CONTENTS

New taxa and new combinations published in Volume 5 Part 3 ................ cee cece cence ee eee IV

PAUTOGUCTION ...... 0.0 sdidesd ean habe Rabe s ee ee BEE eet Brae Ree ymin An scart ay. Sos ane ctia(Ohe Vv

Pian of Flora of sowthetn, APTigd: sek 2 alert ee ans ee roe bs eee ees Vi

Rey to families in: this: part scone =. cccu er eee es eee ed Pie ere erie Vill

DRACAENACEAE, oo tocgcsesadasastecsieca teidspetlya e Auta tas, aaron eat Siar OR mah eee reackl aba naan Ate 1

Pracacaa by J.J. BOs? x. e..008,. 2 AR lia cs ia a a IS 2 A ere ree cae 1

Sansevicria by A.A. ODErMIG YER Toso ces tte neyo hee ey cee nes Pea Ee a eae meee nea 5

ASPARAGACEAE, op 5 <binns foie ods Reel Binbe eae hls ea bk reap eles > tiara «seme tel getline giana tect ll

Protasparagus by A.A. Obermeyer & K.L. Immelman... 0c .sccca ens eee. vere ll

Myrsiphyllum by A.A, Obermeyer 2.5.0 eescls Peers ves eo A eee coe ea 71

BUZURIAGACEAE 2. cx. eneceuinene vncnes hace dhelte nal Se ian SAS «ewe dn ae aera) eae ear 83

Bennia by A.A. ODGreeeyeF F004 h 34.80 Bse. sss oon SL dee cone ee ee eee 83

SCO AC A aves chy oy ede poe chs gat pepeacly awe ns akg el cate a capt anal eal are aati ee 85

Smilax by A.A. QBERTEVER 4554 eee g ss cetera Rt eae peas «ee oa renee i oe ee a el ele 85

BOK phisea op Oona Sed scaiew cde Syatats nx dllncs bonis eehivs aw baba teaibes oui hale eee ae ete ce eran 87

ill

NEW TAXA AND NEW COMBINATIONS PUBLISHED IN VOLUME 5

PART 3*

Protasparagus subgen. Suaveolens Oberm., subgen. nov., p. 13

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Exuviali Oberm., series nov., p. 16

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Globosi Oberm., series nov., p. 18

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Penduli Oberm., series nov., p.14

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Retrofracti Oberm., series nov., p. 15

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Sympodioidi Oberm., series nov., p. 19

Protasparagus subgen. Suaveolens series Suaveolens Oberm., series nov., p. 13

Protasparagus aggregatus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 55

Protasparagus bayeri Oberm., sp. nov., p. 21

Protasparagus biflorus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 63

Protasparagus clareae Oberm., sp. nov., p. 54

Protasparagus coddii Oberm., sp. nov., p. 53

Protasparagus devenishii Oberm., sp. nov., p. 41

Protasparagus divaricatus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 67

Protasparagus edulis Oberm., sp. nov., p. 41

Protasparagus exsertus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 29

Protasparagus filicladus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 51

Protasparagus flavicaulis Oberm., sp. nov., p. 29

Protasparagus fouriei Oberm., sp. nov., p. 62

Protasparagus fractiflexus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 40

Protasparagus graniticus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 42

Protasparagus intricatus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 65

Protasparagus lynetteae Oberm., sp. nov., p. 47

Protasparagus mariae Oberm., sp. nov., p. 24

Protasparagus mollis Oberm. , sp. nov., p. 32

Protasparagus nodulosus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 59

Protasparagus oliveri Oberm., sp. nov., p. 30

Protasparagus pendulus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 32

Protasparagus recurvispinus Oberm., sp. nov., p. 19

Protasparagus sekukuniensis Oberm., sp. nov., p. 63

Protasparagus transvaalensis Oberm., sp. nov., p. 52

Protasparagus flavicaulis subsp. setulosus Oberm., subsp. nov., p. 30

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Africani (Bak.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov., p. 15

Protasparagus subgen. Protasparagus series Racemosi (Bak.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov., p. 16

Protasparagus concinnus (Bak.) Oberm. & Immelman, comb. et stat. nov., p. 61

Protasparagus exuvialis forma ecklonii (Bak.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov., p. 43

Protasparagus spinescens (Steud. ex Roem. & Schult.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov., p. 27

Dracaena aletriformis (Haw.) Bos, comb. nov., p. 3

Protasparagus bechuanicus (Bak.) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 33

Protasparagus burchellii (Bak.) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 27

Protasparagus confertus (Krause) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 51

Protasparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 49

Protasparagus lignosus (Burm. f.) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 37

Protasparagus mucronatus (Jessop) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 38

Protasparagus stellatus (Bak.) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 61

Protasparagus virgatus (Bak.) Oberm., comb. nov., p. 31

* Date of publication: November 1992

INTRODUCTION

The family delimitation in this part follows Dahlgren et al. (1985)* The numbering and the sequence

of genera are, however, still according to De Dalla Torre & Harms in their Genera Siphonogamarum

(1900-1907).

Localities are sometimes referred to in terms of the degree reference system (Leistner & Morris

in Annals of the Cape Provincial Museums 12: 1-565; 1976).

Cited voucher specimens given without indication of herbarium are housed in PRE (National Her-

barium, Pretoria).

The distribution areas shown on maps in this part represent the distribution of the taxon concerned

only in the region covered by this flora.

This part was compiled in accordance with the Guide for Contributors to the Flora of southern

Africa (compiled by Leistner, Ross & De Winter and available from the Editor, National Botanical

Institute, Private Bag X101, 0001 Pretoria).

* Dahlgren, R.M.T., Clifford, H.T. & Yeo, R.F. 1985. The families of the Monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg,

New York, Tokyo.

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.

Exotic families are marked with an asterisk.

Published volumes and parts are shown in italics.

INTRODUCTORY VOLUMES

The genera of southern African flowering plants

Vol. 1: Dicotyledons (published 1975)

Vol. 2: Monocotyledons (published 1976)

Botanical exploration of southern Africa (published 1981)

CRYPTOGAM VOLUMES

Charophyta (published as Vol. 9 in 1978)

Bryophyta: Part 1: Mosses: Fascicle 1: Sphagnaceae—Grimmiaceae (published 1981)

Fascicle 2: Gigaspermaceae—Bartramiaceae (published 1987)

Fascicle 3: Erpodiaceae—Hookeriaceae

Fascicle 4: Fabroniaceae—Polytrichaceae

Pteridophyta (published 1986)

FLOWERING PLANTS VOLUMES

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

Potamogetonaceae, Ruppiaceae, Zannichelliaceae, Najadaceae, Aponogetonaceae, Juncaginaceae, Alismataceae,

Hydrocharitaceae (published 1966)

Vol. 2: Poaceae

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

Vol. 4: Part 1: Restionaceae |

Part 2: Xyridaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Commelinaceae, Pontederiaceae, Juncaceae (published 1985)

Vol. 5: Part 1: Colchicaceae, Eriospermaceae, Asphodelaceae

Part 2: Alliaceae, Liliaceae*, Hyacinthaceae _

Part 3: Dracaenaceae, Asparagaceae, Luzuriagaceae, Smilacaceae (published 1992)

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

Vol. 7: Iridaceae: Part 1: Nivenioideae, Iridoideae

Part 2: Ixioideae: Fascicle 1

Fascicle 2: Syringodea, Romulea (published 1983)

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

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

Proteaceae

Vol. 10: Part 1: Loranthaceae, Viscaceae (published 1979)

Santalaceae, Grubbiaceae, Opiliaceae, Olacaceae, Balanophoraceae, Aristolochiaceae, Rafflesiaceae, Hydnoraceae,

Polygonaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Nyctaginaceae

Vol. 11: Phytolaccaceae, Aizoaceae, Mesembryanthemaceae

Vol. 12: Portulacaceae, Basellaceae, Caryophyllaceae, [lecebraceae, Cabombaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Ceratophyllaceae, Ranun-

culaceae, Menispermaceae, Annonaceae, Trimeniaceae, Lauraceae, Hernandiaceae, Papaveraceae, Fumariaceae

Vol. 13: Brassicaceae, Capparaceae, Resedaceae, Moringaceae, Droseraceae, Roridulaceae, Podostemaceae, Hydrostachyaceae

(published 1970)

Vol. 14: Crassulaceae (published 1985)

Vol. 15: Vahliaceae, Montiniaceae, Escalloniaceae, Pittosporaceae, Cunoniaceae, Myrothamnaceae, Bruniaceae, Hamame-

lidaceae, Rosaceae, Connaraceae

Vol.

pet

beet

Vol.

pat

poet

Vol.

ject

Vol.

16: Fabaceae: Part 1: Mimosoideae (published 1975)

Part 2: Caesalpinioideae (published 1977)

Part 3: Papilionoideae: Fascicle 1: Swartzieae—Robinieae

Fascicle 2: Indigofereae

Fascicle 3: Desmodieae, Phaseoleae

Fascicle 4: Psoraleeae—Galegeae

Fascicle 5: Loteae—Liparieae

Fascicle 6: Crotalarieae (Aspalathus) (published 1988)

Fascicle 7: Crotalarieae (Bolusia—Lebeckia)

Fascicle 8: Crotalarieae (Lotononis—Wiborgia)

Fascicle 9: Crotalarieae (Pearsonia—Argyrolobium), Genisteae (Cytisus—Ulex)

17: Geraniaceae, Oxalidaceae

18: Part 1: Linaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Balanitaceae

Part 2: Rutaceae

Part 3: Simaroubaceae, Burseraceae, Ptaeroxylaceae, Meliaceae (Aitoniaceae), Malpighiaceae (published 1986)

.-19: Polygalaceae, Dichapetalaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Callitrichaceae, Buxaceae, Anacardiaceae, Aquifoliaceae

Vol.

