblong-ellipsoid, 4 x 1 mm. Fig. 12.

Recorded from the warmer eastern parts of Southern

Africa: Swaziland, Natal, Transkei; also in Mozambique

and Zimbabwe; in forested, moist areas often near water,

or sandy clearings. Map 43.

Vouchers: Flanagan 2503; Kemp 596; Oatley 28; Strey

6821; Wood 1564.

904 5. CYANOTIS

Cyanotis D. Don, Prodr. FI. Nepal. 45 (1825), nom. cons.; C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 240 (1881); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 3: 851 (1883); C. B. Cl. in F.C. 7: 13 (1897),

and in F.T.A. 6: 78 (1901); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 911 (1976). Type species: C. barbata D. Don.

Succulent perennials or (rarely) annuals, the perennials commonly with storage organs

such as bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers and often with separate fertile and sterile shoots.

Roots numerous, thin or stout, sometimes tuberous. Leaves succulent, spirally arranged or dis-

tichous, sessile. Inflorescences consisting of terminal or terminal and axillary cymes, each cyme

subtended by a spathaceous, leaf-like bract and consisting of two-ranked, sessile or subsessile

flowers and usually conspicuous, herbaceous bracteoles. Flowers regular, bisexual, small, open

for a few hours only, in the morning. Calyx tubular below, with somewhat hairy lobes, persist-

ent. Corolla with a short tube, the 3 lobes erect or spreading, acute to obtuse, blue, purple or

pink. Stamens 6, equal, erect, white or coloured like corolla or darker; filaments filiform, or

sometimes fusiform in upper half, long, patent, beaded hairs always present in upper half;

anthers yellow, basifixed, locules opening from a basal aperture, then splitting open to apex.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 51

Ovary ovoid, 3-locular, hairy above; ovules 2 in each locule, superposed; style thin, filiform or

in some species fusiform below small apical stigma, glabrous or bearded. Capsule narrowly

ovoid, erect; seeds oblong-globose, obtuse, embryotega at apex of upper seed, and at base of

lower, testa greyish brown, wrinkled or pitted, epidermis minutely pellucid-dotted.

Species about 45, warm regions of Africa, Asia and northern Australia; 7 in Southern Africa; absent from winter

rainfall region.

C. B. Clarke in F.C. 7: 14 described the petals as free at the base and then connate into a tube; in the specimens

studied the corolla-tube was fused from the base.

The name Cyanotis refers to the blue flowers found in the genus.

1 Plants forming basal leaf-clusters, rhizomatous or with a hard compact root-crown:

2 Fertile shoots decumbent, usually with many flower-clusters; forming colonies, saxicolous:

3 Plants with thin roots from creeping rhizomes 1. C. lapidosa

3 Plants with thick roots:

4 Roots emerging from a vertical rhizome; leaves broadly linear, up to 20 mm broad; cymes

sessile 2. C. robusta

4 Roots emerging from a compact root-crown; leaves narrowly linear, c. 3 mm broad; cymes often pedun-

culate 3. C. pachyrrhiza

2 Fertile shoots erect, usually with 4-6 flower-clusters widely spaced; plants solitary or few together; grassland:

5 Rhizome vertical to U-shaped; roots terete, hard; pubescence of short patent hairs 4 . C. speciosa

5 Rhizome a small hard root-crown; roots spindle-shaped, swollen; pubescence of soft appressed hairs

5. C. longifolia

1 Plants without a basal leaf-cluster and without a rhizome or root-crown:

6 Leaves not clasping the stem; spathes usually 2 at some or all nodes; cymes borne at 1 — 3(— 4) nodes on shoot;

annuals 6 C. lanata

6 Leaves clasping the stem; spathes 1 at each node; cymes borne at 5-15 nodes on shoot; perennials 7. C. foecunda

1. Cyanotis lapidosa Phill. in Flower. PI.

Afr. t. 318 (1928). Type; Transvaal, Kaapse

Hoop, Phillips 3449 (PRE, holo. !).

Small, spreading rhizomatous perennials

often with light to dark vinaceous colouring

at base, saxicolous, forming colonies; roots

thin, branched. Sterile shoots perennial, with

limited growth, forming a basal cluster of c. 7

subdecussate to rosulate leaves; lamina

sheathing basally, broadly linear, c. 150 x 12

mm, upper smaller (immature), lanate with

long, white, appressed hairs, rarely glabrous;

further apical growth suppressed towards

time of flowering. Fertile shoots , annual, aris-

ing below basal leaf-cluster, forming long, de-

cumbent, spreading stems with the narrowly

ovate, leaf-like spathes diminishing in size to-

wards apex, and enclosing compact, few—

many-flowered sessile cymes in their axils;

lower nodes producing 1-2 short adventitious

side branches which pierce lower empty

spathes on adaxial side; roots, if developed,

similarly adventitious. After flowering

(usually) new decumbent shoots sprout from

adventitious buds below leaf-cluster; these

give rise to new clusters, the plants thus in

time forming large colonies. Flowers typical;

corolla c. 10 mm long, purple, mauve or pink.

Stamens with filaments fusiform towards apex,

where they are densely covered with beaded

hairs, darker in colour than petals. Capsule

with seeds typical, 1,5 mm long. Fig. 13.

Widespread and common in Transvaal, Swaziland

and northern Natal; on rocky ledges, forming colonies.

Map 44.

Vouchers: Bredenkamp 803; Buitendag 455; Codd

8052; Compton 25603; Mauve 5269; Repton 492.

Unfortunately collectors often omit to gather the

whole plant, picking only the annual flowering shoots.

k Cyanotis robusta

2: 52

COMMELINACEAE

Fig. 13. — Cyanotis lapidosa: a, sterile shoot with leaf-cluster; al, annual flowering shoot with side branch emerging

from a tear in a leaf-sheath, x 0,8; a2, vegetative shoot, x 0,8; b, flower, x 3; c, stamens, x 3; gynoecium, x 3 ( Mauve

Comm ELI NACEAE

2: 53

2. Cyanotis robusta Oberm. in Bothalia

13: 438 (1981). Type: Natal, near Weenen,

Arnold 1372 (PRE, holo.!).

Plants robust, rhizomatous, lanate, form-

ing colonies, saxicolous. Rhizome short and

thick, vertical, bearing long, thick roots,

placed close together at the base, c. 5 mm in

diam., in turn producing active, thin, branched

rootlets. Leaves in basal clusters, sub-rosu-

late, c. 6, linear-acuminate, c. 120-300 x 13-

26 mm, flat, somewhat fleshy, glabrous and

shiny above, lanate below, with long, thin,

appressed, white hairs. Fertile shoots arising

below (sterile) leaf-cluster, procumbent,

many-noded, upper bearing dense, lanate

cymes enclosed by ovate, falcate spathes;

bracteoles small. Flowers typical. Calyx with

erect hairy lobes, c. 10 mm long. Corolla

15(— 20?) mm long, blue. Capsule narrow with

an apical tuft of setae; seeds oblong-globose,

c. 2 mm long, typical.

Two records from the eastern Transvaal (Wolkberg);

otherwise recorded from Natal, in the vicinity of Estcourt

and Weenen; on rocky ledges of sandstone krantzes. Map

44.

Vouchers: Mogg 7229; Muller & Scheepers 165; West

1441, 1538.

3. Cyanotis pachyrrhiza Oberm. in Botha-

lia 13: 437 (1981). Type: Transvaal, Ohrigstad

Dam, Mauve & Relief 5245 (PRE, holo.!).

Perennials forming mats; with purple

colouring and soft patent white pubescence

on leaves and flowering stems. Roots long,

thick, c. 3 mm in diam., tapered below, white

(dark when dried), emerging from a small

compact root-crown. Leaf-cluster with 5-7

erect linear leaves up to 150 x 8 mm. Fertile

shoots 4-5-noded, erect or spreading, up to

c. 200 mm long, bearing few- to many-

flowered axillary cymes, pedunculate or ses-

sile; subtending spathe long and narrow, re-

curved, not enveloping cyme, occasionally

spathe short; bracteoles short. Calyx with

lobes fused at the base, c. 7 mm long. Corolla

just exserted from calyx, maroon (“petunia

violet”: Ridgway), lobes semi-erect, triangu-

lar. Stamens with maroon, beaded hairs, fila-

ments white, fusiform near apex, anthers

yellow. Style fusiform below stigma. Cap-

sule subquadrate, sparsely hairy in upper

half; seeds oblong-globose, c. 1,5 mm long,

wrinkled.

So far only recorded from the eastern Transvaal,

with one record from the N.W. Transvaal; in montane

areas, on quartzite ledges. Flowering December. Map 45.

Vouchers: Breyer sub TRV 17813; Codcl 8052; Relief

& Herman 106; Smuts & Gillett 2434; Van Dam sub TRV

26303.

Map 45. — • Cyanotis speciosa

A Cyanotis pachyrrhiza

4. Cyanotis speciosa (L.f.) Hassk. in

Commel. Ind. 108 (1870). Type: C.B.S.,

Thunberg (LINN 406.8, holo., PRE,

photo. !).

Tradescantia speciosa L.f., Suppl. 192 (1781). Comme-

tina speciosa (L.f.) Thunb., Prodr. 58 (1794), and FI. Cap.

edn 2: 294 (1823).

Cyanotis nodiflora (Lam.) Kunth, Enum. 4: 106 (1843);

Hook, in Curtis’s bot. Mag. 20, t. 5471 (1864); C. B. Cl.

in F.C. 7: 14 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 82 (1901); Bruckner

in Pflanzcnfam. edn 2, 15a: 167, f. 62A (1930); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 157: 10 (1969). Tradescantia nodiflora Lam.,

Encycl. 2: 371 (1786). Type: C.B.S., Sonnerat (P, holo.).

Sonnerat’s specimen was probably collected in the

eastern Cape. Names: Khunyela (Zulu); damba (Venda).

Perennials (chamaephytes in colder

areas), usually solitary plants or a few to-

gether, variable in size, with the basal vegeta-

tive shoot bearing c. 5 sub-decussate leaves

and erect flowering-stems c. 300-500 mm tall.

Rhizome well developed, swollen, perpen-

dicular (in soft soil), forming a U-shaped

body, the older part dying, the new erect

shoot sprouting from base (if in shallow or

hard soil rhizome will be horizontal). All

shoots enclosed in tight sheaths, at first

purple-coloured. Leaf-bearing shoot forming

a cluster of c. 5 sub-decussate leaves, linear-

acuminate, c. 170 x 8 mm, canaliculate, glab-

rous above, with long patent hairs below.

2: 54

COMMELINACEAE

Fig. 14. — Cyanotis speciosa: 1 & la, habit, showing geniculate rhizome and flowering branch; a-d fertile shoots

(leaf-sheaths removed); e, bud of new rhizome, all X 0,6; 2, base of younger plant with leaf-sheaths in place, x 0,6; 3,

flower, x 4; 4, stamen, x 4; 5, gynoecium, x 4; 6, beaded hair of filament, much enlarged (all from Mauve & Halcroft

5244).

COMMELINACEAE

2: 55

Fertile shoots 1-3, erect, firm, terete, with

1-2 sterile bracts below, above with falcate

spathes, subtending c. 3-4 dense, axillary

cymes. Flowers pale to deep oriental blue

(Ridgway) or mauve, c. 10 mm long. Capsule

obovoid, c. 5 mm long, hairy at apex; seeds

oblong-globose, 2 mm long, light brown,

shiny, wrinkled. Fig. 14.

Widespread and often common locally as solitary

plants or few together; Southern Africa (summer rainfall

region) to southern Tanzania and Madagascar. Growing

in grasslands; flowering intermittently Novcmber-De-

cember. “Tubers relished by pigs” (Galpin 371). Map 45.

Vouchers: De Wet 1701; Harbor sub TRV 19201;

Liebenberg 8389; Pegler 1 149B; Ward 6466.

The species Cyanotis gryphaea Dinter in Reprium

nov. Sp. Rcgni Veg. 16; 365 (1920), nom. subnud., may

be a synonym. The type is Dinter 2424 from South West

Africa/Namibia, Gaub (not seen).

5. Cyanotis longifolia Benth. in Hook.,

Niger FI. 543 (1849); C. B. Cl. in A. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 259, excl. var. caespitosa

C. B. Cl. (1881), and in F.T.A. 8: 81 (1901);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 1952: 205 (1953) and in

F.W.T.A. edn 2,3: 37 (1968); Morton in J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 195 (1967); Schreiber et

al. in F.S.W.A. 159: 10 (1969). Type: Congo,

Curror 1 (K, holo.!).

Plants c. 350(-900) mm tall, erect with a

lanate pubescence of long, thin, straight, soft

hairs, especially dense at base of leaf-cluster.

Roots fusiform, long, swollen part, when

young, densely covered by root hairs. Leaf-

cluster with c. 5 long, erect, flat, linear leaves,

c. 300 x 10 mm. Fertile shoots c. 450 mm tall

with few stem-leaves reduced above to

spathes bearing a few terminal and axillary,

dense, sickle-shaped cymes; spathes recurved.

Flowers with calyx-lobes bearing an apical

tuft of long erect hairs or lanate all over; co-

rolla blue; filaments with blue, beaded hairs,

fusiform apically; style bearded. Capsule ob-

long-globose, c. 5 mm long; seeds typical.

A variable species recorded from northern South

West Africa/Namibia; common in tropical Africa but ap-

parently rare in the south. Map 46.

Vouchers: De Winter 3939; De Winter & Wiss 4088.

6. Cyanotis lanata Benth. in Hook., Niger

FI. 542 (1849); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 258, includ. both vars (1881), and in

F.T.A. 8: 80 (1901); Morton in J. Linn. Soc.,

Bot. 60: 194 (1967); Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn

2, 3: 40 (1968). Syntypes: Nigeria, Lower

Map 46. — • Cyanotis longifolia

▲ Cyanotis lanata

Niger: Patteh Mountain, Vogel 183 (K);

Quorra (River Niger), Vogel 122 (K!).

Annuals, erect and few-branched at first,

later densely branched and covered with long,

soft, appressed hairs, rarely glabrous. Leaves

narrowly oblong, acute, 30-60 x 4 mm, nar-

rowed into a tubular sheath. Cymes few-

flowered, clustered in axils of spathes. Corol-

la small, violet, blue, pink or mauve; fila-

ments nearly glabrous or with blue hairs,

anthers orange-yellow. Capsule triangular,

obovoid, thin, 5 mm high; seeds oblong, 1-2

mm long, punctate with raised areas.

Widely distributed in the warmer parts of Africa.

Recorded from eastern Transvaal and Swaziland; in rock

fissures or in cultivated lands. Map 46.

Vouchers: Builendag 456; Karsten sub PRE 38431;

Strey 3620.

2: 56

COMMELINACEAE

7. Cyanotis foecunda Hassk., Commel.

Ind. 110 (1870). C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 255 (1881), and in F.T.A. 8: 80

(1901). Type: Ethiopia, Seraba in Uschan,

Schimper 459 (K, iso.!).

Soft, hirsute herbs with weak spreading

annual stems forming long internodes, root-

ing at nodes. A small bulb, apparently deep-

seated in ground and easily detached, may be

present at base. Leaves broadly linear, c. 80

x 10 mm, apex acute, abruptly clasping stem

at base; spathes progressively smaller towards

shoot apex, ovate, bearing sessile, few-

flowered cymes. Corolla blue or violet. Sta-

mens with filaments bearded with blue hairs

and fusiform below anthers. Style usually

glabrous. Capsule not seen.

Recorded from northern South West Africa/Namibia

and northern Botswana; common in Zimbabwe to tropical

East Africa and Ethiopia; in grasslands, on termite hills or

in rock crevices, said to form dense mats on occasion.

Map 47.

Vouchers: De Winter & Marais 4828; Smith 4090,

1629.

908 6. FLOSCOPA

Floscopa Lour., FI. Cochin. 189, 192 (1790); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 267

(1881), and in F.C. 7: 14 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 84 (1901); Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2,3: 26

(1968); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 911 (1976). Type species: F. scandens Lour.

Perennial or annual hygrophytic herbs. Stems erect or ascending, rooting from lower

nodes or with a basal root-crown. Leaves mostly linear to oblong, acute, sheathing at base.

Inflorescence a terminal, lax to dense, often leafy compound thyrse, glandular-pubescent or

glabrous; bracteoles small or lacking; pedicels short. Flowers small, bisexual. Sepals 3, free,

equal, persistent. Petals 3, free, deliquescent, equal or lower one narrower, blue, mauve, pink

or yellow. Stamens (5-)6, equal or upper 3 slightly different from lower 3; filaments glabrous;

upper 3 fused basally. Ovary 2-celled with 1 ovule in each locule, glabrous. Capsules shortly

stipitate, dorsiventrally compressed, ellipsoid to obovoid, apex retuse or acute; seeds de-

pressed hemispherical, ribbed or smooth, occasionally covered by small glandular discs, with a

linear hilum and dorsal embryotega.

Widespread in warmer regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, Central and South America; c. 20 species. Three species

in Southern Africa; aquatics.

The name was derived from flos (flower) and scopa (broom), as the compact inflorescence resembles a flower-

broom.

1 Flowers purple to pink; moderate-sized, sprawling plants 0,3- 1 m high with cauline leaves:

2 Inflorescences glandular-pubescent, usually dense 1 . F. glomerata

2 Inflorescences glabrous, lax 2. F. leiothyrsa

1 Flowers yellow to orange; small annuals up to c. 100 mm high with basal leaves 3. F. flavida

1. Floscopa glomerata (Willd. ex J. A. &

J.H. Schult.) Hassk. in Commel. Ind. 166

(1870); C. B. Cl. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan.

3: 267 (1881), and in F.C. 7: 15 (1897), and in

F.T.A. 8: 86 (1902); Brenan in F.W.T.A.

edn 2,3: 28 (1968); Schreiber et al. in

F.S.W.A. 159: 11 (1969). Type: Madagascar,

collector ? (B, herb. Willdenow, microfiche

6345).

Tradescantia glomerata Willd. ex J. A. & J. H. Schult.,

Syst. Veg. 7(2): 1175 (1830). Dithyrocarpus glorneratus

(J. A. & J.H. Schult.) Kunth, Enum. Plant. 4: 78 (1843).

D. capensis Kunth, Enum. Plant. 4: 78 (1843). Type:

Cape, Drege , Herb. Cap. No. 4472 (B, holo.).

Perennial aquatic herbs exserted to c. 0,6

m above water level. Stems few-branched,

decumbent, producing numerous adventitious

roots from each lower node. Leaves linear-

acuminate, c. 80 x 12 mm, basal cylindrical

sheath c. 12 mm long; upper younger leaves

progressively smaller, glabrous. Inflorescences

terminal, glandular-pubescent, compact, c.

20-40 mm long, consisting of several to many

one-sided, dense, short cymes and reduced

thyrses, with flowers close together, ebracteo-

late, shortly pedicelled. Flowers small, zygo-

COMMELINACEAE

2: 57

morphic, open in morning for short period.

Sepals ovate, 2-3 mm long, pale purple, glan-

dular-pubescent. Petals 3, mauve, unequal,

upper 2 ovate, c. 3-4 mm long, lower linear.

Stamens 6; 3 lower longer, declinate, anthers

with narrow connectives; 3 upper somewhat

shorter, anther sacs round, separated by a

broad, square, yellow connective. Ovary

compressed-cordate; style long, filiform;

stigma terminal, minute, included within

shrivelled petals after anthesis. Capsule c. 2

mm long, pale, shiny; seed hemi-ovoid, 1-1,5

mm long, smooth, greyish blue. Fig. 15.

Widespread in warmer parts of Southern Africa to

tropical Africa and Madagascar; growing along stream-

banks. Map 48.

Fig. 15. — Floscopa glomerata: 1, flowering branch, x 0,6; 2, part of inflorescence in fruiting stage, x 2; 3, flower,

x 5; 4, capsule, style and persistent sepals, x 3; 5, gynoecium, x 6; 6, staminode, x 6; 7, stamen, x 6; 8, seed, showing

hilum, x 6; 9, seed, showing embryotega, x 6 ( Mauve 5301).

2: 58

COMMELINACEAE

Vouchers: Acocks 13371; Junod sub TRV 21220;

MerxmiiUer & Giess 1953; Story 4793; Strey 3270; Wood

6372.

2. Floscopa leiothyrsa Brenan in Kew

Bull. 7: 206 (1952), and in F.W.T.A. edn 2,

3: 27 (1968). Type: Tanzania, Dodoma dis-

trict, Chaya Lake, Burtt 3802 (K, holo.).

Annual, weak-stemmed glabrous herb,

somewhat succulent, up to 600 mm tall with

sparse, thin, short, spreading side branches.

Leaves few, sessile, narrowly linear-acumi-

nate, c. 70 x 4 mm, upper changing to bracts.

Inflorescence of loose cymes, in axillary and

terminal thyrses. Sepals 3, convex, elliptic.

Petals blue, purple or carmine, upper 2 obo-

vate-elliptic, 3 mm long, somewhat unequal,

lower one oblong-linear, 3,5 mm. Stamens

3 + 3, unequal. Ovary compressed. Capsule

narrowly obovate, 2 mm long, pale; seeds

hemi-ellipsoid, 1 mm long, black, shiny,

finely reticulate.

Recorded from tropical Africa to northern Botswana;

in running water. Map. 49.

Vouchers: Smith 1778; Story 4760.

3. Floscopa flavida C.B. Cl. in A. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 269 (1881), and in F.T.A.

8: 87 (1901); Brenan in F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3:

27, f. 328 (1968). Syntypes: Central Africa,

Djur, Schweinfurth 2537, 4286; Dahomey,

Borgu near Niger River, Barter 760.

Map 49.— • Floscopa leiothyrsa

▲ Floscopa flavida

Fig. 16. — Floscopa flavida: A, open flower, x 3; B, stamen, x 8; C, fruit, X 8; D, vertical section of fruit, x 8; E,

top and F, side view of seeds, x 10. Reproduced from the 'Flora of West Tropical Africa’ with permission of the Direc-

tor of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

COMMELINACEAE

2: 59

Annuals, c. 100 mm tall, with basal,

erect, light green leaves and terminal and ax-

illary thyrses. Roots many, long, yellow, with

numerous thin side roots. Leaves linear,

acute, c. 50-80 x 7 mm, glabrous, loosely

sheathing at the base. Inflorescences on thin

exserted peduncles, composed of crook-

shaped cymes or flowers more loosely ar-

ranged; small, broad bracteoles sometimes

present. Sepals 3, maroon to purplish, ovate,

2 mm long. Petals yellow to orange, equal,

slightly longer than the sepals. Stamens 6,

equal. Ovary typical. Capsule compressed,

broader than long, 2 mm broad, apiculate,

shiny, cream; seeds subglobose, ribbed, re-

ticulate and punctulate, cream to grey. Fig.

16.

Widespread in warmer parts of Africa; Botswana,

South West Africa/Namibia (Caprivi Strip); in marshy

areas. Map 49.

Voucher: Curson 13.

911 7. TRADESCANTIA

Tradescantia L., Sp. Plant, 288 (1753); Bruckner in Pflanzenfam. edn 2, 15a: 166 (1930); Bail-

ey, Stand. Cycl. Hort. edn 20: 3363 (1963). Type species: T. virginiana L.

Perennial herbs. Stems simple to diffusely branched, erect or trailing, sometimes rooting

at nodes. Leaves oblong-ovate to linear. Inflorescence terminal and/or axillary, composed of

paired, sessile cymes, each pair subtended by leaf-like or spathe-like bracts. Flowers regular,

pedicellate, few to numerous. Sepals 3, free, green or coloured. Petals 3, free or connate, obo-

vate to orbicular, sometimes clawed, blue, rose, purple or white. Stamens 6, equal, filaments

bearded or smooth. Ovary 3-celled, with 2(-l) superposed ovules in each cell. Capsule loculici-

dally dehiscent; seeds variable, hilum linear to punctate; embryotega dorsal.

About 60 species in North and South America; several in cultivation. One or two species naturalized in Southern

Africa, as T. virginiana L. has also been recently recorded as a garden escape. The genus was named after John Trades-

cant, gardener to Charles I, who died in 1638.

Tradescantia fluminensis Veil., FI. Flum.

140, 3, t. 152 (1827); Bailey, Stand. Cycl.

Hort. edn 20: 3363, t. 3829, 3830 (1963); Hor-

tus Third 1120 (1977); Cheesman, Man. New

Zeal. FI. 1059 (1925); Adamson in Adamson

& Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 160 (1950). Icono-

type: Brazil, t. 152 in FI. Flum.

Glabrescent herbs with decumbent, slen-

der, leafy stems, rooting at nodes. Leaves dis-

tichous, ovate-acuminate, abruptly narrowed

into a short, broad, open, ciliate sheath, c.

25-40 x 15-20 mm, often with white and

purple stripes, purple below. Flowers in pairs

of few-flowered cymes, terminal and/or ter-

minating abbreviated side branches; each pair

of cymes subtended by 2 leaf-like subequal

bracts, pedicels c. 10 mm. Sepals ovate-acu-

minate, with a ciliate keel, c. 6 mm long,

green. Petals ovate, c. 8 mm long, white. Sta-

mens 6, with filaments c. 8 mm long, bearing

long beaded hairs in lower half; anthers with

an obtriangular connective, locules spreading

outwards towards apex. Ovary 3-locular, ob-

long-globose, with 2 ovules in each locule;

style terete or somewhat swollen in middle,

stigma capitate. Capsule 2 mm long, charta-

ceous; seeds reticulate, hilum linear.

South America: Central Brazil to Argentina. A com-

mon weed in New Zealand. So far rare in Southern Afri-

ca: a few records from Natal, Swaziland and eastern

Transvaal; shade-loving. One of several species often cul-

tivated and referred to as “Wandering Jew”. Map 50.

Vouchers: Buitendag 1120; Miller 3040; Ram s.n.

Often mistaken for T. albiflora Kunth, a species com-

monly cultivated in Southern Africa, which is coarser and

has no purple colouring on the lower side of the leaf.

However, they may represent different forms of a single

species, as suggested by Dr R. B. Fadcn.

2: 60

COMMELINACEAE

Fig. 17. — Tradescantia fluminensis: 1, base of plant and flowering branch, x 1; 2, leaf-sheath, x 1,5; 3, flower, x

5; 4, seed, x 10 ( Buitendag 1 120).

PONTEDERIACEAE

2: 61

PONTEDERIACEAE

by A. A. Obermeyer

Aquatic herbs with sympodial stems or rhizomes, rooted or free-floating. Leaves often

dimorphous, spirally arranged, sheathing at base; emergent leaves with long, sometimes swol-

len petioles; blades spathulate, orbicular, ovate, cordate or hastate; submersed leaves linear.

Inflorescence terminating a 1 -leaved section of sympodium, exserted from leaf-sheath, race-

mose, spicate, subumbellate or 2-1-flowered. Flowers ebracteate, bisexual, occasionally some

cleistogamous. Perianth usually with a short tube and spreading zygomorphic limb, rarely 6-

partite and more or less regular, blue, white or yellow, fugaceous, marcescent. Stamens (1)

3-6, dimorphous, filaments free, inserted on perianth-tube at different levels or hypogynous,

anthers 2-thecous, opening by slits or pores. Ovary superior, (l)3-locular with axile or parietal

placentas, 1-many-ovulate; style filiform; stigma capitate or shortly lobed. Capsule loculicidal,

1-3-valved, with a thin pericarp or a utricle; seeds small, ovate, obtuse, ribbed, spaces be-

tween ribs with close-set transverse lines.

Genera 5, species about 25, all freshwater hygrophytes, widespread in tropics and subtropics.

Lit. Solms-Laub. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 4: 501 (1883), and in Bot. Ztg 41: 301 (1883); Benth. & Hook, f.,

Gen. PI. 3: 836 (1883); Schonl. in Natiirl. PflFam. edn 2,4: 70 (1888); N.E. Br. in F.C. 7:1 (1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 1

(1902); Schwartz in Beih. bot. Zbl. 42,1: 263 (1926), and in Bot. Jb. 61, Beibl. 139: 28 (1927), and in Natiirl. PflFam.

edn 2, 15a: 181 (1930); Sculthorpe, Biol. Aquat. Vase. Plants (1967); Hepper in F.W.T.A. edn 2,3,1: 108 (1968); Verde,

in F.T.E.A. Pontederiaceae: 1 (1968); Podlech in F.S.W.A. 154: 2 (1969); Cook et al., Waterplants World 482 (1974);

R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 912 (1976).

1 Ovary 1-locular, with one ovule; utricle enclosed in accrescent base of perianth 3. Pontederia

1 Ovary 3-locular, with numerous ovules; capsule many-seeded:

2 Stamens 3 4. Heteranthera

2 Stamens 6:

3 Perianth-segments free to base; one stamen larger with a blue anther and an erect

apical tooth 1. Monochoria

3 Perianth forming a tube and spreading zygomorphic limb; with 3 short and 3 long

stamens 2. Eichhornia

920

1. MONOCHORIA

Monochoria Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 127 (1827); N.E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 51 (1901); Hepper in

F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3,1: 108 (1968); Verde, in F.T.E.A. Pontederiaceae: 1 (1968); R. A. Dyer,

Gen. 2: 912 (1976). Type species: M. hastata Solms-Laub.

Perennial aquatic herbs, erect, usually deciduous. Leaves radical, emergent, petiolate with

cordate to ovate blade. Flowers racemose or subumbellate, pedicelled. Perianth-lobes 6, free,

subequal, blue, marcescent. Stamens 6, arising from base of segments, unequal, one larger

with an erect apical tooth on one side of filament; anthers erect, basifixed, opening by apical

slits. Ovary 3-locular with axile placentas, many-ovulate; style filiform, stigma apical, 3-lobed,

small. Capsule spindle-shaped, with thin pericarp enclosed by marcescent perianth; seeds nu-

merous, minute, ovoid, with several thin ribs.

A genus of 7 species, occurring in Africa, Asia and Australia. One tropical African species recorded from the

Transvaal Lowveld.

The name Monochoria alludes to the one stamen being different; it is larger, blue, and its filament bears an apical

upright tooth.

2: 62

PONTEDERIACEAE

Fig. 18. — Monochoria africana: 1 & 2, (lowering stems, x 0,6; 3, flower, x 3; 4, outer perianth-lobe, x 3; 5, inner

perianth-lobe, x 3; 6, perianth-lobe with one each of the two types of stamens attached, x 4; 7, gynoecium in longitudi-

nal section, x 6 (all from Greenway A Rawlins 9483). Reproduced from the ‘Flora of Tropical East Africa' with permis-

sion of the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

PONTEDERIACEAE

2: 63

Monochoria africana (Solms-Laub.) N.E.

Br. in F.T.A. 8: 5 (1901); Schwartz in Bot.

Jb. 61, Beibl. 139: 36 (1927); F. W. Andr.,

FI. PI. Anglo-Egypt. Sudan 3: 278 (1956);

Verde, in Kirkia 1: 81, t. 8 (1960), F.T.E.A.

Pontederiaceae: 3, fig. 1 (1968); Berhaut, FI.

Seneg. 316, t. opp. p. 448 (1967). Type:

Sudan, Equatoria, Jur Ghattas, Schweinfurth

2296 (B, holo.f ; K; PRE!).

M. vaginalis (Burm. f.) Prcsl ex Kunth var. africana

Solms-Laub. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 4: 525 (1883).

Tufted aquatic annual up to 0,75 m tall,

leaves and racemes basal, roots fibrous, very

numerous. Leaves: lamina cordate to ovate,

c. 100 mm long, attenuated into acute apex;

petioles up to 70 mm long, sheathed basally.'

Flowering stem bearing simple, shortly pedun-

culate raceme, emerging from leaf-sheath of

somewhat reduced apical leaf; rhachis up to

200 mm long, many-flowered, pedicels thin,

c. 10 mm long. Flowers with segments nearly

free to base, c. 15 mm long, blue with red

glands dotted along midrib. Stamens some-

what unequal; 5 smaller, yellow, 6th larger

with blue anther. Ovary oblong-globose; style

somewhat declinate; stigma papillate. Capsule

fusiform, 14 mm long; permanent style form-

ing beak, enclosed in marcescent perianth,

dehiscing explosively; seed typical.

The only known record for the region is from Trans-

vaal in the southern part of the Kruger National Park,

where it occurs along the sides of shallow seasonal pools

from November to May. Widespread in tropical and sub-

tropical Africa but rarely collected. Plants (excluding

roots) edible. Map 51.

Vouchers: Stevenson-Hamilton in PRE 2281; Van

Wyk 4662.