20: Celastraceae, Icacinaceae, Sapindaceae, Melianthaceae, Greyiaceae, Balsaminaceae, Rhamnaceae, Vitaceae

21: Part 1: Tiliaceae (published 1984)

Malvaceae, Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae

22: Ochnaceae, Clusiaceae, Elatinaceae, Frankeniaceae, Tamaricaceae, .Canellaceae, Violaceae, Flacourtiaceae,

Turneraceae, Passifloraceae, Achariaceae, Loasaceae, Begoniaceae, Cactaceae (published 1976)

23: Geissolomaceae, Penaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Lythraceae, Lecythidaceae

24: Rhizophoraceae, Combretaceae, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae, Onagraceae, Trapaceae, Haloragaceae, Gunneraceae,

Araliaceae, Apiaceae, Cornaceae

25: Ericaceae

26: Myrsinaceae, Primulaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Sapotaceae, Ebenaceae, Oleaceae, Salvadoraceae, Regen eeee.

-Gentianaceae, Apocynaceae (published 1963)

27: Part 1: Periplocaceae, Asclepiadaceae (Microloma—Xysmalobium)

Part 2: Asclepiadaceae (Schizoglossum—Woodia)

Part 3: Asclepiadaceae (Asclepias—Anisotoma)

Part 4: Asclepiadaceae (Brachystelma—Riocreuxia) (published 1980)

Asclepiadaceae (remaining genera)

28: Part 1: Cuscutaceae, Convolvulaceae

Part 2: Hydrophyllaceae, Boraginaceae

Part 3: Stilbaceae, Verbenaceae

Part 4: Lamiaceae (published 1985)

Part 5: Solanaceae, Retziaceae

29: Scrophulariaceae |

30: Bignoniaceae, Pedaliaceae, Martyniaceae, Orobanchaceae, Gesneriaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Acanthaceae, Myoporaceae

31: Part 1: Fascicle 1: Plantaginaceae, Rubiaceae (Rubioideae—first part) |

Fascicle 2: Rubiaceae (Rubioideae—second part): Paederieae, Anthospermeae, Rubieae (published 1986)

Fascicle 3: Ixoroideae, Chinchonoideae

Part 2:. Valerianaceae, Dipsacaceae, Cucurbitaceae

32: Campanulaceae, Sphenocleaceae, Lobeliaceae, Goodeniaceae

33: Asteraceae: Part 1: Lactuceae, Mutisieae, ‘Tarchonantheae’

Part 2: Vernonieae, Cardueae

Part 3: Arctotideae

Part 4: Anthemideae

Part 5: Astereae

Part 6: Calenduleae

Part 7: Inuleae: Fascicle 1: Inulinae

. Fascicle 2: Gnaphaliinae (first i od 1983)

Part 8: Heliantheae, Eupatorieae —

Part 9: Senecioneae

Vil

KEY TO FAMILIES IN THIS PART

la Flowers unisexual; plants dioecious; leaves with 2 basal tendrils ....... Smilacaceae (p. 85)

lb Flowers bisexual; leaves without tendrils:

2a Plants with a thick aerial stem (with secondary growth) or leaves very tough and fleshy;

SCCUS MSU-COlOUECYE Fb, Aly saint 1 ho ctlas viene owwnor eels viv ainite Coons Dracaenaceae (p. 1)

2b Plants with slender, often scandent aerial stems (without secondary growth); leaves

often rudimentary, never very tough and fleshy; seeds black:

3a Leaves reduced to scales with a spiny or soft spur; cladodes needle-shaped or leaf-like

and without distinct cross-connections between the parallel veins ... Asparagaceae (p. 11)

3b Leaves with numerous prominent parallel veins with distinct cross-connections .....

ete Se eee Lh Sault nal bane cies wenurnamsarewlavyte es MAZUR AGACEMET Us tao)

Vili

DRACAENACEAE 1

DRACAENACEAE

Shrubs, trees or rhizomatous xerophytic perennials. Leaves spirally arranged, often in rosettes

and crowded at the base or the top of the stem, entire, with parallel venation, stiff, often succulent.

Flowers in racemes or panicles, more or less regular, bisexual, hypogynous; pedicels with an equal,

often disc-like articulation. Jepals 3 + 3, petal-like, united into a short to very long tube. Stamens

3 + 3, inserted at base of lobes, exserted; filaments filiform to inflated; anthers versatile, introrse.

Ovary superior, trilocular with a single axile ovule in each locule; style slender; stigma capitate.

Fruit a berry; seeds 1—3, dirty white.

Genera 1 or 2 (depending on whether Dracaena and Sansevieria are kept separate) with about 120 species; mainly in

the Old World tropics.

Key to genera (from Dyer 1976)

Trees or shrubs; leaves in dense apical rosettes or cauline, usually herbaceous; inflorescence paniculate ...... 1. Dracaena

Rhizomatous herbs, rarely short-stemmed; leaves basal, distichous, usually thick and fibrous; inflorescence a

dense cylindrical TACEMEe: 5.0. coe Pee has thes Bae ar ee 2 odo athe ys iy Sag ree cial shelae cie oe sie eee 2. Sansevieria

1109 1. DRACAENA

by J.J. Bos*

(Literature references on p. 4)

Dracaena L., Systema naturae edn 12,2: 246 (1767a)/Mantissa plantarum 1: 63 (1767b); Bak.: 523 ..

(1875); Bak.: 274 (1896); Bak.: 436 (1898); Bos: 14 (1984). Type species: D. draco (L.) L.

Pleomele Salisb.: 245 (1796) p.p. emend. N.E. Br.: 275 (1914). Type species: P. fragrans (L.) Salisb., i.e. D. fragrans

(L.) Ker-Gawl.

Cordyline Planch.; auct. non Comm. ex Juss. (nom. cons.): 109 (1851). Type species: C. reflexa (Lam.) Planch., i.e.

D. reflexa Lam.

Shrubs or trees. Leaves spirally arranged, often congested terminally in pseudo-whorls, strap-

or sword-shaped, smooth, entire, acute with clasping bases. Inflorescences terminal panicles of simple

or branched racemes; peduncle often with reduced leaves in transition to tiny scarious floral bracts.

Flowers whitish, fragrant, nocturnal; pedicel consisting of a basal part turning into a persistent peg,

and a stalk-like obconical receptacle persistent in fruit. Perianth tubular with six recurving lobes.

Stamens inserted in the throat, opposite and equal to the lobes; filaments inflated. Ovary with a

single ovule in each of the three locules; style filiform; stigma capitate. Fruit a globose or lobed

orange-scarlet berry. Seeds 1—3, large, rounded, bony and dirty white.

A genus of about 60 species in the warmer regions of the world, notably Africa and South-east Asia, with two species

recognized in southern Africa.

For characters not applicable in our area, see Bos: 14 (1984), as the constituent taxa in Dracaena tend to vary widely.

A number of species is cultivated as ornamentals. Some of these can be grown very well in our area, but there is no evidence

that any of them have established themselves here. They have been treated in Bos & Cullen: 285 (1986).

Although in our area species of Dracaena are not readily confused with those of Sansevieria, it should be noted that

these genera cannot be separated in a satisfactory manner.

Well developed leaves longer than 0,5 m, with a distinct white cartilaginous edge; branches of the inflorescence green

ig: AAS SE Sin 0 8 69h Chaat ites ba bay ny LER ERIS caeagea lo RAI eee 0 Te drt ccs ee 1. D. aletriformis

Well developed leaves shorter than 0,5 m, lacking a distinct white cartilaginous edge; branches of the inflorescence

VOU OW. oa onincae'sncaing sag aeiban.ss-add.trpid s.plvaisa deed ne aioe 6 Slate tke RE akon ai an ape as ne daaoaanteaEAa Ta eaee ane TOG 2. D. mannii

* Department of Plant Taxonomy, Agricultural University, P.O. Box 8010, 6700 ED Wageningen, The Netherlands.

DRACAENACEAE

1. Dracaena aletriformis (Haw. ) Bos, comb.

nov.

Yucca aletriformis Haw.: 415 (1831). Type: Cape, Uitenhage,

Van Stadens River, Drége 4494a (K!, neo., G!, MO!, P!, pho-

tocopies in PRE, WAG, here designated).

Cordyline rumphii Hook. (nom. illeg.) p.p. quoad descr.,

excl. syn.: t. 4279 (1847). D. hookeriana K. Koch (nom.

illeg.): 394 (1861); Bak.: 527 (1875); Bak.: 275 (1896); Wood:

t. 277 (1902); Coates Palgrave: 86 (1977). D. rumphii (Hook.)

Regel excl. patria: 141 (1871). Draco hookeriana (K. Koch)

Kuntze: 710 (1891). Pleomele hookeriana (K. Koch) N.E. Br.:

278 (1914). Type: Curtis’s Botanical Magazine t. 4279 ( here

designated).

‘Dracaena latifolia Regel: 141 (1871); Saunders: t. 353 (1873).

Type: Natal, Durban, Wood 6572 (BM!, neo., E!, G!, PRC!,

photocopies in PRE, WAG, here designated).

D. transvaalensis Bak.: 1001 (1904). Type: Transvaal, Shilu-

vane, Junod 1635 (G!, holo., Z!, photocopies in PRE, WAG).

Sansevieria paniculata Schinz (nom. nud.): 141 (1892) based

on: Cape, Port Alfred, Schoenland 290 (Z}).