921 2. EICHHORNIA

Eichhornia Kunth , Eichhornia gen. nov. fam. Pontederiaceae (1842), and in Enum. PI. 4: 129

(1843); Solms in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 4: 525 (1883); N. E. Br. in F.T.A. 8: 4 (1902); Pod-

lech in F.S.W.A. 154: 1 (1969); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 912 (1976), nom. cons. Type species:

E. azurea (Swartz) Kunth.

Perennial aquatic herbs, rooting in mud or free-floating. Roots many, long and feathery in

floating plants. Leaves dimorphous; emergent ones often with swollen, long petioles and ob-

ovate, orbicular, spathulate or lanceolate blades; submerged ones linear, with petioles sheath-

ing stems, shortly stipulate. Flowers in well developed panicles or spikes or these reduced to

2-1 flowers. Perianth funnel-shaped, with a somewhat curved tube and 6 subequal spreading

lobes, blue or mauve. Stamens 6, upper included, lower exserted, anthers dorsifixed, oblong,

opening lengthwise. Ovary 3-locular; ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma slightly dilated,

entire or very shortly lobed. Capsule spindle-shaped, covered with marcescent perianth. Seeds

numerous, small, ovoid, finely ribbed. Chromosomes: n = 16.

A genus of 5 American species, but one of these (E. natans,) also occurs wild in northern South West Africa/Nami-

bia and further north in tropical Africa. Eichhornia crassipes from Brazil is now naturalized in Southern Africa and else-

where, and is a widespread noxious weed.

Named after an eminent Prussian Minister, J. A. Eichhorn, 1779- 1856.

1 Leaves dimorphous: submerged leaves linear and cordate, emergent leaves arranged on long spreading stems;

perianth-limb c. 10 mm in diam 1. E. natans

1 Leaves uniform, clustered, emergent, with a spade-shaped lamina and swollen petiole; perianth-limb c. 50 mm in

diam 2. E. crassipes

2: 64

PONTEDERIACEAE

1. Eichhornia natans (P.Beauv.) Solms-

Lciub. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen and in

A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 4: 526 (1883); N. E.

Br. in F.T.A. 8: 4 (1901); Hepper in

F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3,1: 110, fig. 356 (1968);

Podlech in F.S.W.A. 154: 2 (1969). Type:

Nigeria, Oware, banks of Formosa River,

Palisot de Beauvois s.n. (G, holo.).

Pontederia natans P.Beauv., FI. Owar. 2: 18, t. 68, fig.

2(1810).

Herbaceous rooted aquatic forming

dense, submerged mats, upper branches with

emergent leaves and flowers. Stems long,

thin, rooting at lower nodes, roots long, with

numerous thin rootlets. Submersed leaves

thin, linear, up to 80 x 1-3 mm, sheathing at

base, sheath auriculate. Floating leaves with

long petiole; lamina cordate, c. 10-20 x

10-15 mm, entire, upper surface minutely

pustulate. Flowers terminal, solitary, enclosed

below by a tubular spathe with its short apex

abruptly recurved, apiculate; perianth-tube

narrowly cylindrical, up to 20 mm long; lobes

spreading, narrowly ovate, c. 6 mm long;

mauve or white. Stamens free. Capsule fusi-

form, attenuated into a long, persistent style,

c. 15 mm long. Seeds numerous, typical. Fig.

19.

Recorded from South West Africa/Namibia and

Botswana, widespread in subtropical and tropical Africa;

also in tropical America and Cuba. Map 52.

Vouchers: De Winter & Marais 5032; Dinter 7247;

Gibbs Russell & Biegel 1536; Smith 399.

2. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-

Laub. in A. DC., Monogr. Phan. 4: 527

(1883); Schwartz in Natiirl. PflFam. edn 2,

15a: 186 (1930); Adamson in Adamson &

Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 160 (1950); Backer

in Van Steenis, FI. Males, ser. 1,4: 259, figs 2,

3 (1951); Henderson & Anderson in Mem.

bot. Surv. S. Afr. 37: 66, 67 (1966); Scul-

thorpe, Biol. Aquat. Vase. Plants: 280, 460,

etc. (1967); Verde. & Carter, in F.T.E.A.

Pontederiaceae: 4 (1968). Type: Brazil,

Minas Geraes, Martius s.n. (M, holo.).

Pontederia crassipes Mart., Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 1: 9, t. 4

(1824). E. speciosa Kunth, Enum. PI. 4: 131 (1843).

Pontederia azurea sensu Hook, in Curtis’s bot. Mag.

t. 2932 (1829), non Sweet.

Herb, free-floating or rooted in mud, 40-

400(-800) mm tall. Roots many, long, dense-

ly feathery. Leaves 4-8, clustered on short

rhizomes, erect, petiole and lamina very vari-

able in size and shape: in young, free-floating

plants petiole 50-100 mm long, swollen

and fusiform in lower half, narrowly cylin-

drical above; blade spade-shaped or obtusely

rounded, 40-90 mm wide, smooth, firm; in

older large plants rooted in mud or under

crowded conditions, petiole cylindrical, up to

500 mm long and lamina ovate, up to 100 mm

long. Inflorescence a c. 8-flowered showy

spike, raised above leaves. Perianth with

short, curved tube, c. 20 mm long; limb sub-

bilabiate, c. 50 mm in diam., delicate, fuga-

ceous, pale mauve, central upper lobe broad-

est with large blue area and yellow spot in

centre. Stamens dimorphous, lower 3 ex-

serted, with glandular-hairy filaments curved

upwards at apex; upper 3 short, reaching

mouth of tube. Ovary ovoid, ovules numer-

ous; style in Southern African plants c. 25

mm long, shorter than long stamens, glandu-

lar-hairy; stigma globose, glandular-lamellate.

PONTEDERIACEAE

2: 65

Fig. 19. — Eichhornia natans: 1, flowering stem, x 1; 2, flower, x 4; 3, gynoecium, x 4; 4, tip of style and stigma,

x 16; 5, capsule and part of spathe, x 2; 6, part of capsule, with wall partly removed to show seeds, x 8; 7, transverse

section of capsule, oblique view, x 8; 8, seed, x 32 (all from Duke 2). Reproduced from the Flora of Tropical East

Africa' with permission of the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kcw.

2: 66

PONTEDERIACEAE

Capsule 3-locular, splitting longitudinally, be-

coming mucilaginous and disintegrating in

water when ripe; seed apomictic, rarely pro-

duced, terete, truncate, c. 12-ribbed, rarely

germinating.

Vouchers: Crawford 560; Musi! 351; Ward 8926.

The water hyacinth, a native of South America, now

widespread in all tropical and subtropical countries, was

introduced here in 1884 and has now become naturalized

all over the region. It is a menace in most quiet waters

and control has proved very costly. Flowers from this

country all possess 3 stamens which are longer than the

style but it was seen that in some Zimbabwean collections

the style was exserted beyond the stamens. (Lomagundi

district, Hunyani River, Phipps 2491, Jacobsen 2433; see

also Wild, Harmful Aquatic Plants, Africa and Madagas-

car, t. 1; 1961). Schiirhoff in Ber. dt. bot. Ges. 40: 60

(1922) established that the pollen is sterile, the seeds

developing apomictically (agamospermy). Map 53.

922 3. PONTEDERIA

Pontederia L., Sp. PI. 288 (1753); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 3, 2; 837 (1883); Schwartz in

Natiirl. PflFam. edn 15a: 188 (1930); Rendle, Class. Flow. PI. 1: 281 (1953); Lowden in Rho-

dora 75: 426-487 (1973). Type species: P. cordata L.

Perennial herbaceous hygrophytes, terrestrial or free-floating. Leaves usually exserted.

Inflorescence with numerous sessile, clustered flowers forming a dense blue or rarely white

spike. Flowers with perianth forming a tube and limb somewhat bilabiate, middle lobe of up-

per 3 wider and with a central blotch; lower 3 similar; lower part of perianth persistent, envel-

oping utricle. Stamens 6, unequal, anther-locules opening by slits. Ovary 1-locular; ovule 1,

pendulous; style slender, short, medium or long; stigma apical. Utricle winged. Chromosomes:

n = 8.

An American genus with 5 species. The species below has become naturalized in some areas of the Republic.

Named after Guilio Pontedera, a professor of Botany in Padua, 1688-1757.

Pontederia cordata L., Sp. PI. 288 1753);

Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 2, t. 225 (1797); Ker-

Gawl. in Curtis’s bot. Mag. 29, t. 1156

(1808); Solms-Laub. in A. DC., Monogr.

Phan. 4: 532 (1883); R. W. Sm. in Bot. Gaz.

25: 324 (1898), l.c. 45: 338 (1908); Coker, l.c.

44: 293 (1907); Schwartz in Natiirl. PflFam.

edn 2, 15a: 188 (1930). Type: LINN 407.42

(LINN, holo.; photo.!).

var. ovalis (Mart.) Solms in A. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 4: 533 (1883). Type: Brazil,

Martius s.n. (M, holo.).

P. ovalis Mart, in Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 7: 1140

(1830).

Rooted herbaceous hygrophyte 1-2 m

tall, with a horizontal rhizome, forming colo-

nies. Stems long, sympodial, l-leaved, leaves

erect, exserted, with short petiole forming

dilated sheath at base; lamina cordate (in

typical variety) to ovate or ‘lanceolate’ (in

var. ovalis ), c. 230 x 70 mm, firm, smooth.

Flowering stem emerging from sheathing base

of leaf and about as long; peduncle short, pu-

bescent, enveloped by large sheathing bract.

Spike cylindrical, up to c. 100 mm long and 20

mm broad, flowers dense, clustered, blue,

rarely white. Perianth c. 15 mm long, shortly

pubescent on outside, funnel-shaped, upper

lip broader than side-lobes, with yellow

blotch in centre. Stamens unequal, upper

shorter, included, lower exserted, filaments

filiform, pubescent. Ovary: abortive carpels

surviving as ridges on walls of ovary; style

long or short, slender; stigma apical. Utricle

enveloped by accrescent base of perianth.

Fig. 20.

South America, naturalized in North America. A

well known decorative, cultivated aquatic, common in

parks and gardens, recently found growing wild along

riverbanks in Kwazulu; also said to occur in the eastern

Cape. Common name in America: Pickerell Weed. Map

54.

PONTEDERIACEAE

2: 67

Fig. 20. — Pontederia cordata: a, flowering stem, x 0,5; b, flower, x 2,5 ( Mauve 5442).

2: 68

PONTEDERIACEAE

Voucher: Musil 124.

R. W. Smith in Bot. Gaz. 25: 324 (1898) observed

that the pollen of this species is sterile. Coker in Bot.

Gaz. 44: 293 (1907) described the development of the

seed.

Both var. cordata and var. ovalis have been intro-

duced into Southern Africa. So far only var. ovalis has

been found growing wild in Kwazulu. The typical variety,

like var. ovalis , has pubescent peduncles, a fact not men-

tioned by Lowden (1973).

924 4. HETERANTHERA

Heteranthera Ruiz & Pav., FI. Peruv. chil. Prodr. 9, t. 2 (1794); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 1 (1897);

Verde, in F.T.E.A. Pontederiaceae: 6, t. 3 (1968); Podlech in F.S.W.A. 154: 2 (1969); R. A.

Dyer, Gen. 2: 913 (1976); nom. cons. Type species: H. reniformis Ruiz & Pav.

Perennial aquatic herbs, rhizomatous, rooting in mud. Leaves with long, swollen, spongy

petiole with expanded sheathing base; blade cordate-hastate or ovate, floating or occasionally

all leaves submerged, linear. Flowers small, in a terminal spike, shortly raised above surface of

water, rarely reduced to 1-2, occasionally some cleistogamous. Perianth regular or nearly so,

salver- or funnel-shaped, blue, mauve, violet or white, accrescent. Stamens 3 (1 in cleisto-

gamous flowers), exserted; filaments arising from throat of tube; median stamen occasionally

longer; anthers dorsifixed, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary imperfectly 3-locular with 3

parietal, multi-ovulate placentas; style filiform; stigma small. Capsule oblong or terete; seeds

numerous, ovoid.

A genus of about 10 species, mostly American; also in tropical Africa; one of these found as far south as South

West Africa/Namibia and Transvaal. The name refers to the dimorphous anthers.

Heteranthera callifolia Kunth, Enum. PI.

4: 121 (1843); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7; 1 (1897),

and in F.T.A. 8: 2 (1901); Hepper in

F.W.T.A. edn 2, 3: 111 (1968); Verde, in

F.T.E.A. Pontederiaceae: 6, fig. 3 (1968);

Podlech in F.S.W.A. 154: 2 (1969). Type:

Senegal, Sieber 51 (P, holo.; K).

H. kotschyana Fenzl ex Solms-Laub. in Schweinf.,

Beitr. FI. Aethiop. 1: 205 (1867); N. E. Br. in F.C. 7: 2

(1897). Type: Sudan Republic, Kordofan, by Mulbes at

Obeid, Cienkowsky 378 (W, holo.).

Somewhat fleshy, creeping aquatic herbs

up to c. 0,3 m tall, rooting at nodes, roots

densely covered with short rootlets; exposed

parts dying back in dry season, rhizomes

probably perennial. Leaves with erect, hollow

petioles up to c. 200 mm long, and cordate,

floating blades c. 50 mm long; old leaf-

sheaths purple-tinged. Spikes up to 10-

flowered, minutely glandular-pubescent, just

raised above water. Normal flowers subregu-

lar; perianth-tube c. 10 mm long, lobes 6,

more or less equal, narrowly ovate, 5 mm

long, white, blue, mauve or violet. Stamens

exserted from tube placed on anterior side;

filaments inserted on tube, white or blue;

anthers yellow, reflexed, dorsifixed near base.

Ovary ovoid; style deflected to one side,

short; stigma small. Capsule cylindrical, api-

culate, c. 10 mm long, ensheathed by accres-

cent perianth-tube; walls disintegrating at ma-

turity; seeds typical. Cleistogamous flower

solitary, hidden inside spathe of spike, which

in turn is subtended by leaf-sheath. Capsule c.

15 mm long, larger and with more seeds than

in that of normal flowers. Buds in lower leaf-

axils occasionally forming vegetative shoots.

Fig. 21.

Recorded from South West Africa/Namibia, Bo-

tswana and the Transvaal. Widespread in subtropical and

tropical Africa. In swampy areas, vleis, pans or rock pools

which become dry in winter. Map 55.

Vouchers: Dinter 7353; Germishuizen 36; Schoenfel-

der S814; Smith 496; Theron 2980.

PONTEDERIACEAE

2: 69

Fig. 21. — Heteranthera callifolia: 1, habit, x 0,5; 2, detail of leaf-sheaths, x 1,5; 3, upper part of petiole and base of leaf-blade, x 1; 4, leaf-blade, surface view, X 1;

5, bud, x 4; 6, flower, x 4; 7, perianth, detached and flattened, X 4; 8, glandular hair from perianth, x 40; 9, gynoecium, X 4; 10, part of infructescence with two cap-

sules, x 2; 11, glandular hair from perianth remnants sheathing capsule, x 40; 12, seed, X 22 (1-4, 10-12, from Polhill cfe Paulo 1704; 5-9, from Polhill & Paulo 2168).

Reproduced from the ‘Flora of Tropical East Africa' with permission of the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

JUNCACEAE

2: 71

JUNCACEAE

by A. A. Obermeyer

Annual or perennial rhizomatous hygrophytic herbs often with aerenchymatous tissue, or

with a woody stem bearing an apical leaf-rosette (Prionium) . Leaves grass-like, or tubular and

pungent, sometimes septate, lower ones often reduced to cataphylls; or in Prionium ovate-

acuminate, hard, spinous. Flowers bracteate, on long, usually naked peduncles, in terminal or

pseudolateral panicles (anthelae) or congested into capitula. Perianth small, regular, bisexual,

marcescent. Tepals with 3 outer and 3 inner subsimilar, glumaceous, green or brown. Stamens

(3)6, hypogynous; filaments filiform or trigonous; anthers 2-thecous, basifixed, introrse, dehis-

cing longitudinally; pollen in tetrads. Ovary 1- or 3-locular; ovules 3-many, biseriate, basal,

axile or parietal; style present or 0; stigmas 3. Capsule 1 -3-locular, dehiscing loculicidally;

seeds very small, 3-many, ovoid, obovoid, globose, spindle-shaped or compressed, often with

basal and/or apical appendages, occasionally becoming mucilaginous.

Genera 8, species about 300, cosmopolitan, in temperate or cold regions; 3 genera in Southern Africa; usually hy-

grophytes, anemophilous or dispersed by animals (in cases where the seeds become mucilaginous).