Misapplied name: Aletris fragrans L. (= Dracaena fragrans

(L.) Ker-Gawl.) in Burm. f.: 10 (1768), vide Hutch.: 622

(1946), Bos: 75 (1984).

Small tree, not always branched, usually not

exceeding 5 m. Leaves congested towards top of

stems, narrow to broadly strap-shaped, with short

flaring sheaths, bright to greyish green with

narrow conspicuous white cartilaginous edges,

0,5—1,0 m long, 25—110 mm wide. Inflorescence

erect, up to well over 1 m long, green. Flowers

1—4 together, more numerous in terminal

clusters, 25—35(—42) mm long, greenish white;

pedicel bases 5—10 mm long; receptacles 2—3

(—8) mm long, up to 12 mm in fruit. Perianth

lobes + 1,5 times as long as tube. Fruits usually

single-seeded and globose, lobed when 2- or

3-seeded, 7-19 mm in diameter, red or orange.

Distributed in Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the south-

eastern Cape Province, also in Mozambique, Zanzibar and

Kenya. Occasional in coastal bush and montane localities in

Transvaal and Swaziland. Map 1.

Vegetatively distinct by its conspicuous white leaf edges,

it is very variable in its leaf dimensions. Flower size may vary

remarkably, even on the same plant in consecutive flowering

periods. This has led to the distinction of several taxa that

are, however, not tenable.

Map 1.—Dracaena aletriformis

It is likely that the non-flowering living type plant in Kew

Gardens, received from Bowie in 1823, was the one depicted

on Plate 4279 of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. Cultivated

herbarium material at K that was collected two decennia later,

may very well have been taken from the same plant. However,

I preferred to neotypify the name with material that was

collected at Van Stadens River, the locus classicus where

Bowie must have obtained his plant.

Vouchers: Codd 8793 (BM!, EA, K!, PRE!, SRGH, photo-

copy WAG); Compton 30421 (NBG!, photocopies in PRE,

WAG); Galpin 2960 (GRA!, PRE!, photocopy WAG); Wood

6572 (BM!, E!, G!, PRE!, photocopy WAG); Van der Schijff

5068 (PRE!, W!, photocopy WAG).

2. Dracaena mannii Bak. in Journal of

Botany 12: 164 (1874); Bak.: 526 (1875); Bak.:

438 (1898); Bos: 82 (1984). Type: Nigeria, Old

Calabar, Mann 2339 (K!, lecto. vide Bos: 82

(1984), A!, B!, K!, P!, WAG! iso.).

D. nitens Welw. ex Bak.: 252 (1877). D. reflexa Lam. var.

nitens (Welw. ex Bak.) Bak.: 441 (1898); Coates Palgrave:

87 (1977). Pleomele nitens (Welw. ex Bak.) N.E. Br.: 278

(1914). Syntypes: Angola, Pungo Andongo, Welwitsch 3741

(BM!, photos in MO, WAG); Welwitsch 3742 (BM!), Golungo

Alto, Welwitsch 3743 (BM!, COI!, G!, K!, P!).

D. usambarensis Eng}.: 30 (1894) nomen; Engl.: 144 (1895)

descr.; Palmer & Pitman: 401 (1972). P. usambarensis (Engl.)

N.E. Br.: 279 (1914). Syntypes: Tanzania, Usambara, Volkens

65 (lost in B, photo K!); Kilimandscharo, Volkens 1938 (lost

in B, photos BR!, K!).

FicurE 1.—Dracaena mannii: 1, inflorescence, x 0,73; 2, flower laid open, x 1,09; 3 & 4, fruit, x 0,73; 5, seed,

x 0,73 (1 & 2 after De Koning 6557, 3—5 after Van der Burg 478). Reproduced from Bos (1984). Artist: W. Wessel.

Shrub or tree, up to 5 m tall in our area; stem

and branches with prominent leaf scars. Leaves

narrowly oblong-elliptic with an abruptly flaring

base clasping the stem for half its circumference,

up to 400 x 20 mm. Inflorescence a panicle of

simple racemes, not exceeding 0,5 m, yellow.

Flowers greenish to creamy white, (9—)30—37

(—45) mm long; pedicel bases up to 4 mm, up

to 9 mm in fruit; receptacles up to 2 mm long,

up to 5 mm in fruit. Perianth lobes about twice

as long as tube. Fruits turning first brown and

subsequently scarlet when ripe, globose, 10—30

mm in diameter. Seeds globose, 7-20 mm in

diameter. Figure 1.

Restricted to the banks of Kosi Bay in the extreme north-

eastern corner of Natal. Widely distributed in tropical Africa

from Senegal to Kenya and southwards to Angola and Mozam-

bique. Map 2.

Quite variable in its characters, even on the same plant.

In our area its flower size tends towards the upper limits set

for the species. The height of the trees is rather modest

DRACAENACEAE

Map 2.—Dracaena mannii

compared to the large trees found in Cameroun and Gabon

that may surpass 30 m.

Vouchers: Gerstner s.n. (K!, PRE!, photocopy WAG); Strey

10442 (K!, PRE!, photocopy WAG).

REFERENCES

BAKER, J.G. 1874. On new Dracaenas from tropical Africa. Journal of Botany, new series 3: 164-167.

BAKER, J.G. 1875. Revision of the species and genera of Asparagaceae. Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 14: 508—632.

BAKER, J.G. 1877. Report on the Liliaceae, Iridaceae, Hypoxidaceae and Haemadoraceae of Welwitsch’s Angolan herbarium.

Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 2nd series 1, Botany: 245—273.

BAKER, J.G. 1896. Liliaceae: Dracaena. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora capensis 6: 274—275. Reeve, London. —

BAKER, J.G. 1898. Liliaceae: Dracaena. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora of tropical Africa 7: 436—450. Reeve, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1904. Beitraége zur Kenntnis der afrikanischen Flora 16: Liliaceae. Bulletin de |’Herbier Boissier Série 2,

4: 996-1002. ig

BOS, J.J. 1984. Dracaena in West Africa. Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 84-1 = Belmontia n.s. 17 (1985): 1-126.

BOS, J.J. & CULLEN, J. 1986. Dracaena. In S.M. Walters et al. (eds), The European garden flora 1: 285—287. Cambridge

University Press, Cambridge.

BROWN, N.E. 1914. Notes on the genera Cordyline, Dracaena, Pleomele, Sansevieria and Taetsia. Bulletin of Miscellaneous

Information, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 1914, 8: 273-279.

BURMAN, N.L. 1768. Prodromus florae capensis in Flora indica. Haak, Leiden.

COATES PALGRAVE, K. 1977. Trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.

DYER, R.A. 1976. The genera of southern African flowering plants 2. Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria.

ENGLER, A. 1894. Ueber die Gliederung der Vegetation von Usambara und der angrenzenden Gebiete. Physikalische

Abhandlungen der kéniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin aus dem Jahre 1894 1: 1-86.

ENGLER, A. 1895. Die Pflanzenwelt Ostafrikas und der Nachbargebiete, Theil C. Reimer, Berlin.

HAWORTH, A.H. 1831. Thirteenth decade of new succulent plants. Philosophical Magazine and Annals 1831: 414—424.

HOOKER, W.J. 1847. Cordyline rumphii. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 3rd series, 3: t. 4279.

HUTCHINSON, J. 1946. A botanist in southern Africa. Gawthorn, London.

KOCH, K. 1861. Die achten Drachenbaume. Wochenschrift fiir Gdrtnerei und Pflanzenkunde 4: 393-398.

KUNTZE, O. 1891. Revisio generum plantarum 2. Felix, Leipzig. |

LINNAEUS, C. 1767a. Systema naturae, edn 12, 2. Stockholm.

LINNAEUS, C. 1767b. Mantissa plantarum. Stockholm.

PALMER, E. & PITMAN, N. 1972. Trees of southern Africa 1. Balkema, Cape Town.

PLANCHON, J.E. 1851. Cordyline (Dracaena sp. auct.) sieboldii var. maculata & nouveaux détails sur la synonymie des

plantes connues sous les noms de Dracaena et Cordyline. Flore des Serres 6: 109-111, 132-133, 135-138.

REGEL, E. 1871. Die Arten der Gattung Dracaena. Gartenflora 20: 132-149.

SALISBURY, R.A. 1796. Prodromus stirpium in horto ad Chapel Allerton vigentium. London.

SAUNDERS, W.W. 1873. Refugium botanicum 5. Van Voorst, London.

SCHINZ, H. 1892. In T. Durand & H. Schinz, Conspectus florae africae 5. Friedlaender & Sohn, Berlin.

WOOD, J.M. 1902. Natal plants 3. Bennett & Davis, Durban.

DRACAENACEAE 5

1110 i 2. SANSEVIERIA

by A.A. OBERMEYER*

(Literature references on p. 9)

Sansevieria Thunb. , Prodromus plantarum capensium 65 (1794) (nom. cons.); Thunb.: 328 (1823);

Roem. & Schult.: 355 (1829); Roem. & Schult.: 1678 (1830); Benth. & Hook. f.: 679 (1883); Bak.:

547 (1875); Bak.: 4 (1896); Bak.: 332 (1898); N.E. Br.: 185 (1915); Krause: 360 (1930); Sdlch &

Roessl.: 1 (1966); R.A. Dyer: 943 (1976). Type species: S. thyrsiflora ec ieued) Thunb., nom. illegit.

(Aloe hyacinthoides L., S. hyacinthoides (L.) Druce).