1 Robust perennial, caulescent plants with an apical leaf-rosette; leaves serrate 1. Prionium

1 Rushes, perennial or annual, with basal, entire leaves:

2 Leaves glabrous; leaf-sheaths usually open; flowers in decompound inflorescences to

much reduced single capitula; capsules many-seeded 2. Juncus

2 Leaves with long, soft, inconspicuous, scattered hairs; leaf-sheaths closed; flowers in an

oblong, compact head; capsules 3-seeded 3. Luzula

930

1. PRIONIUM

Prionium E. Mey. in Linnaea 7: 130 (1832); Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen 4: 408

(1875) and in Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 41 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 28 (1897); Adamson in

Adamson & Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 161 (1950); Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 65-69, etc.

(1969); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 914 (1976). Type species: Prionium serration (L. f.) Drege ex

E. Mey.

Robust stoloniferous perennials with leaves in dense apical rosettes. Stems stout, erect,

branched only basally, densely covered with black fibrous remains of old leaves. Leaves long,

rigid, with tubular sheathing base. Inflorescence a large, much branched terminal panicle;

peduncle exserted, trigonous; side branches and branchlets bearing few- to many-flowered

fascicles; bracts funnel-shaped, caudate. Flowers shortly pedicelled. Tepals sub-equal, ovate,

rigid, brown. Stamens 6, usually exserted; filaments filiform; anthers basifixed, oblong, with

opposing locules, opening lengthwise. Ovary ovoid, 3-locular; ovules 3-6 in lower half of each

locule, axile; style short or 0; stigmatic branches 3, thick, papillate. Capsule obovoid, tri-

costate; seeds 1(— 2) per locule, ovoid-oblong.

Species 1, endemic in the Cape and southern Natal.

Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 65-69, etc. (1969) would prefer to place this genus in a family on its own.

The name Prionium is derived from the Greek prion , a saw.

Prionium serratum (L. f.) Drege ex E.

Mey. in Drege, Zwei Pfi. Doc. 10 (1843);

Hook, in Hooker, Lond. J. Bot. 9: 173

(1857); Hook. f. in Curtis’s bot. Mag. t. 5722

(1868). Type: Cape, Thunberg, LINN 449: 50

(LINN, holo., PRE, photo.!).

Juncus serratum L. f. , Suppl. 208 (1782).

Prionium palmita E. Mey. in Linnaea 7: 131 (1832);

Kunth, Enum. 3: 315 (1841); Bak. in F.C. 7: 28 (1897).

Type: Cape, Table Mountain, Ecklon (S, holo.).

Stems up to about 2 m high, 50-100 mm

in diameter. Leaves linear-acuminate, up to 1

2: 72 Juncaceae

Fig. 22. — Prionium serratum: 1, habit (much reduced, after photo, Strey 8288); 2, flowering twig, x 0,4 ( Strey

8288); 3, fibrous remains of leaf base spread out, x 0,6; 4, part of leaf showing serrate margin, x 1,2; 5, transverse sec-

tion of leaf showing fibrovascular bundles, x 3,5; 6, ripe fruit, carpels dehiscing at ventral suture, showing seeds, x 4; 7,

flower, x 3; 8, ovary, x 3; 9, ovary (transverse section), x 7; 10, seed with loose envelope, x 7,6; 11, seed after remov-

al of envelope, X 7,6 (figures 3-6; 9 & 10 after Marloth, The Flora of South Africa 4: 72, fig. 19; 7 & 8 after Strey 7764;

1 1 after Marloth 467).

JUNCACEAE

2: 73

m long and up to 80 mm broad near the base,

margins sharply serrulate. Inflorescence erect,

up to 0,5 m high; branches ascending, c. 0,2

m long, bearing numerous flowering branch-

lets c. 40 mm long. Flowers in lateral fascicles

surrounded below by funnelform, caudate

bracts, diminishing in size towards the apex.

Perianth segments acute, c. 3 mm long, bright

brown. Stamens as long as perianth or slightly

longer. Ovary ovoid, obtusely 3-angled. Fig.

22.

An aquatic or semi-aquatic, common in the southern

Cape, often choking rivers; along the coast and further in-

land as far as Tulbagh and Ceres; in the S.E. Cape it has

been collected at Howieson’s Poort, and in the Transkei

at Lusikisiki. Frequent also in southern Natal, along the

coast and further inland. Map 56.

Vouchers: Codd 9704; Gatpin 4780; Marloth 467,

5164b; Mauve & Hugo 121; Miller 154; Schonland 3306;

Strey 7764; 8288.

The leaves contain strong fibres and were formerly

used for plaiting straw hats. Common name: Palmiet.

936 2. JUNCUS

Juncus L., Sp. PI. 325 (1753); Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen 4: 393 (1875), and in

Bot. Jb. 12: 167 (1890), and in Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 98 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 17

(1897), and in F.T.A. 7: 92 (1897); Vierhapper in Natiirl. PflFam. edn 2, 15a: 214 (1930);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 1 (1935); Weim. in Svensk bot. Tidskr. 40: 141 (1946);

Adamson in Adamson & Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 161 (1950); Snogerup, Flora Iran. Junca-

ceae: 1 (1971); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 914 (1976). Type species: Juncus acutus L.

Annuals or perennials, stiff and pungent, rush- or grass-like, rhizomatous, usually tufted,

glabrous. Roots thin and numerous or, in perennials growing in saline habitats, thick and

woody, covered by a dense velamen of root-hairs. Leaves basal or on stolons, many to few-1

per shoot, flat and soft or cylindric, rigid and often pungent; in subgenus Septati transversely

septate; lower leaves often reduced to cataphylls; sheaths open, rarely cylindrical at first, often

long and auriculate. Flowers proterogynous, occasionally cleistogamous, or turning into vege-

tative buds which form new plants; actinomorphic, subtended by 3 or 1 prophylls; arranged in

much branched dichasia or reduced to a solitary capitulum; the flowers in clusters, capitula or

solitary but congested on secund, spicate branchlets. Tepals glumaceous, narrowly ovate,

usually with a broad firm midrib and membranous sides, outer usually longer, enveloping in-

ner, often aristate; inner shorter, often broader, rarely enlarging in fruit, apex acute or aris-

tate. Stamens 6, or rarely 3 inner aborted, hypogynous, shorter than tepals (in S. African

species); filaments filiform, very short or longer; anthers basifixed, introrse, bilocular, dehis-

cing longitudinally; pollen in tetrads. Ovary unilocular initially (and remaining so in subgenus

Septati ), becoming 3-locular in most species by centripetal development of placental ridges

meeting in centre to form an axis; style long to short or 0; stigmas 3, short and often convolute,

to very long and exserted, often red, with long glutinous papillae. Capsule 1-3-locular or tri-

septate, loculicidal with placental axis splitting down centre or rarely remaining intact; seeds

minute, very numerous, globose to ellipsoid or obconic, one side sometimes flattened, reticu-

late or striate, scobiform or smooth, in some species covered with a thin hygroscopic mem-

brane.

Species about 250; cosmopolitan but predominantly in temperate climates. In Southern Africa 21 species; in wet

surroundings such as riverbanks, marshes, sandy beaches, saltpans, or in temporary moist depressions along roads, fields

and open spaces, often covering vast areas. Flowering usually in spring.

The name Juncus is derived from the Latin 'jungere' meaning to join, and refers to its use in ancient times for pro-

ducing plaited mats, chairseats, etc. The pith was used as a wick. It is also suitable for paper making.

2: 74

JUNCACEAE

1 Each flower subtended by a bract and 2 bracteoles:

2 Leaves flat or semiterete, grooved; flowers in divergent or unilateral, secund spikes; cataphylls 0 or small (sub-

genus Poiophylli Buchen.):

3 Annuals, small; stems leafy, all flowering freely; lamina flat, grass-like; without cataphylls 1.7. bufonius

3 Perennials; leaves at or near base, flat or semiterete; flowers on bare scapes; cataphylls present:

4 Leaves grass-like, flat; flowers in loose terminal panicles; tepals spreading, overtopping capsules 2. 7. tenuis

4 Leaves semiterete, sulcate, firm; flowers pseudolateral, subtending bract forming continuation of stem;

tepals about as long as capsules:

5 -Plants up to 0,6 m tall, sclerotic; tepals 5 mm long; flowering in spring 3.7. imbricatus

5 Plants up to 0,25 m tall, softer; tepals 3 mm long; flowering in autumn 4. 7. capillaceus

2 Leaves cylindric, cauliform, pungent, surrounded below by sheathing cataphylls; inflorescence pseudolateral,

subtending bract forming continuation of stem (subgenus Genuini Buchen.):

6 Stamens 3; tepals 2 mm long, spreading; pith continuous; capsule obtuse, thin 5. 7. effusus

6 Stamens 6; tepals 4 mm long, erect; pith with lacunae; capsule acute, hard 6. 7. inflexus

1 Each flower subtended by a single bract:

7 Leaves few, cylindric, hard and pungent or softer and acute; cataphylls well developed, sheathing; perennials:

8 Leaves non-septate, basal, rigid, pungent; flowers clustered in compound, pseudolateral inflorescences;

seeds appendaged or apiculate (subgenus Thalassici Buchen.):

9 Capsule globose, exserted from perianth; inner tepals with apical hyaline auricles l.J.acutus

9 Capsule subterete, triangular, about as long or just exserted from perianth; inner tepals with a straight,

narrow, hyaline margin:

10 Inflorescence usually plumose, compact, flowers in glomerules; capsule as long as perianth; seed

apiculate; a coastal species, rarely inland 8.7. kraussii subsp. kraussii

10 Inflorescence more loosely branched, with flowers 1-few, on shorter and longer side branchlets; cap-

sule exserted; seed appendaged; in brackish areas or saltpans in the interior 9.7. rigidus

8 Leaves septate, cauline, fairly soft and pointed; flowers in capitula on divaricate terminal inflorescences;

seeds apiculate (subgenus Septati Buchen.):

11 Flowering stem with 1 long leaf; capsule tri-locular; medulla of stem consisting of a central and lateral

airspaces 10. 7. punctorius

11 Flowering stem with 3-5 leaves; capsule unilocular; medulla of stem with a central cavity only:

12 Capsule ovoid, obtuse, enclosed in perianth 11.7. oxycarpus

12 Capsule cylindrical, beaked, exserted from perianth 12.7. exsertus

7 Leaves many, flat or channelled, basal, not septate; cataphylls absent; flowers in capitula; perennials or an-

nuals with many thin roots (subgenus Graminifolii Buchen.):

13 Perennials; flowers in terminal panicles; capitula dense to few-flowered:

14 Leaves broad, soft, flat, rosulate; plants repent 13. 7. lomatophyllus

14 Leaves grass-like, linear-acuminate to filiform; plants erect, tufted:

15 Style and stigmas long, red, much exserted; anthers longer than short filaments; perianth 4-5 mm

long 14. 7. capensis

15 Style 0 or very short; stigmas spreading on ovary; anthers short, as long as filaments; perianth 3 mm

long 15. 7. dregeanus

13 Annuals; capitula solitary or in panicles, many- to few-flowered:

16 Stamens 6:

17 Capitula solitary or rarely with 1-2 smaller younger ones, brush-like; plants scabrid; capsule cylindri-

cal 19. 7. scabriusculus

17 Capitula in panicles:

18 Anthers small, as long as filaments; style and stigmas short; capitula small, few-flowered, cup-

shaped; thin wiry plants 18.7. rupestris

18 Anthers long on very short filaments; style and stigmas long, exserted; capitula many-flowered:

19 Capsule shortly beaked; capitula with flowers closely pressed together; tepals aristate; inner

acute, enlarging with age, outstripping outer 16. 7. cephalotes

19 Capsule with a long beak; capitula with narrow flowers squarrosely arranged, shortly pedicelled;

tepals long, aristate 17 . 7. stenopetalus

16 Stamens 3, rarely 6; plants with capitulum pseudolateral:

20 Subtending bract exserted, forming continuation of stem; cosmopolitan 20.7. capitatus

20 Subtending bract very short; Namaqualand 21. 7. obliquus

JUNCACEAE

2: 75

Fig. 23. — 1, Juncus effusus: la, basal part of plant, x 0,5; lb, inflorescence in bud, x 1; Ic, mature inflorescence,

x 0,5 (Behr 156). 2, J. bufonius: habit, x 1 ( Hugo 688). 3, J. rigidus: 3a, basal part of plant, x 1; 3b, inflorescence, x

0,5 (Louw 1145).

2: 76

JUNCACEAE

1. Juncus bufonius L., Sp. PI. 328 (1753);

Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen 4: 416

(1875), and in Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft

25): 105 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 23 (1897);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 3 (1935);

Carter in F.T.E.A. Juncaceae: 2 (1966);

M. Friedrich et al. in F.S.W.A. 156: 2 (1967);

Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 27, etc. (1969).

Type: Europe, LINN 449.24 (LINN, lecto.).

J. dinteri V. Poelln. in Feddes Rcprium 48: 173 (1940).

Type: South West Africa/Namibia, Garies, Dinter 4254

(B, holo.).

Annuals, tufted, soft, 30-300 mm tall.

Leaves few, radical and cauline, narrowly

linear-acuminate, with an orange, loosely

sheathing base. Flowers in leafy panicles or

lateral secund spikes, sessile, solitary; bracts

3, hyaline. Tepals c. 5 mm long, green with a

hyaline border, outer aristate, inner shorter,

acute. Stamens 6(-3), short; anthers about as

long as filaments. Ovary 3-locular; style and

stigmas about as long as perianth. Capsule

included, ellipsoid, obtuse; seed obovoid, c.

0,4 mm long, base rounded, apex truncate,

ribbed, pale brown, becoming mucilaginous

when wet. Fig. 23: 2.

An innocuous introduced weed fairly frequent in dis-

turbed places in the south-western Cape. Also recorded

from the Orange Free State and Natal where it is rare.

Cosmopolitan in temperate regions. Flowering in spring.

Map 57.

Vouchers: Acocks 17429; Esterhuysen 12638; Pater-

son 16; Potts 2870; Sim in PRE 38245.

2. Juncus tenuis Willd., Sp. PI. 2: 214

(1799); Buchen. in Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft

25): 115 (1906). Cutler in Anat. Monocot.

4: 25, etc. (1969); Hilliard & Burtt in Notes

Map 57. — • Juncus bufonius

A Juncus tenuis

R. bot. Gdn Edinb. 40, 2: 280 (1982). Type:

America (B, Willd. Herb. 6888).

Perennials, tufted, up to 0,4 m tall; rhi-

zomes compact; roots thin. Leaves narrowly

linear-acuminate, grass-like, light green,

sheathing bases auriculate. Flowers in ex-

serted, compound, irregular dichasia, lowest

bracts much longer than few-flowered, con-

tracted, secund spikelets borne on branchlets

of varying length; floral bracts small, acute.

Tepals linear-acuminate, 3-4 mm long, aris-

tate, green with hyaline margin. Stamens 6,

short; anthers shorter than filaments. Ovary

short; style and stigmas shorter than tepals.

Capsule globose, 3,5 mm in diam.; seeds

obliquely obovate, c. 0,35 mm long, light

brown with short white apiculus, becoming

mucilaginous when wetted.

A species described from America, now widespread

in South America, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. Re-

cently collected in the eastern Transvaal and the Natal

Drakensberg at high altitudes. Map 57.

Vouchers: Acocks 22141; Killick & Vahrmeijer 3791;

Musil 258, 267; Werdermann & Oberdieck 1448.

The minute seeds, which become mucilaginous and

sticky when moistened, can be easily transported by

migratory wading birds.

3. Juncus imbricatus La Harpe, Monogr.

Joncees: 149 (1827). Type: South America,

Commerson s.n. (G).

J. chamissonis Kunth, Enum. PI. 3: 348 (1841); Adam-

son in S. Afr. J. Sci. 28: 251 (1931), and in J. Linn. Soc.,

Bot. 50: 4 (1935). J. imbricatus var. chamissonis (Kunth)

Buchen. in Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 122 (1906).

Type: Chile, Chamisso s.n. (Bt).

Sclerotic, caespitose perennials up to 0,6

m tall. Rhizome compact, fibrous, with hard,

woody roots densely covered by root-hairs.

Leaves basal, 1-2 per shoot, filiform, sulcate,

erect, expanded at base into tight auriculate

sheaths; cataphylls present. Inflorescence

pseudolateral, many-flowered, lowest bract

forming continuation of stem, short or ex-

serted; floral bracts and bracteoles short.

Flowers solitary, secundly arranged on few to

many short, lateral rachides. Tepals ovate-

acute, 4-5 mm long, shiny, subequal, hard.