Acaulescent (in FSA region), coarse, evergreen, very drought-hardy perennials, strongly rhizoma-

tous and forming colonies. Rhizome cylindrical, thick, fibrous, articulated, bearing clasping, thin,

early deciduous cataphylls. Roots placed below or near aerial shoots. Leaves sessile, rosulate or

distichous, one to few, flat or cylindrical or semicylindrical with a groove on adaxial side, plain

or with irregular, transverse, darker and lighter green bands; juvenile leaves may differ in shape

from mature ones. Inflorescence a spike-like raceme (in FSA region). Flowers numerous, subsessile,

in irregular clusters along scape, opening haphazardly above and below, opening towards evening

and for one night only, delicately scented. Perianth with a long, narrow tube, bulbous at base, with

6 spreading to recurved lobes. Stamens 6, erect, much exserted, fused to tube below; filaments fili-

form; anthers versatile. Ovary trilocular, ovoid, with a single, axile ovule in each locule; style long

and filiform, at anthesis exserted early from closed perianth; stigma capitate. Fruit a berry, smooth -

or tuberculate, hollow inside with 1—3 bony, dirty white seeds covered with a thick, softly verru-

cose epidermis.

Species about 60, mostly tropical Africa, Asia. In the FSA region there are 4 species, all in the summer rainfall region.

They occur in dry bushveld along the eastern escarpment, in the Lowveld, and westwards to Botswana and Namibia.

la Flowers + 150 mm long, in pseudocapitate racemes; northern Namibia and Angola ................... 2. S. longiflora

lb Flowers up to 40 mm long, racemose; widespread or in eastern parts of South Africa:

2a Leaves opposite, + 5—9, cylindrical, with a narrow V-shaped groove on, inside, epidermis smooth or some-

mahiat Home ituamgl ly: THE cco biy cis + sain ew spleen 5 MINE > fies oA RPE Cerda ini de ciara 4 vig ae Ne MRS 4. S. pearsonii

2b Leaves rosulate, with irregular transverse lighter green bands:

3a Leaves + 2-8, flat, lanceolate to linear; epidermis SMMOOU 461.46. foci seecessacas veils Hanan ahs ob scenes 1. S. hyacinthoides

3b Leaves numerous, V-shaped (half folded), lanceolate to linear, epidermis rough ..................... 3. S. aethiopica

1. Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce in

The Botanical Society and Exchange Club of the

British Isles Report for 1913, 3: 423 (1914); Wij-

nands: 109 (1973); Wijnands: 138 (1983). Icono-

type: t. 33 in C. Commelin, Praeludia botanica

84, t. 23 (1703).

Aloe hyacinthoides L.: 321 (1753). Aletris hyacinthoides

(L.) L.: 456 (1762).

Aloe hyacinthoides var. guineensis L.: 321 (1753) (type

variety). Aletris hyacinthoides var. guineensis (L.) L.: 456

(1762). Aletris guineensis (L.) Jacq.: 36 (1770). S. guineensis

(L.) Willd.: 159 (1799); Kunth: 16 (1850); Bak.: 547 (1875);

Bak.: 5 (1896).

S. thyrsiflora Petagna: 643 (1787), nom. illegit. based on

type of A. hyacinthoides. S. thyrsiflora (Petagna) Thunb.:

65 (1794); Thunb.: 329 (1823); Bak.: 547 (1875); Bak.: 5

(1896). |

S. angustiflora Lindb.: 130, t. 5 (1875). Iconotype: Lindb.

in Acta Societatis scientiarum fennicae 10: 130, t. 5 (1875):

no specimen preserved.

S. grandis Hook. f.: t. 7877 (1903). Iconotype: t. 7877 in

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (1903), drawn from specimen sent

to Kew from Cuba, but probably not indigenous there, not

preserved ?

S. grandis var. zuluensis N.E. Br.: 251 (1915). Type:

Natal, Zululand, at Somkele, Wylie in NH 12010 (NH,

holo.).

* Pinelands Place, Lonsdale Road, 7405 Pinelands: formerly of the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria. Manuscript updated

by K.L. Immelman, Roodeplaat Grassland Institute, Private Bag X05, 0039 Lynn East.

DRACAENACEAE

ees ss eens th Rage: Weer

ee ate Ye Feu Eeaes & Sy

EES interact ups See ERTS

POUT eee aster eae SE eg inty

we TO oe 0s eg assre ee

“RUE NSP PME a,

VMN AN Se ag ae eeatRe gs ae

Mts Ae SRR a Ont

sidve $ Mates

ie trae Oe 853 GR ee Seenetioe

SR AEE Re Se

DRACAENACEAE

Acaulescent, rhizomatous perennials forming

large colonies. Rhizome and roots typical. Leaves

rosulate, + 2—8, lanceolate to broadly linear, up

to + 600 x 40—80 mm, flat to somewhat in-

curved, with irregular, paler horizontal areas,

margin entire with a thin, red and pale, mem-

branous edge. Inflorescence a simple raceme,

erect, dense, many-flowered, up to 0,45 m high;

peduncle short, firm. Flowers irregularly clus-

tered on small, raised areas, subtended by small

bracts, opening towards evening, delicately

scented. Perianth + 30—40 mm long, lobes +

20 mm long, cream or pale mauve. Stamens

exserted; filaments thin; anthers versatile, yellow.

Fruit shortly stipitate, globular, orange or yellow;

seeds globose, + 8 mm in diameter, epidermis

thick. Figure 2.

Widespread in the eastern parts of southern Africa into

tropical east Africa, along the coast and further inland;

growing in dry karoo, bushveld or savanna, in well drained

sandy or rocky soil. Map 3.

Hooker (1903) reported that Mr H.L. Hall of Nelspruit had

informed him that the natives of this region used the fibres

of the species (identified at the time as S. grandis Hook.f.) for

ropes, etc. The fibre was apparently strongest when collected

in summer, but not as good during the dry winter months.

Vouchers: Codd & Dyer 4654; Compton 28572; Medley

Wood 12307; Van der Schijff 2336; Van der Schijff 3483.

Map 3.— @ Sansevieria hyacinthoides A S. longiflora |

2. Sansevieria longiflora Sims in Curtis’s

Botanical Magazine: t. 2634 (1826); Schult. f.:

357 (1827); Kunth: 17 (1850); Bak.: 548 (1875);

Bak.: 7 and 3, fig. 2 (May, 1887); Engl.: 144,

t. 5, figs. G, H (1908). Iconotype: Plate 2634 in

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (1826), taken from

a cultivated plant from Lady Banks’s garden at

Spring Grove.

Rhizomatous perennials. Leaves basal, rosu-

late, + 4-6, spreading, flat but somewhat

concave near base, linear-acuminate, 300—450 x

+ 40 mm, apex acuminate and apiculate,

smooth, tough, irregularly blotched with darker

and lighter transverse grey bands, margin entire,

reddish or yellowish. Inflorescence an erect dense

raceme, ovoid, dense, with the flowers over-

lapping, 0,3 m or more high; peduncle with

scattered, membranous, apiculate, enveloping

bracts. Perianth typical, + 100 mm long,

narrowly tubular, greenish cream; lobes linear,

narrow, recurved, + 25 mm long. Stamens and

gynoecium typical. Berry not seen.

Occurs in Namibia; also widespread in tropical Africa; in

sandy places. Map 3.

Voucher: Giess LI457A.

3. Sansevieria aethiopica Thunb. , Prodro-

mus plantarum capensium: 65 (1794); Thunb.:

329 (1823); Schult. f.: 358 (1827); Kunth: 19

(1850); N.E. Br.: t. 8487 (1913); N.E. Br.: 230

(1915); Verdoorn: t. 212 (1926); Adams: t. 28

(1976). Type: Cape Province, near Uitenhage,

Thunberg (UPS; microfiche in PRE, no. 8576).

S. caespitosa Dinter: 228 (1926). Type: Namibia, Malta-

hohe, Dinter 3148.

S. scabrifolia Dinter: 85 (1932). Type: Namibia, Otavifon-

tein, Dinter 5377 (B, holo.?; PRE, iso.).

S. zeylanica auct. non Willd.: Ait. f.: 278 (1811); Redouté:

t. 290 (1810); Kunth: 19 (1850); Bak.: 548 (1875); Bak.: 8 and

3, fig. 5, but not figure on p. 4 (May, 1887); Bak.: 5 (1896).

Rhizomatous perennials forming large

colonies. Rhizome long, the new shoots placed

FIGURE 2.—Sansevieria hyacinthoides: la, habit, x 0,5; lb, flower, < 1; Ic, cross section of leaf near base, x 0,5

(after Codd 5369). S. aethiopica: 2a, habit, x 1; 2b, flower, x 1; 2c, cross section of leaf near base, x 0,5 (after Perold

884). S. pearsonii: 3a, base of plant, x 1; 3b, flower, x 1; 3c, cross section of leaf near base, x 0,5 (after Codd 4838).

Artist: G. Condy.

fairly far apart, roots typical. Leaves rosulate,

numerous, up to 15 or more, usually in fascicles

of 3, erect to somewhat spreading, half folded,

narrowly linear, up to + 350 x 10—20 mm, hard

and rough in texture (epidermis minutely papil-

late), mottled with light and dark irregular

horizontal bands, margin red with a colourless

membranous outer ridge. Inflorescence a simple,

dense, many-flowered spike, exserted from leaf

cluster, 0,35—0,75 m high; peduncle with some

scattered, membranous bracts. Flowers in clus-

ters, surrounded at the base by a membranous,

ovate bract; pedicel + 5 mm long. Perianth +

50 mm long, variable in colour, white, purple or

cream with purple margins; tube contracted be-

low ovary for + 4 mm, expanded and globose

around ovary, narrowly cylindrical in upper half,

+ 35 mm long; lobes, narrow, recurved, + 13

mm long. Stamens much exserted, erect; fila-

ments filiform; anthers versatile, + 3 mm long,

yellow. Ovary attenuate-ovoid, 3-knobbed at

apex; style and globose stigma exserted. Berry

globose, + 10 mm in diameter, red. Figure 2.