Stamens 6, short; anthers and filaments about

equally long. Ovary ellipsoid; style 0; stigmas

c. 1 mm long. Capsule narrowly ovoid-tri-

angular, 5 mm long, truncate, exserted, shiny,

placentas parietal, intruding, white, irregu-

larly pectinate with seeds attached to fairly

long funicles; seeds oblong-globose, 0,4 mm

JUNCACEAE

2: 77

long, brown, apex and base with a membra-

nous apiculus.

An introduction from South America, rarely col-

lected around Cape Town; flowering in spring. Map 58.

Vouchers: Adamson 4, 7, 336; Mauve 5035.

Map 58. — • Juncus imbricatus

A Juncus capillaceus

4. Juncus capillaceus Lam., Encycl. 3:

266 (1789); Kunth, Enum. PI. 3: 350 (1841);

Buchen. in Bot. Jb. 12: 199 (1890), and in

Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 122 (1906);

Adamson in S. Afr. J. Sci. 28: 251 (1931),

and in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 5 (1935); Cutler

in Anat. Monocot. 4: 41, etc. (1969). Type:

South America, Monte Video, Commerson

s.n. (P, holo.).

Perennials up to 0,3 m tall. Rhizome

horizontal, compressed; roots woody, cov-

ered by a thick layer of root-hairs. Shoots

close together, fibrous at base. Leaves basal,

1- 3 per shoot, filiform, erect, ribbed, longer

than inflorescence, expanded below into tight

auriculate sheaths; cataphylls present. Inflo-

rescence pseudo-lateral, few-flowered, lowest

bract long, forming continuation of stem;

floral bracts and bracteoles small; flowers

2- 10, solitary, secund, clustered. Tepals

ovate, acute, c. 2-3 mm long, subequal. Sta-

mens 6, very short; anthers about as long as

filaments. Ovary ovoid, obtuse. Capsule ovoid,

3 mm long, obtuse to acute, enclosed in

perianth; parietal placentas forming a smooth

swollen ridge; funicles short; seeds ellipsoid,

0,5 mm long, brown, apex and base white-

apiculate, connected by a white ridge.

An introduction from South America, collected a

few times by Adamson around Cape Town in disturbed

areas. Flowering and fruiting March-April. Map 58.

Vouchers: Adamson 1 , 195; Mauve & Fairall 5040.

5. Juncus effusus L., Sp. PI. 326 (1753);

Bak. in F.C. 7: 18 (1897); Buchen. in Pflan-

zenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 115 (1906); Adam-

son in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 5 (1935); Weim.

in Svensk bot. Tidskr. 40: 143 (1946); Cutler

in Anat. Monocot. 4: 25, etc. (1969); Carter

in F.T.E.A. Juncaceae: 2 (1966). Type:

Europe (LINN 449.3, lecto.).

Perennials, tufted, up to 1 m tall, vari-

able. Rhizomes horizontal, matted; roots

many, fairly thick. Leaves basal, cauliform.

Stems naked, erect, terete, 2-3 mm in diam.,

smooth, bright green, pith asterisciform, con-

tinuous; cataphylls 70-170 mm long, sheath-

ing stems and leaves. Inflorescence pseudo-

lateral, subtending leaf forming continuation

of stem; flowers very numerous and very

small, in globose to lax, decompound anthe-

lae; bracts 3 per flower, small, hyaline. Tepals

acute, c. 2-3 mm long, green, subsimilar.

Stamens 3 (rarely 6); filaments about as long

as anthers. Ovary obtuse; style 0; stigmas

short. Capsule ovoid to rounded, retuse,

membranous, pale yellowish; seeds 0,4 mm

long, fusiform but bulging on one side, gold-

en brown, reticulate with strong wavy lines,

becoming mucilaginous when wet. Fig. 23: 1 .

Cosmopolitan but more common in the northern

hemisphere. Widespread in Africa; not common in South-

ern Africa. Recorded from Transvaal, Natal, Lesotho and

the southern and south-western Cape; in swamps or

streambeds. Flowering in spring and summer. Map 59.

Vouchers: Coetzee 839; Devenish 280; Lubke 284;

Mogg 877; Moll 1457.

6. Juncus inflexus L., Sp. PI. 326 (1753);

Butcher, New III. Brit. Flora 2: 682, t. 1478

(1961); Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 30, etc.

Map 59. — • Juncus effusus

▲ Juncus inflexus

2: 78

JUNCACEAE

(1969); Snogerup in FI. Iran. Juncaceae: 8

(1971). Type: southern Europe.

J. glaucus Ehrh. var. acutissimus Buchen. in Abh. na-

turw. Ver. Bremen 4: 417, t. 5 (as 4) (1875), and in

Natiirl. PflFam. 4, 36: 133 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 18

(1897). J. acutissimus (Buchen.) Adamson in J. Linn.

Soc., Bot. 50: 6 (1935). Type: Cape, Wodehouse, Klein

Buffels Vallei near Gaatjie, Drege 8796c (W, holo.!).

Perennial, tufted; rhizome matted, hori-

zontal; roots thick. Stems up to 1 m tall,

leafless, glaucous, wiry, sheathed basally with

chestnut-brown, shiny cataphylls; pith inter-

rupted. Inflorescence pseudolateral, subtend-

ing leaf forming apparent continuation of

stem, about { of length of stem; anthelae

compact, many-flowered, mostly on short to

very short branchlets. Tepals linear, acute,

outer somewhat longer, c. 4 mm long, firm,

ribbed. Stamens 6, c. 2 mm long; filaments

filiform, equalling anthers. Ovary cylindrical;

style present with 3 long stigmas. Capsule el-

lipsoid, tricostate, 0,3 mm long, hard, dark

brown, shiny, apiculate; seeds 0,4 mm long,

ovoid, bulging unilaterally, reticulate, golden

yellow, with a dark, obtuse apex and base,

tips transparent.

Widespread in Europe, Africa, Asia; introduced in

New Zealand; in Southern Africa predominantly along

the eastern escarpment, usually at high altitudes: Orange

Free State, Lesotho and the eastern Cape; locally fre-

quent along streambanks and swamps. Flowering in

spring. Map 59.

Vouchers: Acocks 18660; Flanagan 1666; Liebenberg

5834, 7018; Lubke 221.

7. Juncus acutus L., Sp. PI. 325 (1753).

subsp. leopoldii (Pari.) Snogerup in Bot.

Notiser 131: 187 (1978). Type: Cape, Ecklon

& Zeyher 4308 (FI, holo., fide Snogerup in

litt.).

J. leopoldii Pari, in G. bot. ital. 2: 324 (1846). J. acutus

L. var. leopoldii (Pari.) Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver.

Bremen 4: 421, t. 5 (1875); Bak. in F.C. 7: 19 (1897).

J. acutus sensu Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 7

(1935); Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 20, etc. (1969).

Perennial, tufted, usually tall and hard.

Rhizomes horizontal, compressed; woody

roots covered with a thick velamen of root-

hairs. Stems 1-2 m tall, coarse, terete,

smooth. Leaf one per shoot, forming a cylin-

dric pungent blade as tall as inflorescence, be-

low enveloped by 2-3 loose, brown, sheath-

ing cataphylls. Flowers in pseudolateral,

decompound panicles, subtending leaf form-

ing continuation of stem; floral glomerules on

numerous ascending branches and branchlets

of varying length. Tepals c. 3 mm long, ca-

naliculate, outer somewhat shorter, apiculate,

inner with membranous auricles extended

above retuse mucronate apex. Stamens 6;

anthers large, 1,5 mm long, red; filaments

short, flat. Ovary ovoid; style short; stigmas

swollen, c. 1,5 mm long, red, just exserted.

Capsule exserted, globose, c. 4,5 mm diam.,

apiculate, shiny, reddish brown; seed allan-

toid, c. 1 mm long, with a white membranous

appendage on either side.

Widespread in temperate zones of the Western

Hemisphere. Confined to the Cape Province where it is

known from the north, east and south-west but not yet

from the Peninsula. Halophytic, forming large colonies.

Flowering in spring. Map 60.

Vouchers: Acocks 16339; Liebenberg 6696;

M. Schlechter 20; Sim 162; Van Breda 58.

8. Juncus kraussii Hochst. in Flora

28: 342 (1845); Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver.

Bremen 4: 418, t. 4 (1875), and in Bot. Jb.

Map 60. — • Juncus acutus subsp. leopoldii

A Juncus kraussii

12: 255 (1890), and in Pflanzenreich 4, 36

(Heft 25): 153 (1906); Adamson in J. Linn.

Soc., Bot. 50: 8 (1935) including vars effusus

Adamson and parviflorus Adamson. Type:

Cape, Tsitsikamma, Krauss s.n. (G!; W,

iso.!).

J. spretus Schultes & Schultes f. in Roem. & Schult.,

Syst. Veg. 7, 2: 1655 (1830), non rite publ.; nom. prov.

Type: Cape, Ecklon 903.

J. maritimus sensu auct., non Lam., p. p.; Bak. in F.C.

7: 19(1897).

J. fasciculiflorus Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 8

(1935). Type: Cape, Ceres, Swartruggens by Waterfall,

Adamson 123 (BOL, holo.!).

JUNCACEAE

2: 79

Perennials, tufted, hard, dark green, c.

1 m or more tall. Rhizomes compact, horizon-

tal; thick roots covered with velamen of root-

hairs. Stems erect, terete, hard. Leaves cauli-

form, terete, pungent, few per shoot, about

as long as stems, sheaths auriculate; cata-

phylls shiny. Inflorescence pseudolateral, the

subtending bract forming a continuation of

the stem; plumose, decompound with the

many branches and branchlets of different

lengths. Flowers in compact clusters of 3-6.

Tepals linear-acuminate, c. 3 mm long, hard

with age. Stamens 6, anthers c. 2 mm long

with short filaments. Ovary ovoid; style short;

stigmas exserted. Capsule narrowly ellipsoid,

3-angled, apiculate, woody, shiny brown, en-

closed in perianth or slightly longer; seeds

ellipsoid with one side bulging, 0,6 mm long,

funicle and apex pointed, short, with a white

membranous connecting ridge, reticulate,

brown.

A widespread south circumpolar species also occur-

ring in Australia and South America. Widespread in

Southern Africa, from the Cape Peninsula eastwards

along the coast to Natal and Mozambique. The furthest

inland record appears to be from Dalton Bridge, Bush-

mans River in Natal. Forming large colonies, halophytic.

Flowering in early summer. Map 60.

Vouchers: Acocks 10657; Adamson 122; Flanagan

3437; Musil 147; Taylor 6667; Ward 616.

9. Juncus rigidus Desf., FI. Atlant. 1: 312

(1800); Snogerup in FI. Iran. Juncaceae: 4, t.

1, f. 1 (1971). Type: Africa boreo-occidenta-

lis, collector unknown (P, in Herb. FI. At-

lant., teste Snogerup).

J. caffer Bertol. in Memorie R. Accad. Sci. 1st. Bolog-

na, ser. 3: 253 (1851). Type: Mozambique, Inhambane,

Fornasinio s.n. (BOLO, holo.).

J. maritimus Lam. var. arabicus Aschers. & Buchen. in

Boiss., FI. Or. 5: 354 (1882). J. arabicus (Aschers. & Bu-

chen.) Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 10 (1935); M.

Friedrich et al. in F.S.W.A. 156: 2 (1967). Type: Egypt,

Hausknecht ( BM; K; G-Boiss.).

J. maritimus sensu Bak. in F.C. 7: 19 (1897) and in

F.T.A. 8: 93 (1901), non Lam.

Perennial, tufted, hard, with coarse,

compact horizontal rhizomes and thick roots

covered with a velamen of root hairs. Stems

up to 1,5 m tall, terete, hard. Leaves terete,

pungent, as long as stems, sheaths auriculate;

cataphylls present. Inflorescence pseudolat-

eral with subtending bract forming continu-

ation of stem, decompound, interrupted,

many-flowered. Flowers usually solitary or

2-few together on branchlets of varying

lengths. Tepals linear-acuminate, with mem-

branous margins, 4-5 mm long, usually

straw-coloured. Stamens 6; filaments short;

anthers c. 1 mm long. Ovary ovoid; style

short; stigmas about as long as style, usually

exserted sideways. Capsule narrowly cylindri-

cal, tricostate, acute, light brown, exserted

from perianth; seeds somewhat fusiform with

funicle and apex forming long, white append-

ages. Fig. 23: 3.

Recorded from the Mediterranean Region and as far

east as Pakistan; a widespread halophyte in Africa; in

Southern Africa common in the interior, from South West

Africa/Namibia to Transvaal, Orange Free State and

Cape; forming large colonies. Map 61.

Vouchers: Acocks 9702, 10847; Merxmuller & Giess

30654; Van Zinderen Bakker 94; Verdoorn 1024; Wilman

in TRV 19814.

Closely related to J. kraussii (above) but the flowers

more loosely arranged, the narrow capsule distinctly ex-

serted and the seeds with long appendages on either side.

10. Juncus punctorius L. /., Suppl. 208

(1782); Thunb., Prodr. 1: 66 (1794); Buchen.

in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen 4: 424, t. 8

(1875) and in Natiirl. PflFam. 4, 36: 163

(1906), includ. var. exaltatus (Decne.) Bu-

chen., l.c. 429, t. 8; Bak. in F.C. 7: 20 (1897);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 11 (1935);

M. Friedrich et al. in F.S.W.A. 156: 3 (1967).

Type: Cape Peninsula, Thunberg & Sonnerat

(LINN 449.15, holo., PRE, photo.!).

Perennial, tufted, robust, hard, pale

green, with horizontal woody rhizomes bear-

ing numerous thin roots. Flowering stem up

to 1,5 m tall, with 2-3 basal sheaths and 1

leaf arising near middle, septate with central

and lateral lacunae, basal sheath obtusely

auriculate. Basal leaves cauliform (‘sterile

2: 80

JUNCACEAE

stems’), present beside flowering stems. Flow-

ers in pseudolateral, decompound, compact

to somewhat effuse panicles with up to 100

globose, compact capitula. Tepals 2,5 mm

long, subequal, outer acute. Stamens with

anthers about as long as filaments. Ovary

ovoid; style and stigmas fairly long. Capsule

ovoid, trigonous, 2,5 mm long, apiculate;

seeds ovoid-globose, obtuse, with large

reticulae. Fig. 24: 2.

Distribution disjunct: in South West Africa/Namibia,

Transvaal, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Natal and Cape.

Also known from north-eastern Africa, Algiers, Arabia

and Beluchistan. A hygrophyte, forming large colonies.

Flowering in summer. Map 62.

Vouchers: Adamson 14; Dieterlen 1314; Gerstner

4345; Killick 1434; Roberts 2810.

11. Juncus oxycarpus Kunth , Enum. PI.

3: 336 (1841); Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver.

Bremen 4: 431 (1875) and in Pflanzenreich 4,

36 (Heft 25): 196 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 20

(1897), and in F.T.A. 8: 93 (1901); Adamson

in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 12 (1935); Weim. in

Svensk bot. Tidskr. 40: 166 (1946) as var.

australis Weim.; Carter in F.T.E.A. Junca-

ceae: 3 (1966). Syntypes: Cape, Liesbeek

River, Bergius (Bf); Berg River near Paarl,

Drege s.n. (K, iso. !).

J. brevistilns Buchen. in Abh. natuw. Ver. Bremen

4: 433, t. 8 (1875) and in Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25):

200 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 20 (1895); Adamson in J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 14 (1935), as brevistylus. Type: Cape

or Natal, locality and collector unknown.

J. gentilis N.E. Br. in Kcw Bull. 2: 83 (1914). Type:

Transvaal, near Modderfontcin, Conrath 1173 (K, holo.!).

J. oxycarpus var. microcephalus Adamson, l.c. 13. Syn-

types: Cape, Riversdale, Muir 3385 (BOL!); Grahams-

town. Dyer 173 (BOL!), etc.

J. suboxycarpus Adamson, l.c. 14. Type: Natal, Clair-

mont, Schlechter 3043 (BOL; holo.!; PRE!).