Widespread in drier parts of southern Africa, in Namibia,

Botswana, Transvaal and O.F.S., and in northern and eastern

Cape; also in Zimbabwe; growing in dry open places, bush-

veld or savanna, in well drained sandy or rocky soil. Map 4.

The genus was founded on this species by Thunberg (1794).

It has been cultivated in Europe since about 1700.

The Tswanas use the rhizome to obtain moisture, and the

leaf fibres to make string. The plant is also used in local re-

ligious practices.

Map 4.—Sansevieria aethiopica

DRACAENACEAE

Map 5.—Sansevieria pearsonii

Vouchers: Barnard 99 B; Codd 3613; Codd 5825; De Winter

& Leistner 5616; Leistner 2000; Miller 683; Pole Evans 4522;

Thode A 618; Werger 184.

4. Sansevieria pearsonii N.E. Br. in Kew

Bulletin 1911: 97 (1911); N.E. Br.: 216, fig. 9

(1915); Sdlch & Roessl.: 2 (1966). Type: southern

Angola, near KM 108,5 on Mossamedes railway

line, Pearson 2073 (K, holo.). |

S. desertii N.E. Br.: 208 (1915); Verdoorn: t. 806 (1941).

Syntypes: Botswana, on banks of Botletle River, Mrs Lugard

9 (K); Botswana, shores of Lake Ngami and the Botletle River,

Nicolls s.n. (K).

Perennials forming large colonies. Rhizome and

roots typical. Leaves distichous, erect, alternate,

+ 5-7, cylindrical, bases overlapping below,

+ 0,5-1,0 m long, hard, smooth becoming

ribbed with age, grooved on inside, margins red

with a white outer membrane; immature leaves

of seedlings + 10, rosulate, linear-acuminate,

gradually curving inwards at maturity, becoming

distichous and cylindrical with an apical groove.

Inflorescence a tall raceme, emerging from centre

of leaves, up to + 1 m high; peduncle with 5—7

narrow, pointed bracts. Flowers typical, numer-

ous, in small, knobbly, bracteate clusters of +

6—10 flowers each, clusters placed irregularly

along peduncle; pedicels articulated in the

middle, anthesis presumably at night as in other

species. Perianth 18—35 mm long; tube 12—25

mm long; lobes 6—10 mm long, colour variously

DRACAENACEAE 9

described as drab, greyish or ‘bluish mauve at in Namibia, Transvaal and Natal; also in tropical Africa;

base, red-streaked higher up, tepals cream inside in scrub and savanna or on river banks, in dry sandy

with pale pink or mauve’ (fide Pooley 1437). Fruit o rocky soil. Often forming large dense colonies. Map

typical, globose, orange. Figure 2.

Vouchers: Bauling 3; Phillips PRE 35931; Pooley 1437;

Widespread in summer rainfall areas of southern Africa, Rogers TM 18813; Strey 7793; Van Zyl PRE 35930.

REFERENCES

ADAMS, J. 1976. Wild flowers of the northern Cape t. 28. Department of Nature and Environment Conservation, Cape Town.

AITON, WT. 1811. Hortus kewensis, edn 2. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1875. Tribus II. Sanseviereae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 14: 546—551.

BAKER, J.G. 1887. Bowstring hemp. Kew Bulletin 1,5: 1—I1.

BAKER, J.G. 1896. Sansevieria. In WT. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora capensis 6: 4—6. Reeve, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1898. Sansevieria. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora of tropical Africa 7. 332—336. Reeve, London.

BENTHAM, G. & HOOKER, J.D. 1883. Genera plantarum 3. Reeve, London.

BROWN, N.E. 1911. Diagnoses africanae XX XIX. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1911:

§2—97. |

BROWN, N.E. 1913. Sansevieria aethiopica. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 139: t. 8487.

BROWN, N.E. 1915. Sansevieria: a monograph of all the known species. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic

Gardens, Kew 1915: 185-261.

COMMELIN, C. 1703. Praeludia botanica. Fredericum Haringh, Lugduni Batavorum.

DINTER, K. 1926. Index der aus Deutsch-Siidwestafrika bis zum Jahre 1917 bekannt gewordenen Pflanzenarten XXI.

Repertorium novarum specierum regni vegetabilis 23: 227—236.

DINTER, K. 1932. Diagnosen neuer stidwestafrikanischer Pflanzen. Repertorium novarum specierum regni vegetabilis 30:

80—96.

DRUCE, G.C. 1914. Notes on nomenclature. In supplement to Botanical Exchange Club Report for 1913. The Botanical

Society and Exchange Club of the British Isles Report for 1913 3,5: 413—426.

DYER, R.A. 1976. The genera of southern African flowering plants 2. Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria.

ENGLER, H.G.A. 1908. Die Pflanzenwelt Afrikas insbesonder seiner tropischen Gebiete C. Engelmann, Leipzig.

HOOKER, J.D. 1903. Sansevieria grandis. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 129: t. 7877.

JACQUIN, N.J. 1770. Hortus botanicus vindobonensis 1: 36. Kaliwoda, Vienna.

KRAUSE, K. 1930. Sansevieria. Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien, edn 2, 15a: 360, fig. 146.

KUNTH, C.S. 1850. Enumeratio plantarum 5. Cotta, Stuttgart & Tiibingen.

LINDBERG, S.O. 1875. Plantae nonnullae horti botanici helsingforsiensis. Acta Societatis scientiarum fennicae 10: 130, t. 5.

LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum, edn 1. Salvii, Stockholm.

LINNAEUS, C. 1762. Species plantarum, edn 2. Salvii, Stockholm.

MARAIS, W. 1973. Nomina conservanda proposita No. 350. Taxon 22: 158-159.

PETAGNA, V. 1787. Vincentii Petagnae in regio neapolitano lyceo botanices professoris Institutiones botanicae 3: 643. Por-

celli, Neapoli.

REDOUTE, PJ. 1810. Les Liliacées V: t. 290. Paris.

ROEMER, J.J. & SCHULTES, J.A. 1829. Caroli a Linné equitis Systema vegetabilium 7,1. Cotta, Stuttgart.

ROEMER, J.J. & SCHULTES, J.A. 1830. Caroli a Linné equitis Systema vegetabilium 7,2. Cotta, Stuttgart.

SCHULTES, J.A. 1827. Mantissa in volumen (primum?). Systematis vegetabilium Caroli a Linné 3. Cotta, Stuttgart.

SIMS, J. 1826. Sanseviera longiflora. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 53: t. 2634.

SOLCH, A. & ROESSLER, H. 1966. Sansevieria. In H. Merxmiiller, Prodromus einer Flora Stidwestafrikas 148: 1—2.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1794. Prodromus plantarum capensium 1. Edman, Uppsala.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1823. Flora capensis, ed. Schultes. Edman, Uppsala.

VERDOORN, I.C. 1926. Sansevieria aethiopica. The Flowering Plants of South Africa 6: t. 212.

VERDOORN, I.C. 1941. Sansevieria desertii. The Flowering Plants of South Africa 21: t. 806.

WIJNANDS, D.O. 1973. Typification and nomenclature of two species of Sansevieria (Agavaceae). Taxon 22, 1: 109-114.

WIJNANDS, D.O. 1983. The botany of the Commelins. Balkema, Rotterdam.

WILLDENOW, C.L. 1799. Caroli a Linné species plantarum editio quarta 2. Berlin.

ASPARAGACEAE 11

ASPARAGACEAE

Suffrutices or scramblers with perennial or annual stems from a compact woody base. Rhizome

sympodial, often covered by persistent erect cataphylls; roots many, fibrous or often tuberous. Leaves

much reduced, bract-like, with a spinous or soft spur. Cladodes (phylloclades) solitary or fascicled,

persistent or deciduous, terete or angled to flat, linear to ovate, apex mucronate, green, in some

species forming a basal disc. Spines present except in Myrsiphyllum and some species of

Protasparagus, cauline or foliar in origin. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous, inconspicuous, solitary,

fascicled or racemose; peduncles or pedicels terete or grooved or reduced to a disc or 0, articulated

once or twice; bracts minute or larger and concave. Jepals 3 + 3, similar, free and spreading or

fused basally. Stamens 3 + 3, filaments free, arising from base of tepals; anthers bilocular, versatile,

introrse, dorsifixed. Ovary 3-locular with 2—12 axile ovules per locule; style usually short; stigma

capitate, 3-lobed or with 3 branches. Fruit usually a globose or ovoid berry, sometimes a nutlet,

the tepals often persisting below; seeds 1 to several, globose, black.

Genera 3, species about 120; Africa, Asia, Europe; introduced in Australia.

Dahlgren et al. (1985) suggest that Protasparagus and Myrsiphyllum might best be treated as subgenera of Asparagus.

However, in Protasparagus the flowers are bisexual (whereas in Asparagus the flowers are unisexual and the plants dioecious),

there are 4—12 ovules per locule (in Asparagus only 2), and the seeds are globose (in Asparagus they are dorsally convex

and ventrally angular).

Cladodes: various theories have been proposed about the origin of these usually needle-like organs in Asparagus and

Protasparagus by Arber (1924) and others. McLean & Ivimey-Cook (1951) believed these short shoots to be pedicels and

even mentioned that flowers had been observed at the apex. Cooney-Sovetts & Sattler (1986), however, after discussing in

some detail the origin and nature of the cladodes (which they call phylloclades) of Asparagaceae, came to the conclusion

that ‘Phylloclades are a form of evolutionary novelty that exemplifies the phenomenon of homoeosis, which is the transference

of features from one organ to another. Developmentally, this means that leaf features are expressed by the axillary meristem.’

Key to genera

Tepals free, spreading from the base; stamens free, spreading; flowers often erect, fascicled or racemose, rarely

solitary; SpiNnes BSUAIIY PICSENL occ...) scans iicdsiaanies senaadesusneenans olka PURO IE a edna 1. Protasparagus (p. 11)

Tepals cohering in lower half, forming a tube, spreading in upper half; stamen filaments cohering in a tube around

gynoecium (except in M. scandens and M. ramosissimum); flowers pendulous and usually solitary (rarely 2 or 3);

ROMICS Al Wayer ASOMt My Mal uetr ot. swash idle ion hea date antn oienche ce diao taatpaudameneire «dk venn tle Mena 2. Myrsiphyllum (p. 71)

1113a 1. PROTASPARAGUS

by A.A. OBERMEYER* and K.L. IMMELMAN**

(Literature references on p. 68)

Protasparagus Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2: 243 (1983); Dahlg. et al.: 142 (1985);

Mathew: 181 (1989). Lectotype species: P. aethiopicus (L.) Oberm.

Asparagus sect. Asparagopsis Kunth: 35 (1842). Asparagopsis (Kunth) Kunth: 76 (1850), non Montagne (1841) which is

Algae-Rhodophyceae.

Asparagus L.: 313 (1753), pro parte; Thunb.: 65 (1794); Thunb.: 332 (1823); Bresler: i, 1 (1826); Roem. & Schult.: 317

(1829); Roem. & Schult.: 1673 (1830); Kunth: 76 (1850); Bak.: 594 (1875); Benth. & Hook. f.: 765 (1883); Bak.: 256 (1896);

Bak.: 425 (1898); Marloth: 83 (1915); Krause: 362 (1930); Salter: 172 (1940); Hutch.: 608 (1959); Sdlch et al.: 25 (1966);

Jessop: 31 (1966); R.A. Dyer: 943 (1976).

Suffrutices or scramblers, often spiny, glabrous or shortly pubescent. Rhizome persistent, sym-

podial, bearing many, often tuberous roots. Stems perennial or annual, erect, spreading or twining.

* Pinelands Place, Lonsdale Road, 7405 Pinelands; formerly of the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.

** Roodeplaat Grassland Institute, Private Bag X05, 0039 Lynn East.

12 ASPARAGACEAE

FIGURE 3.—Types of cladode fascicles, schematic: 1, erect from base (e.g. Protasparagus laricinus); 2, spherical

(e.g. P. setaceus); 3, stellate (e.g. P. rigidus); 4, cladodes absent, branches and branchlets resembling cladodes (e.g.

P. oliveri). Artist: R. Holcroft.

Leaves bract-like, upper part a simple scale leaf, basal part a spiny or soft spur (subgenus

Protasparagus). Branches sometimes spiny (subgenus Suaveolens) or variously developed and bearing

flowers. Cladodes borne in axil of scale leaf, single or few to numerous, usually fascicled (Figure

3), sometimes absent or deciduous, terete or flattened, sometimes with discoid base. Flowers inside

or beside cladode fascicles or in compound or simple racemes, strongly and sweetly scented; stalk

with discoid articulation below perianth. 7epals 3 + 3, free or occasionally fused at base, usually

white or cream. Stamens 3 + 3, shorter than tepals; filaments usually broadened below. Ovary

3-locular; style usually short, with three short stigmas. Fruit a berry, usually 1(2 or 3)-seeded, rare-

ly a nutlet. Seed globose, black.

ASPARAGACEAE 13

Species 69 in southern Africa, possibly 30 to 40 in tropical Africa; also in Asia and introduced in Australia. Widespread

and common, but not often collected, probably because of the short flowering period and the troublesome spines.

Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) reported on the uses made of species of Protasparagus. The young shoots are edible,

as is well known. The roots, tubers and young shoots are also used medicinally and in witchcraft. In southern Africa species

of the genus were once generally used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. In tropical African countries the root

tubers are used to quench thirst and for various ailments, such as sore throats, stomach pains and as an anthelmintic.

Key to subgenera and series

(First page number indicates treatment of subgenus/series with key to species, second page number marks treatment of first

species in series.)

la Spines cauline in origin (stems and branches terminating in SpineS) ................. ccc eee e sees ee ee ence ence nese ones

bef bs an spi sta gots Had Cavin tele sR Patio cS ROIE <A PERU GY ddiicted 1. subgen. Suaveolens series Suaveolens (p. 13 + p. 19)

Ib Spines, if present, foliar in origin (placed below cladodes and along stems), rarely absent (2. subgen. Protas-

paragus, p. 14):

2a Stems and branches pseudo-sympodial ......2...........cceccsesscecesesecsecsstees 8. series Sympodioidi (p. 19 + p. 64)

2b Stems and branches monopodial:

3a Cladodes numerous, arranged in spherical fascicles (compressed in P plumosus) or stellate; flowers solitary _

or few, cithet apical, inside ‘or Beside A. TASCICIE 4 ccidicn hence once onde poemane ene eaie sce 7. series Globosi (p. 18 + p. 58)

3b Cladodes solitary to numerous, erect or spreading-erect, if many, then close together at the base so that the

fascicle resembles a brush; flowers various:

4a Spines absent; erect shrubs; flowers solitary, pendulous .........................4.. 1. series Penduli (p. 14 + p. 31)

4b Spines present, at least on lower part of stem, occasionally absent; plant erect or scandent; flowers erect,

several:

5a PIOWEMS. TACeIROSE 4 oo. cess sie 5. series Racemosi (p. 16 + p. 43) and 6. series Protasparagus (p. 16 + p. 49)

5b Flowers one to many, clustered on peduncles inside or next to a cladode fascicle:

6a Stems and branches straight with the epidermis entire; flowers one to many; roots thick but terete and not

swollen into fusiform tubers .... 2. series Africani (p. 15 + p. 33) and 3. series Retrofracti (p. 15 + p. 36)

6b Stems and branches zigzagging with the epidermis exuviating into membranous strips; flowers usually two,

divaricate; main roots swollen into fusiform tubers below rhizome (lower down on older plants) .......

cg A ea te RN Ce I pd Ain Ml am dl all ric ny arar oa ores aioe ual nendab thy ruiata, Li 4. series Exuviali (p. 16 + p. 42)

Subgenus Suaveolens

1. Subgen. Suaveolens Oberm., subgen. nov.

Frutices. Spinis ex caule oriundis, id est caules ramique in spinis terminantes, saepe in spino

simplice reducti; plerumque cum spinulis duobus minoribus lateralibus; subgenus praecipue e specie-

bus regionis pluviae hiemalis composita. Typus: Protasparagus suaveolens (Burch.) Oberm.

Shrubs. Spines cauline in origin, i.e. stems and branches terminating in spines, often ultimately

reduced to a simple spine; usually flanked by two smaller lateral spines. Predominantly winter rain-

fall region species.

Series Suaveolens

Series Suaveolens Oberm., series nov.

Frutices. Spinis ex caule oriundis, id est caules ramique in spinis terminantes, saepe in spino simplice

reducti; plerumque cum spinulis duobus minoribus lateralibus; subgenus praecipue a speciebus

regionis pluviae hiemalis composita. Typus: Protasparagus suaveolens (Burch.) Oberm.

Asparagus sect. Capenses Bak.: 257 (1896); Jessop: 37 (1966).

Description as for subgenus. Species no. 1—12.

ae 1d Odes: ADSOMD x55 Missa oboe uhh ee BOLNII A Re ee Jee a Sally Sheseesf-ae Eade opie 12. P. oliveri

lb Cladodes present:

2a Fruit a nutlet; flowers fascicled on reduced branchlets:

3a Spines recurved, flattened, up to 10 mm long, with short recurved lateral spinules towards the apex; Little

RBIOO Beis <srucecngaReterre eae ee ed dest he narst AN as Bases tel «detalles din a teats tutte, UML sae, « Salis 1. PR. recurvispinus

14 ASPARAGACEAE

3b Spines straight; Namibia, O.F.S. and Cape Province, but not in Little Karoo:

4a Cladodes in large fascicles placed in axils of spiny branchlets, spreading on all branchlets; Namaqualand

rh. eerelaiei ances iat: sa eruign nite dea ARIE. Wier a aekr caste: aya aera iaere gai unit | atirake m SAUD a oh aati ade ace 2. P. bayeri

4b Cladodes in small fascicles evenly spaced along innocuous, deciduous branchlets, usually secund on the

spreading branchlets; southern Namibia, O.F.S. and north-western Cape .................:ceceeeeeeeees 3. P. glaucus

2b Fruit a berry; flowers apical or lateral:

5a Flowers lateral beside opposing cladode fascicles, which are placed halfway along a spinous branch; basal

half of spine puberulous, apical half glabrous; branchlets absent; young stems yellow; Transvaal and Botswana

A eco bali Sethe ck Dp esc RE em AR SE 5, ccicislananse win ete te nyaiel soa eR eats gr eosebuls UO ay oe Mabptavwaesl we ll. P. flavicaulis

5b Flowers apical on the branchlets; occurring in Namibia and the Cape Province, except for P suaveolens

which is widespread and common:

6a Flowers sessile:

7a Cladodes pubescent to glabrous; shrubs with normal, widely spreading branching pattern (rarely of ‘foxtail’