Perennial, tufted; rhizome caespitose

with many thin, branched roots. Stems erect,

0,4-0, 8 m tall, occasionally stoloniferous

when in running water, dwarfed at high alti-

tudes. Leaves 3-5, basal and cauline, terete,

distinctly septate, apex pointed, base with

open, auriculate sheaths; cataphylls 1-4,

acute. Inflorescence exserted, decompound,

divaricate, capitula globose or semiglobose,

many-flowered, on wiry branchlets of varying

lengths; occasionally flowers changing into

vegetative buds; bracts broadly ovate, aris-

tate, membranous. Tepals subequal, linear-

acuminate, 3-4 mm long, aristate. Stamens 3

or 6; anthers shorter than filaments. Ovary 1-

celled, ovate-acute; style short, with 3 longer

red stigmas. Capsule unilocular, oblong-

ovoid, obtuse, apiculate, trigonous, as long as

perianth; seeds ovoid, 0,7 mm long; testa

coarsely reticulate, with raised bars forming

reticulate pattern. Fig. 24: 1.

Widespread but confined to Africa; usually in very

wet areas on streambanks and in swamps. Recorded from

Southern Africa to tropical eastern Africa as far as Eri-

trea. See also notes under/, exsertus (below). Map 63.

Vouchers: Acocks 20435; Compton 31285; Killick

1087; Leistner 1376; Morwe 45; Pott 5160.

12. Juncus exsertus Buchen. in Abh. na-

turw. Ver. Bremen 4: 435, t. 5 (1875), and in

Pflanzenreich 4, 36: 196 (1906); Bak. in F.C.

7: 21 (1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

50: 15 (1935); M. Friedrich et al. in F.S.W.A.

156: 2 (1967). Syntypes: Cape, Swartkops

River, Zeyher 103 (Bf; BOL!); Worcester, at

the Waterfall, Ecklon & Zeyher , pro parte

JUNCACEAE

2: 81

Fig. 24. — 1, Juncus oxycarpus: la, part of plant, x 1; lb, part of inflorescence, x 0,5; lc, flower in fruit, x 0,1

( Dieterlen 767b). 2, J. punctorius: 2a, basal part of plant, x 0,5; 2b, inflorescence, x 0,5; 2c, fruit surrounded by tepals,

x 10 (Leendertz 1652).

2: 82

JUNCACEAE

(Bf; PRE!); Sundays River at Graaff-Reinet,

Bolus 188 (BOL!).

J. rostratus Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen

4: 437, t. 5 (1875), and in Pflanzenreich 4, 36: 196 (1906);

Bak. in F.C. 7: 21 (1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

50: 16 (1935). Syntypes: Cape, Swartkops River. Ecklon

& Zeyher s.n. (S); Bashee River, Drege 4465 (K!; G!).

Similar to J. oxycarpus (above) but capi-

tula are usually fewer-flowered, obconic; cap-

sules thin, slender, well exserted from peri-

anth; raised bars forming reticulate pattern

on testa of seeds (x 1 000 enlargement) mon-

iliform, not smooth. Occasionally flowers turn

into vegetative buds which may form new

plants.

Confined to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe. Wide-

spread in South West Africa/Namibia, Transvaal, Swazi-

land, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Natal and Cape; on

riverbanks or in marshes. Map 64.

Vouchers: Adamson 185; Arnold 414; Compton

27415; Lubke 286; Moll 663; Werger 299.

Weimarck in Svensk bot. Tidskr. 40: 166 (1946) con-

sidered J . exsertus, J. brevistylus, J. rostratus and J. sub-

oxycarpus to be synonyms of J. oxycarpus. While J. brevi-

stylus and J. suboxycarpus cannot be distinguished from

the now ample material of J. oxycarpus. J. exsertus can

usually be easily recognized. J. rostratus, with its exserted

capsule, is a synonym of J. exsertus.

13. Juncus lomatophyllus Spreng., Neue

Entdeck. 2: 108 (1821); Buchen. in Abh. na-

turw. Ver. Bremen 4: 466 (1875), and in

Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 247 (1906);

Bak. in F.C. 7: 27 (1897); Adamson in J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 18 (1935). Type: Cape

Peninsula, Bergius (Bf).

J. cymosus Lam., Encycl. 3: 267 (1789), nom. rej.

Type: Cape, Sonnerat (P, holo., p. p., for inflorescence;

leaf excluded).

J. cephalotes sensu Thunb., Prodr. 66 (1794), FI. Cap.

edn 2, 337 (1823), p. p. Type: Cape, Thunberg sheet

8709, l.h. specimen; sheet 8711.

J. capensis var. latifolius E. Mey. in Syn. June. 48

(1822). Type: Cape, Simonsberg, Drege aa.

J. lomatophyllus var. aristatus Buchen., l.c. Type:

Cape, Du Toitskloof, Drege f.

J. lomatophyllus var. lutescens Buchen., l.c. Type:

Cape, Du Toitskloof, Drege a.

J. viridifolius Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 20

(1935). Type: Cape, Table Mountain, Adamson 247

(BOL, holo.!).

J. lomatophyllus var. congestus Adamson, l.c. Type:

Cape, Swartberg Pass, Adamson 181 (BOL, lecto.l).

Perennials with spreading to decumbent,

densely leafy stolons; roots thin. Leaves sub-

rosulate to spirally arranged, broadly linear,

up to 200 mm long and 10-15 mm broad, flat,

soft, apex pointed, base often reddish, tubu-

lar when very young, soon splitting, margin

narrowly membranous. Inflorescence up to

0,75 m tall, a decompound dichasium but

much reduced in montane habitats at high al-

titudes, subtended by a short leaf-like basal

bract. Capitula semi-globose with 6-12 flow-

ers. Tepals dark brown, outer 5 mm long,

long-aristate, inner shorter, acute, margins

membranous. Stamens 6; anthers 1,5 mm

long, on very short filaments. Ovary 3-locu-

lar, ovoid, attenuated into a long, red style

and 3 long, red, exserted stigmas 2 mm long.

Capsule ovoid, rostrate, 2,5 mm long; seeds

oblong-globose, 0,8 mm long, pointed on

both sides, epidermis membranous, hygro-

scopic. Fig. 25: 4.

Widespread along the eastern escarpment in Trans-

vaal, Swaziland, Lesotho, Natal and Cape; in the south-

western Cape from the Peninsula to Clanwilliam; also in

Zimbabwe and recorded as an adventive in New Zealand.

JUNCACEAE

2: 83

Beside streams or in permanently wet, montane habitats.

Flowering in late spring and summer. Map 65.

Vouchers: Codd c£ Dyer 9010; Compton 26351;

Hanekom 1199; Midler 21 12; Strey 9279.

A number of collections from the eastern Cape appear

to be intermediate between J. lomatophyllus and J . capen-

sis (below). Examples are Flanagan 1006 from near

Komgha (3227DB) and Galpin 7682 from the Kciskamma

River mouth (3327AD). These putative hybrids appear to

be more upright in habit, like J. capensis, but the leaves

are somewhat broader. The anthers are small and possibly

sterile. The inflorescences resemble those of ./. lomato-

phyllus. See also notes under J. capensis (below).

14. Juncus capensis Thunb., Prodr. 1: 66

(1794); Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bre-

men 4: 482 (1875); Bak. in F.C. 7: 26 (1897);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50; 27 (1935);

Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 47, 72 (1969).

Type; Cape, Thunberg 8702 (UPS, lecto.).

J. sulcatus Hoehst. in Krauss in Flora 28: 342 (1845).

J. capensis subsp. angustifolius var. flaccidus forma depau-

perata Buchen., l.c. 489. Type: Cape, Tsitsikamma,

Krauss s.n. (W, holo.!, PRE, photo.!; G!).

J. anonymus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 304 (1855); Bu-

chen., l.c. 478; Adamson, l.c. 26 (1935). Type: Cape, Du

Toitskloof, Drege 1604a (G ! ; K!; W, iso.!, PRE, photo.!).

J. delicatulus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 304 (1855).

J. capensis subsp. delicatulus (Steud.) Buchen., l.c. 490.

J. capensis var. delicatulus (Steud.) Adamson, l.c. 28.

Type: Cape, Grahamstown valley, Drege 1604e (W!; G!,

iso., PRE, photo.!).

J. flaccidus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 303 (1855). J. ca-

pensis subsp. angustifolius var. flaccidus Buchen., l.c. 488.

J. capensis var. ecklonii Buchen. emend. Adamson, l.c. 27

(1935), p. p. Type: Cape, Table Mountain. Bergius (W!;

PRE, photo.!).

J. indescriptus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 304 (1855);

Buchen., l.c. 479; Adamson, l.c. 24 (1935). Type: Cape,

Berg River near Paarl, Drege 1604h (G!; K!; W. iso.!,

PRE. photo. !).

J. singularis Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 302 (1855);

Buchen., l.c. 438 (1875); Adamson, l.c. 30 (1935). Type:

Cape, between Vanstadcnsberg and Bcthclsdorp, Drege

1604b, pro parte (G ! ; W, iso.!, PRE, photo.!).

J. stenophyllus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 203 (1855);

J. capensis subsp. angustifolius E. Mcy. ex Buchen., p. p.,

l.c. 484, 485. Type: Cape, Ecklon 897, Unio itin. No. 35

(W, iso.!). Steudel cited no type but refers to J. capensis

angustifolius E. Mey. Placed under var. ecklonii by

Buchenau and Adamson.

J. acutangulus Buchen., l.c. 480 (1975); Bak. in F.C.

7: 27 (1897). Syntypes: Cape, Somerset West, moist

places on the Cape flats, Ecklon 4318 (BOL!; W!); Wyn-

berg, Ecklon 100 (W!, PRE, photo.!).

J. capensis subsp. angustifolius E. Mey. ex Buchen.,

p. p., l.c. 484. Type not designated.

J. capensis subsp. angustifolius var. ecklonii Buchen.,

l.c. 485. J. capensis var. ecklonii Buchen. emend. Adam-

son, l.c. 27, p. p. Type: Cape, Devil’s Peak at foot,

Ecklon 897, Unio itin. No. 35 (W, iso.!).

J. capensis subsp. angustifolius var. sphagnetorum Bu-

chen., l.c. 489. J. sphagnetorum Adamson, l.c. 29. Type:

Cape, Du Toitskloof, Drege 'J. cap. var. ang., cc’ (W,

holo.!).

J. capensis subsp. angustifolius var. sphagnetorum

forma frondescens Buchen., l.c. 490. Type: Cape, Table

Mountain, Drege ‘J. cap. Thunb. var. angustifolius E.

Mey. aa’ (W, holo.!).

J. capensis subsp. geniculatus Buchen., l.c. 492. J. api-

culatus Adamson, l.c. 27, p. p. Syntypes: Cape, Howie-

son’s Poort, MacOwan 2019, 2020 (W!; BOL!; SAM!).

J. capensis subsp. longifolius E. Mey. ex Buchen., l.c.

482. Type not designated.

J. capensis subsp. longifolius var. gracilior Buchen., l.c.

483. J. capensis var. ecklonii Buchen. emend. Adamson,

l.c. 27, pro parte. Type: Cape, Bergius (W, holo.!).

J. capensis subsp. longifolius var. strictissimus Buchen.,

l.c. 482. Type: Cape, Hottentottsholland, Gueinzius s.n.

(W, holo!, PRE, photo.!).

J. capensis subsp. parviflorus Buchen., l.c. 491. Type:

Cape, Swellendam, Rivier Zondereinde, Krauss s.n. (W,

holo.!, PRE, photo.!).

J. apiculatus Adamson, l.c. 27 (1935). J. capensis

subsp. geniculatus Buchen., l.c. 492, t. 11 (1875), pro parte.

Syntypes: Cape, Howieson’s Poort, MacOwan 2020

(BOL!; SAM!; W!); Transkei, Kentani, Pegler 1107

(BOL!).

J. atropurpureus Adamson, l.c. 30 (1935). J. capensis

subsp. longifolius var. strictissimus Buchen., l.c. 482

(1875) pro parte. Type: Cape Flats near Lakeside,

Adamson 171 (BOL, holo. ! ).

J. capensis var. macranthus Adamson, l.c. 28. Syn-

types: Cape, Kommetjie, Adamson 88 and 89 (BOL! ).

J. umbellatus Adamson, l.c. 38 (1935). Type: Cape,

Berg River at Wellington. Adamson 313 (BOL, holo.! ).

Tufted erect perennials with compact rhi-

zomes, 60-600 mm tall; roots thin. Leaves

numerous, grass-like, filiform, setaceous to

narrowly linear, flat or inrolled, margin nar-

rowly membranous below. Inflorescence

2: 84

JUNCACEAE

usually exserted, very varied, a decompound

dichasium to much reduced, subtended by a

short bract; floral bracts tepaloid. Capitula

semi-globose to globose, with 10-15-20 flow-

ers. Tepals with outer ovate-aristate, 4-5 mm

long, with dark brown stripes, becoming pale

with age; inner shorter and broader, acute

with membranous margins. Stamens 6; anthers

long and narrow, often diverging at base;

filaments short, flat. Ovary ovoid, attenuated

into a red style 1 mm long, with 3 red ex-

serted stigmas, c. 2 mm long. Capsule ovoid

to narrowly oblong-ovoid, apiculate to ros-

trate, 3-locular; seed dark, oblong-globose,

0,5 mm long, obtuse, with a membranous

covering, which becomes mucilaginous when

wet. Fig. 25:1.

Widespread and common in the south-western Cape,

extending east as far as the Transkei. Introduced in Aus-

tralia and New Zealand. Map 66.

Vouchers: Adamson 237, 303; Barker 2853; Ester-

huysen 4203; Schlechter 1935; Zeyher 443.

When Buchenau compiled his monograph on the

Cape species in 1875, he mentioned on p. 462 that more

ample collections might produce intermediate forms link-

ing J. acutangulus , J. anonymus and J. indescriptus with

J. capensis. He realized it was a polymorphic species. I

was unable to divide the species into subspecies or var-

ieties. These subdivisions mostly represent ecological

growth forms and were interpreted as such by Buchenau

himself. J. umbellatus Adamson represents an immature

stage of J. capensis. These small plants match the younger

paedogenic offspring found amongst the tufts of mature

plants.

In the herbarium difficulty was experienced in separ-

ating J. capensis from certain narrow-leaved forms of

J. lomatophyllus . The flowers, capsules and seeds appear

to be similar but while normally the creeping, broad-

leaved stolons characterize J. lomatophyllus , some forms

of J. capensis with somewhat broader leaves come close

to narrow-leaved forms of J. lomatophyllus . This will need

research in situ; see note under/, lomatophyllus (no. 13).

15. Juncus dregeanus Kunth , Enum. PI.

3: 344 (1841); Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver.

Bremen 4: 462, t. 9 (1875), and in Pflanzen-

reich 4, 36: 251 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 25

(1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 21

(1935). Type: between the Cape Colony and

Port Natal, Drege 4387 (Bf ).

J. cephalotes sensu Thunb., Prodr. 66 (1794), p. p., for

r.h. specimen on sheet 8709 (UPS).

/. suhmonocephalus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 303

(1855). J. dregeanus var. suhmonocephalus (Steud.) Bu-

chen., I.c. 463. Type: Cape, Drege 1604f (W!, dissected

flower). 1604c (S! ).

J. dregeanus var. conglomeratus Buchen., I.c. 463.

Type: Cape, Assegaaibos, Ecklon & Zeyher 10 (BOL!;

Wl).

J. sonderianus Buchen., I.c. 476 (1875) and in Pflanzen-

reich 4, 36: 252 (1906): Bak. in F.C. 7: 25 (1897); Adam-

son in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 25 (1935). Syntypes: Cape,

Port Elizabeth on sand hills, Drege e ( G ! ; K!; LD!; W!,

PRE, photo.!); on dunes near Cape Recife, Ecklon &

Zeyher 9, 780 (BOL!; W! ).

J. dregeanus var. sphaerocephalus Adamson in J. Linn.

Soc., Bot. 50: 21 (1935). Type: Cape, Cape Flats,

Adamson 234 (BOL, lecto.! ).

J. subcuneatus Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 23

(1935). Type not indicated.

J. subcuneatus var. latifolius Adamson, I.c. Type:

Transvaal, Carolina, Rogers 21308 (J, iso.! ).

J. subcuneatus var. minor Adamson, I.c. Type: Trans-

vaal, Johannesburg, Moss 7986 (J, holo.! ).

/. subglobosus Adamson in J. Linn. Soc.. Bot. 50: 24

(1935). Type: Transvaal, Florida, Moss 7922 (J, holo.! ).

Compact, tufted perennials, often turn-

ing brown when dry, c. 0,1-0, 4 m tall. Rhi-

zome small; roots thin, numerous. Leaves

grass-like, narrowly linear-acuminate, with in-

rolled margins to filiform, erect, margins nar-

rowly membranous below, initially with a

closed basal sheath, not auriculate. Inflores-

cence consisting of crowded (rarely solitary)

capitula which are sessile, or sometimes on

short lateral branchlets, the young heads

semiglobose, becoming globose and compact

with age, usually exserted on long peduncles;

lowest bract leaf-like but reduced; floral

bracts small, membranous. Tepals usually

dark, 3-4 mm long, outer aristate, inner

acute with broad membranous margins,

frayed with age. Stamens 6 (3-4), less than

half as long as perianth; anthers small. Ovary

trilocular, globose; style very short; stigmas

red, curling up on top of ovary. Capsule glo-

bose, obtuse, tricostate, 3 mm long, firm,

JUNCACEAE

2: 85

shiny brown with wide wavy placentas; seeds

minute, 0,25 mm diam., globose, reticulate,

ale-coloured with a small black apiculus.

Widely distributed in the eastern parts of Africa;

common and widespread in Southern Africa from Trans-

vaal through Natal and Lesotho to the south-western

Cape. In wet localities, near the sea, to high altitudes.

Flowering in summer. Recorded as an adventive in New

Zealand. Map 67.

The usually compact, shortly bristly, dark capitula,

the short style and small stamens are typical of the

species. Flowers examined bore 6 stamens, but it is re-

ported that only 3 were seen in some plants.

J. sonderianus Buchen., placed in synonymy under

this species, may possibly be a hybrid between J. dregeanus

and J. lomatophyllus. Several collections, mostly from

around Port Elizabeth, possess leaves similar to those of

J. lomatophyllus (no. 13) but have a compact globose

inflorescence resembling that of J. dregeanus.

Vouchers: Adamson 257; Lubke 288a; Schlechter

3945; Venter 1070; Werdermann & Oberdieck 2131.

16. Juncus cephalotes Thunb . , Prodr.

1: 66 (1794) and FI. Cap. 2: 337 (1823) pro

parte; Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen

4: 451, t. 7 (1875); Bak. in F.C. 7: 24 (1897);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 32 (1935).

Type: Cape, Thunberg 8708 (UPS, lecto.).

J. pictus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 305 (1855);

Buchen., l.c. 458 (1875); Bak. in F.C. 7: 23 (1897);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 35 (1935). Type:

Cape, Namaqualand, Leliefontein, Drege 2472a (BOL!;

G!).

J. altus Buchen., l.c. 457 (1875); Bak. in F.C. 7: 24

(1897). — var. altus (Buchen.) Adamson in J. Linn. Soc.,

Bot. 50: 34 (1935). Type: Cape, Kogmanskloof, Zeyher 15

(BOL!; G!).

J. cephalotes var. ustulatus Buchen., l.c., 451 (1875).

Syntypcs: Cape, Table Mountain, Ecklon 13 (BOL!);

Ecklon 901 (LD!).

J. cephalotes var. varius Buchen., l.c. Type: Cape,

Camps Bay, Ecklon s.n. (BOL!).

J. inaequalis Buchen., l.c. 455, t. 7 (1875); Bak. in F.C.

7: 24 (1897); Adamson in 1. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 33

(1935). Syntypes: Cape Town, Camps Bay, Ecklon 24

(BOL! )\ Ecklon 12 (BOL!).

J. inaequalis var. viridescens Buchen., l.c. Type: Cape,

Swellendam, Zevher 4319 (BOL!; W!) distributed as

J. isolepoides N. ab E. in sched. et in Linnaea 20: 244

(1847), pro parte, nom. nud.

J. parvulus E. Mey. ex Buchen., l.c. 447, t. 6 (1875);

Bak. in F.C. 7: 22 (1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

50: 35 (1935). Type: Cape, Namaqualand, Modderfon-

tein, Drege 2472b (S, holo.; BOL, iso.! ).

J. polytrichos E. Mey. ex Buchen., l.c. 448, t. 6 (1875);

Bak. in F.C. 7: 23 (1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

50: 35 (1935). Type: Cape, Leliefontein. Drege 2472aa

(G! ; K! ).

J. schlechteri Buchen. in Bot. Jb. 459 (1898) and in

Natiirl. PflFam. 4, 36: 262 (1906). J. rupestris var. schlech-

teri (Buchen.) Adamson in I. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 38

(1935). Type: Cape, Bain’s Kloof, Schlechter 9154 (BOL!;

PRE!).

J. filifolius Adamson in 1. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 36

(1935). Type: Cape, vlei on Cape Flats, Adamson 212

(BOL, holo.!).

J. inaequalis var. squarrosus Adamson in I. Linn. Soc.,

Bot. 50: 33 (1935). Type: Cape, Saron, Schlechter 10608

(PRE, iso.! ).

Map 68. — • Juncus cephalotes

▲ Juncus stenopetalus

Annuals 0,l-0,15(-0,3) m tall, tufted;

epidermis verruculose. Leaves linear-acumi-

nate, 40-80 x 1-3 mm, flat, soft, with a red-

dish tinge below. Inflorescence on an exserted

ribbed peduncle; umbel compound, 4-6 erect

side branchlets 10-30 mm long, arising from

below solitary terminal semi-globose capi-

tulum, occasionally doubly compound; in

paedogenic seedlings with a solitary few-

flowered capitulum. Flowers with tepals c. 3

mm long, usually streaked with shiny blackish

brown or fawn, and broad central band

colourless and scabrid, fading with age, outer

tepals narrow, aristate, inner ones broader,

with a wide membranous margin usually

overtopping outer ones. Stamens 6; anthers

long; filaments short. Ovary ovoid; style 1

mm long; stigmas red, much exserted, 3-5

mm long. Capsule oblong-globose, 3 mm

long, obtuse, apiculate, thin-walled, pale;

seeds narrowly ellipsoid, asymmetrical, 0,5

mm long, apiculate at apex and base, brown;

testa white, membranous, hygroscopic. Fig.

25: 3.

Distributed in the south-western Cape from Nama-

qualand to the Swellendam District. Flowering in spring.

Map 68.

2: 86

JUNCACEAE

Fig. 25. — ], Juncus capensis: la. habit , X 0,3; lb, gynoecium, x 10 ( Acocks 23115). 2, J. dregeanus: 2a, habit, x

0,5; 2b, young fruit, x 10 ( Venter 1071). 3, J. cephalotes, habit (small specimen), x 1 (Adamson 333). 4, J. lomatophyl-

lus: 4a, basal part of plant, x 0,3; 4b, inflorescence, x 1; 4c, stamens and tepal, x 10 ( Goldblatt 6429).

JUNCACEAE

2: 87

Vouchers: Adamson 207; Esterhuysen 6123; Lieben-

berg 6541 ; Parker 3730.

Characteristic of J. cephalotes is the minutely verru-

cose epidermis of the stem. The vascular bundles with

their large thickened cells form prominent colourless

ridges. The broad midrib of the tepals is also distinctly

verruculose, often pale. The drawings by Buchcnau (1875:

t. 7) do not show the full length of the stigmas.

17. Juncus stenopetalus Adamson in Jl

S. Afr. Bot. 8: 273 (1942), nom. nov. for

J. sprengelii Nees ex Buchen., non Wi lid .

(1787). J. sprengelii Nees in Linnaea 20: 244

(1847), nom. nud.; Buchen. in Abh. naturw.

Ver. Bremen 4: 449 (1875), including vars ro-

bustior Buchen. and gracilior Buchen.; Bak.

in F.C. 7: 24 (1897); Adamson in J. Linn.

Soc., Bot. 50: 34 (1935). Type: Cape, Tul-

bagh Waterfall, Ecklon & Zeyher 11 (BOL!;

LD, iso. ! ).

Small annuals c. 0,14 m tall. Leaves 1 to

few per shoot, narrowly linear-acuminate, c.

80 mm long, flat, epidermis reticulate, margin

membranous below. Capitulum 1, rarely 2-3,

apical, globose, 6- 12-flowered; peduncle

minutely scabrid. Flowers fusiform, on short

pedicels. Tepals narrowly acuminate, c. 6 mm

long, costate, minutely scabrid. Stamens 6,

about 2 mm long; filaments very short. Ovary

ovoid-acuminate with a long style and stig-

mas. Capsule ovoid, attenuated into a long

beak; seeds oblong-globose, c. 0,4 mm long,

reticulate, apex dark.

Rare, collected in the Cape near Camps Bay, Tul-

bagh Waterfall and Bain’s Kloof. Map 68.

Vouchers: Compton 18645 (NBG); Ecklon & Zeyher

\\,Schlechter9\29.

Closely related to 7. cephalotes Thunb. (above).

18. Juncus rupestris Kunth, Enum. PI. 3:

344 (1841); Buchen. In Abh. naturw. Ver.

Bremen 4: 441 (1875); Bak. in F.C. 7: 21

(1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 37

(1935). Type: Cape, Kamiesberge, Eselsfon-

tein, Drege 2471a (G!; K!; LD!; BOL, iso.!,

PRE, photo.! ).

Small delicate annuals 60-160 mm tall,

forming small tufts; stems verruculose. Leaves

many, filiform, 20-40 x 0,5 mm, reddish be-

low, apiculate. Inflorescence umbellate, side

branches 1-3 (-5), filiform, up to 15 mm

long, formed below oldest flowers, occasion-

ally branching once again or, in young plants,

inflorescence simple; capitula 1-4-flowered.

Flowers ovoid, 3 mm long; outer tepals aris-

tate, inner broader, obtuse, with a broad

Map 69. — • Juncus rupestris

▲ Juncus scabriusculus

membranous margin, about as long as outer.

Stamens 6, short; anthers about equal to fila-

ments in length. Ovary oblong-globose, 3-lo-

cular; style very short; stigmas 3, red, very

short. Capsule oblong-globose, obtuse; seeds

globose, 0,25 mm diam., golden yellow with a

minute apiculus, obtuse to indented at base,

indistinctly reticulate.

Endemic to the south-western Cape; not often col-

lected, probably because of its small size. Flowering in

spring. Map 69.

Vouchers: Acocks 17421, 23414; Esterhuysen 12083;

Schlechter 9224\ Wolley Dod 3400.

19. Juncus scabriusculus Kunth , Enum.

PI. 3: 354 (1841); Buchen. in Abh. naturw.

Ver. Bremen 4: 444, t. 6 (1875); Bak. in F.C.

7: 22 (1897); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot.

50: 36 (1935). Type: Cape, Piketberg Range,

near Groene Vallei, Drege 8795 (G!, K, iso-

syn . ! ; PRE, photo.!).

J. subgtandulosus Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 2: 303 (1855);

Buchen., l.c. 459, t. 6 (1875); Adamson in Jl S. Afr. Bot.

3: 167 (1937).

J. scabriusculus var. subgtandulosus (Steud.) Buchen.

in Bot. Jb. 12: 458 (1890); Bak. in F.C. 7: 22 (1897).

Type: Cape. Piketberg Range, near Groene Vallei, Drege

8795 pro parte. According to Baker, l.c. Buchenau’s

locality of the Drege type, viz. Witte Bergen near Aliwal

North, appears to be an error.

Small annuals 60-120 (-300) mm tall.

Leaves basal, narrowly linear, 40-80 mm

long, c. 2 mm broad, flat or folded. Inflores-

cences on erect peduncles just exserted from

leaves. Capitulum apical, solitary or rarely

with 1-2 smaller ones above, cup-shaped,

JUNCACEAE

compact, basal bracts short, resembling te-

pals, glumaceous; outer and inner tepals sub-

equal, 6 mm long, aristate. Stamens 6, less

than half as long as tepals; filaments equalling

anthers. Ovary cylindrical-triangular, trilocu-

lar; style very short with 3 stigmas c. 3 mm

long. Capsule cylindrical-triangular, shorter

than tepals, obtuse, apiculate; placentas 3,

persisting as a central column after dehis-

cence; seeds oblong, 0,75 mm long, obtuse,

reticulate, brownish orange. Plate 3: 1.

South-western Cape: recorded from the Peninsula,

Paarl and Bredasdorp; in damp localities. Flowering Oc-

tober. Map 69. Plate 3: 1 .

Vouchers: Acocks 22771; Adamson 331; H. Bolus

4812.

20. Juncus capitatus Weigel , Obs. Bot.

28, t. 2, fig. 5 (1772); Buchen. in Pflanzen-

reich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 256, fig. 24 (1906);

Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50: 32 (1935).

Cutler in Anat. Monocot. 4: 38, 39, 72, 74

(1969). Type: Germany, Wilke.

Map 70. — • Juncus capitatus

▲ Juncus obliquus

Very small tufted annuals (20-) 50-

80 mm tall. Leaves several per shoot, nar-

rowly linear, about half as long as inflores-

cences, forming a broad, membranous, folded

sheath basally. Capitula single, apical, pseu-

dolateral, 2-8-flowered, lowest bract leaf-like

forming continuation of stem, exserted

above. Flowers chasmogamous or cleistoga-

mous. Tepals 3-4 mm long, ovate, transpa-

rent, pale, often pinkish, outer aristate, inner

shorter, apiculate. Stamens 3, opposite outer

tepals; filaments longer than anthers. Ovary

ovoid; style long, with erect stigmas or short,

with stigmas curled up on top of ovary. Cap-

sule trilocular, ovoid, mucronate, included in

perianth, shiny, brown; seeds 0,3 mm long,

obovate, reticulate, golden brown. Plate 3: 2.

A widespread, cosmopolitan annual. Rare in South-

ern Africa where it has been recorded from Transvaal,

Orange Free State, Lesotho and Cape. Map 70.

Vouchers: Acocks 17422; Dieterlen 806; Esterhuysen

32932; Mauve & Venter 5068; Moss & Otley 11949.

Buchenau (l.c., fig. 24; 1906) believes the cleistoga-

mous, short-styled flowers to be most probably self-polli-

nated.

21. Juncus obliquus Adamson in J1 S.

Afr. Bot. 3: 165 (1937). Type: Cape, Ceres

Div., Cold Bokkeveld Mts, Ebenezer, Adam-

son 1139 (BOL, holo.).

Annuals c. 50 mm tall, delicate, tufted.

Leaves c. 4 per plant, setaceous, 10-15 mm

long, erect, broadened below, sheathing pe-

duncles. Capitula solitary, pseudolateral,

rarely a second one produced above, 1-4-

flowered; bracts tepaloid, lowest forming con-

tinuation of stem but not overtopping flowers.

Tepals ovate-concave, 2,5 mm long with dark

brown margins, outer shorter, pointed. Sta-

mens 3, about half as long as tepals; anthers

somewhat shorter than filaments. Ovary

ovoid; style short; stigmas fairly long, spread-

ing. Capsule oblong, obtuse, apiculate,

golden brown; seeds ovoid, obtuse, 0,3 mm

long, golden brown, reticulate.

Known only from the Cold Bokkeveld Mts in the

Ceres District. In flower and fruit September-October.

Map 70.

Vouchers: Adamson 2998; Levyns 5791.

This diminutive species is perhaps closest to J. rupes-

tris (no. 18), but differs in possessing only 3 stamens, a

short style and usually a single head. The three known

collections are almost identical.

Species insufficiently known

Juncus diaphanus Buchen. in Abh. naturw. Ver.

Brem. 4: 442 (1875); Adamson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 50:

37 (1935). Type: Cape, Albany, Bolus 188 (in Sonder her-

barium). This specimen was not found in the Buchenau

herbarium at Vienna. Bolus 188 in BOL from the Sondags

River at Graaff-Reinet is J. exsertus: cf. Buchenau in

Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen 4: 435 (1875). Buchenau, in a

letter attached to a sheet of J. scabriusculus in BOL, sug-

gested that J. diaphanus could perhaps belong to J. sca-

briusculus., but this latter species only occurs in the south-

western Cape. The compact heads on short branchlets,

the small anthers, short style and obtuse capsule, as well

as the broad leaves, all suggest that it could be J. dregea-

nus Kunth, which is common in the eastern Cape.

JUNCACEAE

2: 89

Plate 3. — Seeds: 1, Juncus scabriusculus: la, X 120; lb, X 1200 (Adamson 206). 2, J. capitatus: 2a, x

120; 2b, x 600 (Esterhuysen 32932). 3, Luzula africana: 3a, x 240; 3b, X 600 (Arnold 851).

JUNCACEAE

2: 90

Fig. 26. — Luzula africana: 1 & 2, whole plant, x 1; 3, capsule, x 10; 4, seed, ventral view, x 20; 5, seed, lateral

view, x 20; 6, tcpals and stamens, x 10; 7, flower with ripe capsule and bracts, x 10; (1 & 2, after O. West 1683; 3-7,

after Buchcnau).