EAA i ah ONE TI tinier a dere a tie re ada all ta iae ote mteew al Miata ane La ie Pelc ok a 5 4. P. capensis

7b Cladodes glabrous; shrublets of the ‘foxtail’ form with the branchlets reduced; spines green with an orange

LL ORIEN ie UNF SEIT RNS Sn» aR MONOD anh SUC ts AES RY Oe PL EN PORE Ds RS Some ar PMR Ne SF 5. P. stipulaceus

6b Flowers ‘pedunculate’:

8a Stem with the branches suppressed below, forming a dense rounded head above, densely pubescent and

Caper With agmtcsacd SDimes,. SOUMICTR Cape. f. 1.20.65. <canbw sates oct eameoa ae pealecae snahe oeced ity ne eaeep 6. P. mariae

8b Stems with normal branching below:

9a Cladodes filiform:

10a Spines straight, often producing spinules (viz. suppressed branchlets); stems usually minutely ee

a widespread chamaephyte in both winter and summer rainfall regions .......................0. 7. P. suaveolens

10b Spines reflexed; stems glabrous, smooth and shiny; stems perennial; restricted to south-western and

fas 02 AAA MIN I oe ii ce ak ait a Mies a igie than sl au od dd sanders idee sae uae 8. P. burchellii

9b Cladodes narrowly obovoid:

lla Cladodes pubescent; spines without nodes, long, straight and exserted; Worcester district ..... 10. P. exsertus

llb Cladodes glabrous; spines usually with nodes; south-eastern and south-western Cape:

12a Stems strongly zigzagging; spines reflexed; south-western and south-eastern Cape ............ 8. P. burchellii

12b Stems not or only slightly zigzagging; spines at right angles to stem; Port Elizabeth district ..........

Baas Sa ee a nN Ey aS EM RIS, AS OA ala Or oltre ae ae g AEIe desu nana haem ee Cd naan alan ad 9. P. spinescens

Subgenus Protasparagus

2. Subgen. Protasparagus. Literature and type as for genus.

Shrubs or climbers. Spines foliar in origin, representing the petiolar limb and the scale above

the ligular sheath. Flowers axillary, solitary to racemose. Represented in Africa to Asia and Australia.

Series Penduli

1. Series Penduli Oberm., series nov.

Asparagus sect. Declinati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. virgatus; Jessop: 37 (1966) p.p. quoad A. virgatus.

Suffrutices erecti vel scandentes, non spinosi. Cladodia filiformia. Flores penduli, solitarii vel

rare binati, pedunculati. Typus: Protasparagus pendulus Oberm.

Erect or scrambling, nonspinous shrublets. Cladodes filiform. Flowers pendulous, solitary or rarely

paired, pedunculate. Species no. 13-15.

la Scrambling soft shrublets; cladodes 10—20 in a fascicle, up to 7 mm long, aristate, rough (when magnified);

nA GAMMA ne RE i LS a Ma ay aie ns DA aaath nd cause pd. sistabinie amas Eu wgewen ee 15. P. mollis

lb Erect, stiff herbs or shrublets; cladodes usually 2—5 in a fascicle, (4—)5—15(—25) mm long, acute but soft,

smooth:

2a Flowers placed along the branches; stems erect with spreading branches, giving a fern-like appearance, glabrous

and clearly quadrate; cladodes (1)2—4(-—7) in a fascicle, 5—15(—25) mm long; widespread in South Africa

ies u: caetel Ba ate paced as acc AL ie, a ie tabe: ABest SB cenaetyib Saag etre eR oe ae ete Bat ae ee eh sees 13. P. virgatus

2b Flowers apical on short branchlets; stems minutely pubescent, either quadrate or terete with unclear ribbing; cladodes

+ 5 in a fascicle, 5-10 mm long; northern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia .......... 14. P. pendulus

ASPARAGACEAE 15

Series Africani and Series Retrofracti

2. Series Africani (Bak.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov. Type: Protasparagus africanus (Lam.) Oberm.

(= Asparagus africanus Lam.).

Asparagus sect. Africani Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. laricinus, A. africanus; Jessop: 37 (1966) p.p. quoad A. africanus.

Asparagus sect. Umbellati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. burkei.

Asparagus sect. Thunbergiani Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. cooperi.

Flowering cladode fascicles placed along branches and/or branchlets. Species no. 16—20.

3. Series Retrofracti Oberm., series nov.

Asparagus sect. Declinati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. denudatus.

Asparagus sect. Umbellati sensu Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. multiflorus.

Asparagus sect. Thunbergiani Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. thunbergianus.

Asparagus sect. Africani Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. retrofractus; Jessop: 37 (1966) p.p. quoad A. denudatus,

A. compactus, A. thunbergianus, A. mucronatus, A. retrofractus.

Flores in ramulis brevibus patentibus vel recurvatis, intra vel juxta fasciculos cladodiorum (cladodia

in P. denudato et P. pearsonii hysterantha) positi. Radices teretes. Typus: Protasparagus retrofractus

(L.) Oberm. (= Asparagus retrofractus L.).

Flowers placed on short, spreading or recurved branchlets inside or beside cladode fascicles

(cladodes hysteranthous in P. denudatus and P. pearsonii). Roots terete. Species no. 21—30.

la Spines present below cladode fascicles:

2a Cladodes with a basal disc set on raised discs on the bulbous torus; winter rainfall region .......... 23. P. lignosus

2b Cladodes tapering to a cuneate base; summer rainfall region:

3a Erect shrub; young stems white; widespread in summer rainfall region ...................cceeeeee eee 16. P. laricinus

3b Shrub when young, becoming a scrambler; young stems greenish, yellowish or brownish, but not white;

southern Cape to Zululand, usually along coast but occasionally further inland .................... 19. P. africanus

Ib Spines present on main branches but not below cladode fascicles:

4a Stems clearly longitudinally striate when young:

5a Cladodes 2—6(—10) mm long, or absent at anthesis:

6a Branches recurving; cladodes entirely absent at anthesis; flowers in clusters at ends of short branches with

some scattered along branches; south-eastern O.FS., Lesotho, north-eastern Cape .............. 21. P. denudatus

6b Branches at right angles to stems; cladodes present at flowering time, may be shorter than at maturity;

flowers along branches; widespread in summer rainfall area :

7a Shrub or rounded erect herb; branchlets often becoming spiny ..................cccceceeee eee e eens 17. P. bechuanicus

7b Twiner, branches. usuallyeeft-and. 4Wiis gcse ios o-oo ess asad as eh aa ada oa basen ee 18. P. cooperi

5b Cladodes (5—)7—45 mm long:

8a Stems zigzag and usually whitish to pale grey; plant hard and spiky looking with stout cladodes ..........

ss nesinscsecinhon'« sn ok tpn Sons's 0.3.0 Aub ha als /acSila ce ac aed ss a a nn eo 26. P. retrofractus

8b Stems flexuous, not zigzagging, colour various; plant a shrub or scrambler with supple branches and stout

or delicate cladodes:

9a Mature cladodes (5—)10—20 mm long; species common and widespread in summer rainfall region ......

ehh nied 0 d4 4: sen pag ste tia pas no 4i gs bE Ae ie chiens inane ae oe a ik a eee 18. P. cooperi

9b Mature cladodes (25—)40—50 mm long; a rare species from northern Namibia and northern Botswana .

sassy # 6 mb #0014 v\a'b o-9 9 6 '4' ebe raisins p99 AREY RAGA Gia Ges oa RA Re oO RU PTE le mee hs 20. P. longicladus

4b Stems without clear laniiinalieal striations when young, may have faint striations or be wrinkled where stems

twisted:

10a Plants pubescent, at least on young branches:

Win” Teavinvags OFS. ara TRG io accs ea ecsics oh cece Seas eile cabs ae ees ween c Sarena pata Se eRe 30. PR. devenishii

llb Cape Province:

12a Cladodes with a basal disc set on raised discs on the bulbous torus; occurring inland in Karoo to northern

ROS A eee, sans atts ne eR Sayer eR are ern qu eee ee enEReN Seen ane TetrcoenieT tars as 25. P. mucronatus

12b Cladodes tapering to a narrow base; occurring along south-eastern Cape coast ................. 27. P. multiflorus

16 . ASPARAGACEAE

10b Plants glabrous at all stages:

13a Shrubs, stems straight or shallowly zigzagging; occurring in summer or winter rainfall region:

14a Flowers appearing before the cladodes; cladodes 10—30 mm long when mature; Namibia and northern Cape

do dasubty, Ae eels . Jag Ds oy SUC a RITE SPR ne : Sed Dis Lg. ss SEE, Ee SAE 22. P. pearsonii

14b Flowers and cladodes appearing together; cladodes usually 3-10 mm long; western, south-western and

Ae ERPS a ea, LE ce oy wanna ae sad eee ne eee eee coo cede tuber ats t etre 24. P. rubicundus

13b Scrambler or, if erect herb or shrub, then stems flexuous and species occurring in the summer rainfall

region:

15a Stems shallowly zigzagging; a rare species restricted to south-eastern Transvaal ................ 28. P. fractiflexus

15b Stems flexuous; species widespread in summer rainfall region:

16a Flowers always placed along branches and branchlets ....... sige lar Assi. Der Sh, acy eis pee AN 18. P. cooperi

16b At least some flowers placed on ends of short spreading or recurved branchlets .................... 29. P. edulis

Series Exuviali

4. Series Exuviali Oberm., series nov.

Asparagus sect. Exuviali Jessop: 37 (1966) (non latine).

Asparagus sect. Declinati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. exuvialis, A. ecklonii.