JUNCACEAE

2: 91

937 3. LUZULA

Luzula DC. in Lam. & DC., FI. Franc. 1: 198 (1805) & 3: 158 (1805), nom. cons.: Buchen. in

Pflanzenreich 4, 36 (Heft 25): 42 (1906); Bak. in F.C. 7: 27 (1897); M. Friedrich et al. in

F.S.W.A. 156: 3 (1967); R. A. Dyer, Gen. 2: 915 (1976). Type species: L. campestris (L.) DC.

Tufted, grass-like annuals or usually perennial herbs. Leaves flat, linear, with closed basal

sheaths, inconspicuously silky-hairy. Inflorescence of dense, terminal spikes, heads or panicles,

rarely few-flowered. Scapes long, furnished with reduced leaves or bracts, upper ones subtend-

ing inflorescence. Flowers bisexual, small; perianth of 6 free segments, glumaceous. Stamens 3

(6). Ovary unilocular, with 3 nearly basal ovules. Capsule loculicidal; seeds ovoid to globose,

with or without an apical or basal appendage.

Species about 80, mostly north temperate regions, rare in Southern Hemisphere; one species in Southern Africa.

The name Luzula alludes to the shiny leaves and flowers of some species.

Luzula africana Drege ex Steud., Syn. PI.

Glum. 2: 294 (1855); Buchen. in Abh. na-

turw. Ver. Bremen 4: 414 (1875); Bak. in

F.C. 7: 27 (1897); M. Friedrich et al. in

F.S.W.A. 156: 2 (1967). Type: E. Cape, Kat-

berg, Drege 3963 (G!; LD, iso. ! ).

Small, tufted, grass-like herbs, 0,3-0, 4 m

high. Rhizome compact, small, fibrous; roots

numerous, thin, branched. Leaves basal, sev-

eral, erect, narrowly linear, 0, 1-0,2 m long,

soft, with scattered, long, fine, white hairs

along raised margin, apex callose, obtuse, ba-

sal sheath cylindrical. Stem erect, thin, with

few reduced leaves. Inflorescence an apical,

congested head, subtended by 1-few leaf-like

bracts. Flowers small, brownish, each sub-

tended by a small membranous, ciliate bract.

Tepals lanceolate-acuminate c. 2,5 mm long,

inner ones slightly shorter, membranous. Sta-

mens 6, c. 2 mm long; filaments longer than

anthers. Ovary ovoid-acute, unilocular; style

short, with 3 longer stigmatic branches;

ovules 3, basal, erect. Capsule globose, apicu-

late; seeds globose, c. 1 mm long, dark, min-

utely apiculate, with a thick, basal caruncuia,

epidermis thick, membranous. Fig. 26. Plate

3:3.

Found af high altitudes in moist grassveld and mar-

shes on the eastern Transvaal Highveld, the Drakensberg

in Natal, eastern Orange Free State, Lesotho and north-

eastern Cape. Once recorded from South West Africa/

Namibia. Map 71. Plate 3:3.

Vouchers: Arnold 851; Dieterlen 734; Dyer 777;

Killick & Marais 2077; Kinges 3427; Moll 1202.

2: 93

INDEX

Abolboda H.B.K.* 2: 1

Aneilema R. Br 2: 36

adhaerens Kunth 2: 39

aequinoctiale auct 2: 37

aequinoctiale (P. Beauv.) Loudon 2: 39

var. adhaerens (Kunth) C.B. Cl 2: 39

var. kirkii C.B. Cl 2:37

arenicola Faden 2: 42

biflorum R. Br.* 2: 36

brunneospcrmum Faden 2: 44

drcgeanum Kunth 2: 42

subsp. dregeanum 2: 42

subsp. mossambicense Faden 2: 42

var. galpinii C.B. Cl 2:44

dregeanum sensu Compton 2: 40, 44

hockii De Wild 2: 37

indchiscens Faden 2: 40

subsp. lilacinum Faden 2: 40

johnstonii K. Schum 2: 40

longirrhizum Faden 2: 37

nicholsonii C.B. Cl 2:46

schlechteri K. Schum 2: 46

schlechteri sensu Brenan 2: 44

sinicum Ker-Gawl 2: 47

wildii Merxm 2: 37

zebrinum Chiov 2: 40

Ballya zebrina (Chiov.) Brenan 2:42

Coleoirype C.B. Cl 2:49

natalensis C.B. Cl 2:50

Commelina L 2: 24

aequinoctialis P. Beauv 2: 39

africana L 2: 28

var. africana 2:28

var. barberae (C.B. Cl.) C.B. Cl 2:29

var. boehmiana (K. Schum.) Brenan 2:29

var. brevipila Brenan 2: 29

var. glabriuscula (T. Norl.) Brenan 2:28

var. krebsiana (Kunth) C.B. Cl 2:29

var. lancispatha C.B. Cl 2:28

var. milleri Brenan 2: 29

var. villosior (C.B. Cl.) Brenan 2:29

albescens auct 2: 34

aspera Benth 2: 33

bainesii C.B. Cl 2: 34

barbata Lam. var. villosior C.B. Cl 2:29

bella Oberm 2: 35

benghalensis L 2: 30

boehmiana K. Schum 2: 29

communis L.* 2:24

diffusa Burnt, f. 2: 26

subsp. diffusa 2: 26

subsp. scandens (C.B. Cl.) Oberm 2:26

dinteri Mildbr 2: 28

eckloniana Kunth 2: 32

erecta L 2: 34

subsp. livingstonii (C.B. Cl.) Morton 2:34

fluviatilis Brenan 2: 26

forskaolii Vahl 2: 30

gerrardii C.B. Cl 2:34

imberbis Hassk 2: 32

karooica C.B. Cl 2: 29

var. barberae C.B. Cl 2:29

kotschyi Hassk.* 2:32

krebsiana Kunth 2: 29

var. glabriuscula T. Norl 2:28

livingstonii C.B. Cl 2:34

var. villosa C.B. Cl 2:34

modesta Oberm 2: 35

nudiflora L 2: 26

var. werneana (Hassk.) C.B. Cl 2:26

petersii Hassk 2: 33

rogersii Burn Davy 2: 29

scandens Wclw, ex. C. B. Cl 2: 26

simplex Vahl 2: 47

speciosa (L.f.) Thunb 2:53

subulata Roth 2: 25

undulata R. Br 2: 34

var. setosa C.B. Cl 2: 34

violacea C.B. Cl 2: 25

weimarckiana Norl 2:32

welwitschii C.B. Cl 2:28

werneana Hassk 2: 26

zambesica C.B. Cl 2:32

COMMELINACEAE 2:23

Cyanotis D. Don 2: 50

barbata D. Don* 2: 50

foecunda Hassk 2: 56

gryphaea Dinter 2: 55

lanata Benth 2: 55

lapidosa Phill 2: 51

longifolia Benth 2: 55

var. caespitosa C.B. Cl 2: 55

nodiflora (Lam.) Kunth 2: 53

pachyrrhiza Oberm 2: 53

robusta Oberm 2: 53

speciosa (L.f.) Hassk 2:53

Dithyrocarpus capensis Kunth 2: 56

glomeratus (J.A. & J.H. Schult.) Kunth 2: 56

Eichhornia Kunth 2: 63

An asterisk signifies exotic genera and species which are not naturalized; synonyms are in italics.

2: 94

azurea ( Swartz ) Kunth* 2: 63

crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub 2: 64

natans (P. Beauv.) Solms-Laub 2:64

speciosa Kunth 2: 64

ERIOCAULACEAE 2: 9

Eriocaulon L 2: 9

abyssinicum Hochst 2: 11

africanum Hochst 2: 19

amboense Schinz 2: 11

angustisepalum H. Hess 2: 11

aristatum H. Hess 2: 13

baurii N.E. Br 2: 18

bifistulosum Van Heurck & Miill. Arg 2: 10

buchananii Ruhl 2: 14

cinereum R. Br 2: 11

decangulare L* 2: 9

dregei Hochst 2: 17

var. dregei 2: 18

var. sonderianum (Koern.) Oberm.,

comb, nov 2: 18

gilgianum Ruhl 2: 14

hydrophilum Markotter 2: 17

maculatum Schinz 2: 14

melanocephalum Kunth 2: 10

natalensis Schinz 2: 19

ruhlandii Schinz 2: 14

setaceum L 2: 10

sonderianum Korn 2: 18

tofieldiifolium Schinz 2: 17

transvaalicum N. E. Br 2: 17

welwitschii Rendle 2: 13

var. pygmaeum Rendle 2: 13

woodii N.E. Br 2: 19

Floscopa Lour 2: 56

flavida C.B. Cl 2: 58

glomerata (Willd. exJ. A. &J.H. Schult.)

Hassk 2: 56

leiothyrsa Brenan 2: 58

scandens Lour.* 2:56

Heteranthera Ruiz & Pav 2: 68

callifolia Kunth 2: 68

kotschyana Fenzl ex Solms-Laub 2: 68

reniformis Ruiz & Pav. * 2: 68

JUNCACEAE 2: 71

Juncus L 2: 73

subgenus Genuini Buchen 2:74

subgenus Graminifolii Buchen 2: 74

subgenus Poiophylli Buchen 2:74

subgenus Septati Buchen 2:74

subgenus Thalassici Buchen 2:74

acutangulus Buchen 2: 83

acutissimus (Buchen.) Adamson 2: 78

acutus L 2: 73, 78

subsp. leopoldii (Pari.) Snogerup '. 2:78

var. leopoldii (Pari.) Buchen 2:78

acutus sensu Adamson 2: 78

altus Buchen 2: 85

var. altus (Buchen.) Adamson 2:85

anonymus Steud 2: 83

apiculatus Adamson 2: 83

arabicus (Aschers. & Buchen.) Adamson .... 2: 79

atropurpureus Adamson 2: 83

brevistilus Buchen. ( 'brevistylus’ ) 2:80

bufonius L 2: 76

caffer Bertol 2:79

capensis Thunb 2: 83

subsp. angustifolius E. Mey. ex Buchen.,

p.p 2: 83

var. ecklonii Buchen 2:83

var. flaccidus Buchen 2: 83

var. flaccidus forma depauperata Buchen . 2: 83

var. sphagnetorum Buchen 2: 83

var. sphagnetorum forma frondescens

Buchen 2: 83

subsp. delicatulus (Steud.) Buchen 2:83

subsp. geniculatus Buchen 2: 83

subsp. longifolius E. Mey. ex Buchen 2: 83

var. gracilior Buchen 2: 83

var. strictissimus Buchen 2:83

subsp. parviflorus Buchen 2: 83

var. delicatulus (Steud.) Adamson 2:83

var. ecklonii Buchen., emend. Adamson,

p.p 2: 83

var. latifolius E. Mey 2: 82

var. macranthus Adamson 2: 83

capillaceus Lam 2: 77

capitatus Weigel 2: 88

cephalotes Thunb 2: 85

var. ustulatus Buchen 2:85

var. varius Buchen 2:85

cephalotes sensu Thunb., p.p 2: 82, 84

chamissonis Kunth 2: 76

cymosus Lam., nom. rej 2:82

delicatulus Steud 2: 83

diaphanus Buchen 2: 88

dinteriV . Poelln 2:76

dregeanus Kunth 2: 84

var. conglomeratus Buchen 2:84

var. sphaerocephalus Adamson 2: 84

var. submonocephalus (Steud.) Buchen 2: 84

effusus L 2: 77

exsertus Buchen 2: 80

fasciculiflorus Adamson 2: 78

filifolius Adamson 2: 85

flaccidus Steud 2: 83

gentilis N. E. Br 2: 80

glaucus Ehrh. var. acutissimus Buchen 2: 78

imbricatus La Harpe 2: 76

var. chamissonis (Kunth) Buchen 2:76

inaequalis Buchen 2:85

2: 95

var. squarrosus Adamson 2:

var. viridescens Buchcn 2:

indescrip tus Steud 2:

inflexus L 2:

isolepoides , nom. nud 2:

kraussii Hochst 2:

var. effusus Adamson 2:

var. parviflorus Adamson 2:

leopoldii Pari 2:

lomatophyllus Spreng 2:

var. aristatus Buchen 2:

var. congestus Adamson 2:

var. lutescens Buchen 2:

lomatophyllus Spreng. x J. capensis Thunb. . . 2:

maritimus Lam. var. arabicus Aschers. &

Buchen 2:

maritimus sensu auct., non Lam., p.p 2:

maritimus sensu Bak., non Lam 2:

obliquus Adamson 2:

oxycarpus Kunth 2:

var. australis Weim 2:

var. microcephalus Adamson 2:

parvulus E. Mey. ex Buchen 2:

pictus Steud 2:

polytrichos E. Mey. ex Buchen 2:

punctorius L. f. 2:

var. ex altatus (Decne.) Buchen 2:

rigidus Desf. 2:

rostratus Buchen 2:

rupestris Kunth 2:

var. schlechteri (Buchen.) Adamson 2:

scabriusculus Kunth 2:

var. subglandulosus (Steud.) Buchen 2:

schlechteri Buchen 2:

serratum L. f 2:

singularis Steud 2:

sonderianus Buchen 2:

sphagnetorum Adamson 2:

sprengelii Nees ex Buchen 2:

var. gracilior Buchcn 2:

var. robustior Buchcn 2:

spretus Schultes & Schultes f 2:

stenopetalus Adamson 2:

stenophyllus Steud 2:

subcuneatus Adamson 2:

var. latifolius Adamson 2:

var. minor Adamson 2:

subglandulosus Steud. .

subglobosus Adamson .

submonocephalus Steud.

suboxycarpus Adamson

sulcatus Hochst

tenuis Willd

umbellatus Adamson . .

viridifolius Adamson

Lamprodithyros adhaerens (Kunth) Hassk 2: 39

aequinoctialis (P. Bcauv.) Hassk 2: 39

Luzula DC 2: 91

africana Drege ex Steud 2: 91

campestris (L.) DC.* 2:91

Mayacaceae vii

Monochoria Presl 2: 61

africana (Solms-Laub.) N. E. Br 2: 63

hastata Solms-Laub. * 2: 61

vaginalis (Burm. f.) Presl ex Kunth var. africana

Solms-Laub 2: 63

Murdannia Royle 2: 47

scapiflora Royle* 2: 47

simplex (Vahl) Brenan 2: 47

sinica (Ker-Gawl.) Briickn 2: 47

Paepalanthus wahlbergii Koern 2: 19

PONTEDERIACEAE 2:61

Pontederia L 2: 66

azurea sensu Hook 2: 64

cordata L 2: 66

var. cordata 2: 68

var. ovalis (Mart.) Solms 2:66

crassipes Mart 2: 64

natans P. Beauv 2: 64

ovalis Mart 2: 66

Prionium E. Mey 2: 71

palmita E. Mey 2: 71

serratum (L. f.) Drege ex E. Mey 2:71

Syngonanthus Ruhl 2: 19

umbellatum (Lam.) Ruhl.* 2: 19

wahlbergii (Koern.) Ruhl 2: 19

Tradescantia L 2: 59

albiflora Kunth* 2: 59

lluminensis Veil 2: 59

glomerata Willd 2: 56

nodiflora Lam 2: 53

speciosa L. f 2: 53

virginiana L 2: 59

zebrina Loud 2: 23

Triceratella Brenan* vii

XYRIDACEAE 2: 1

Xyris L. 2: 1

aberdarica Malme 2: 5

anceps Lam 2: 2

batokana N. E. Br 2: 4

brunnea Nilsson 2: 5

capensis Thunb 2: 2

congensis Buettn 2: 4

decipiens N. E. Br.* 2: 8

dispar N. E. Br 2: 7

filiformis sensu N. E. Br 2: 8

foliolata Nilsson 2: 4

gerrardii N. E. Br 2: 7

indica L.* 2: 1

85

85

83

77

85

78

78

78

78

82

82

82

82

83

79

78

79

88

80

80

80

85

85

85

79

79

79

82

87

85

87

87

85

71

83

84

83

87

87

87

78

87

83

84

84

84

87

84

84

80

83

76

83

82

2: 96

multicaulis N. E. Br* 2: 8

natalensis Nilsson 2: 4

nivea Welw. ex Rendle 2: 5

obscura N. E. Br 2: 5

sp. near obscura N. E. Br., sensu Hepper ... 2: 5

rehmannii Nilsson 2: 7

rigidescens Welw. ex Rendle 2: 7

rubella Malme 2: 2

straminea Nilsson* 2: 8

Zebrina pendula Schnizl. * 2:23

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