Caules cortice in laciniis albis membranaceis exuviante. Frutices lignosi. Flores 2(—4), divergentes,

in axillis ramulorum. Typus: Protasparagus exuvialis (Burch.) Oberm. (= Asparagus exuvialis

Burch.).

Woody shrubs. Stems with bark exuviating in membranous, white strips. Flowers 2(—4), divergent,

in axils of branchlets. Species no. 31 and 32.

Spines well developed, present below nodes of branches, branchlets and cladode fascicle; Namaqualand .........

PA. lessees ee ee NE RE, SO ROE SS. PD. BR BE. DOS RN SS 31. P. graniticus

Spines poorly developed, small, present only below nodes of branches or absent; widespread ........... 32. P. exuvialis

Series Racemosi and Series Protasparagus

5. Series Racemosi (Bak.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov. Type: Protasparagus racemosus (Willd.)

Oberm. (= Asparagus racemosus Willd.).

Asparagus sect. Racemosi Bak.: 258 (1896).

Asparagus sect. Falcati Bak.: 258 (1896) p.p. quoad A. falcatus, A. oxyacanthus.

Asparagus sect. Crispi Jessop: 38 (1966).

Flowers in racemes. Main roots with a fusiform swelling (at least when young) close to rhizome

or further away. Flowers in simple or compound racemes. Species no. 33-38.

6. Series Protasparagus. Type: as for genus.

Asparagus sect. Falcati Bak.: 258 (1896) p.p. quoad A. myriocladus, A. sprengeri, A. sarmentosus, A. aethiopicus.

Asparagus sect. Racemosi sensu Jessop: 38 (1966) p.p. quoad A. densiflorus, A. krebsianus p.p., A. obermeyerae, A. asper-

gillus, A. aethiopicus, A. aethiopicus var. angusticladus, A. falcatus var. ternifolius sensu Jessop: 70 (1966), A. crassicladus,

A. acocksii.

Flowers in racemes, representing modified branchlets, placed in the axils of branches. Tubers

present on side roots (root system unknown in P. acocksii, P. aspergillus and P. filicladus). Species

no. 39—53.

ASPARAGACEAE 17

la Plant glabrous:

2a Plant erect or spreading; stems covered with short to very short branches:

3a Plant erect with short to very short branches (‘fox-tail’ form); eastern Cape ................0cccccceeeeeeeeeeees

b distisenaouieu da opuisie gan e's Ce puis dale suey Ceameeeee eee Seiad Aa Ee nee ae 39. P. densiflorus (including cv. Meyersii)

3b Plants with spreading stems + 1 m long, covered with short branches, more or less equally long; Natal to

eastern: Cape; extensively cultivated) ........... 2...» +. >>-keerieer ares aah See 39. P. densiflorus cv. Sprengeri

2b Plant erect, decumbent or scrambling; branches of normal length:

4a Cladodes broadly linear, + 2—5 mm wide, with a distinct midrib, not triangular:

Sa Cladodes: longer ‘than 50° nim, wider tian 25 maa). 28 a RA OG, AUR. 33. P. falcatus

5b Cladodes up to 35 mm long, + 2 mm wide:

64 ‘Spines entirely absent. ....4...-.0.0. AEWA. AERA RE A Se ee 39. P. densiflorus

6b Spines present, at least on main branches:

7a Small shrub up to 1,5 m high:

8a Cladodes usually less than 20 mm long; spines below cladode fascicles often membranous, not hard

a a sin ln» bgga b 5 tp be So ance ei Nae ee eR Sc 39. P. densiflorus

8b Cladodes usually 20—30 mm long; hard spines below cladode fascicles .................... 43. P. transvaalensis

7b Scramblers or prostrate:

9a Westerir to BOrtn Wester FRAISVRE N.C he. cosets hs sat ne ame ce aaa pt Lane eeocensteee ates 48. P. aggregatus

9b Southern and eastern Transvaal to Natal and eastern Cape:

10a Large scrambler up to 3 m high; cladodes + 30—40 mm long; racemes 300—400 mm long .........

oan ainw dias anda Sam's Righeoii yna ale eRe ceala aD gc Resale Jota oe Re Ree ei Rt Hee are On Olean aie, 50. P. angusticladus

10b Small decumbent scrambler; cladodes + 5—15 mm long; racemes 20—50 mm long ...... 39. P. densiflorus

4b Cladodes linear or filiform, up to 2,0(—2,5) mm wide, with or without a distinct midrib, or may be 3-angled:

Ma Midrib usually preseil, CladOnes (One BOMEREY ao sudan ve esate cn snakes onbue kesh te sana senile 39. P. densiflorus

llb Midrib absent; cladodes usually in fascicles (but often solitary in P. krebsiana and P. natalensis):

12a Spines entirely absent below cladode fascicles, may be present elsewhere on plant:

13a Shrubs; branches pale grey-white, not ridged; cladodes 15—25 per fascicle; eastern Cape .... 40. P. filicladus

13b Scramblers; branches various colours, may or may not be ridged; cladodes up to 8 per fascicle; Namibia,

Transvaal, Natal and Cape Province:

14a Young branches smooth or with poorly defined ridges ................. ccc ccc e ccc e cc eeneeeeeeseeeseeees 47. P. clareae

14b Young branches clearly and regularly ridged: |

i5a Cindodes Smear re NE WIS oer cs ee ee ea 49. P. natalensis

15b Cladodes filiform or linear but narrower than 1 mm:

16a Spines reflexed, flattened, 15—50 mm long at base of plant; racemes simple or compound; anthers

yellow; ‘berry bearing: a shorbasal kag... ...355; 3. des aod RO eee 34. P. buchananii

16b Spines spreading-recurved, 5—10 mm long at base of plant; racemes simple; anthers red, berry rounded

at base:

Ha Cladodes Hat; Gliformi-cee.8. 62. BUT. SEE Ue, A Se. ee ee 35. PR. racemosus

17b Cladodes triangular in cross-section, up to 1(—2) mm wide .....................cecceeee eee 46. P. aethiopicus

12b Spines present below cladode fascicles, at least on older branches:

Sa Scandent, up 00 2-5: i high... ..0.scc5.500 ages negated ees ee, eee 46. P. aethiopicus

18b Shrubs:

19a Stems whitish grey, smooth; Namibia, Botswana, northern Transvaal and north-western Cape ... 37. P. nelsii

19b Stems greenish, brownish or dark grey, clearly ribbed; Natal and eastern Cape:

20a Cladodes 8—12 per fascicle, + 0,5 mm in diameter; northern Natal .........................0.000: 45. P. coddii

20b Cladodes 1—4 per fascicle; + 1—2 mm in diameter; eastern Cape .....................00000 42. P. krebsiana

Ib Plant densely pubescent to minutely puberulous or papillose, at least on ribs of branches and branchlets:

2la Stems ribbed, puberulous along ribs so that hairs run in lines, or papillose; cladodes triangular in cross-section

and narrower than 1 mm:

22a Scrambler; flower stalks articulated above the middle; northern and eastern Transvaal .......... 51. P. aspergillus

22b Shrubs or shrublets; articulation of flower stalk at or below middle; widespread:

23a Cladodes 1—3(—5) per fascicle, linear, not deciduous; stems slightly zigzagging; south-western Cape and

BTS FABIO ons oc crn nr g3.cn vue tae nsieabalars heuer chee ame ee Ets a Tee SUL ek ey ea ee ee 41. P. confertus

23b Cladodes up to 9 per fascicle, filiform, deciduous; stems straight; Namibia, Botswana, Transvaal and Natal:

24a Occurring ‘in northera’ Natal’. .305...2.54 5 cies teats sande esa rab reac c tetas chk oe cero eetee Eten Ea 04 Sane Cee 45. P. coddii

24b Occurring from northern Namibia to Transvaal:

256 Miain root Genus: <ncacds idede cages coe ees ec = a nee ed ee i ee atta 37. P. nelsii

Zor sce rode tubers: oi ks See hence de lbs TR A Cats Wen teks nips Cae aio eae 44. P. schroederi

21b Stems smooth, pubescence distributed over whole surface; cladodes triangular, oval or flat in cross-section,

may be up to 5 mm wide:

18 . . ASPARAGACEAE

26a Shrub; cladodes flat with a definite midrib, 3—5 mm wide; flower stalks articulated at or above middle

SW EN a 8 ARR SAIN: ale ENE A ERI at Ro eget, DEES «ke RE IED, cee See eee, Peet eerie 38. P. oxyacanthus

26b Scandent; cladodes triangular or oval in cross-section, may be up to 2 mm wide in some species but then

without a midrib; flower stalks articulated below middle:

27a Cladodes triangular in cross-section, with marginal ridges, narrower than 1 mm:

28a Main root tuberous, restricted to eastern Transvaal ................. cece cece e ence eee eee ee eseeeeeeeeees 36. P. lynetteae

28b Side roots tuberous; eastern Transvaal to northern Transvaal and south-eastern Cape ............ 53. P. acocksii

27b Cladodes flat or oval in cross-section, without marginal ridges, usually 1-2 mm wide:

29a Cladode bases discoid, placed on a semiglobose torus, cladodes oval in cross-section and succulent;

INataliandneasteraC ape ies iat sacra Ae neiee i Ree ne MeO on adh. omit ate did dae 52. P. crassicladus

29b Cladode bases not discoid, cladodes flat in cross-section; Transvaal .......................e eee: 48. P. aggregatus

Series Globosi

7. Series Globosi Oberm., series nov.

Asparagus sect. Declinati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. setaceus, A. declinatus, A. macowanii.

Asparagus sect. Thunbergiani Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. microrhaphis, A. stellatus, A. minutiflorus.

Asparagus sect. Africani sensu Jessop: 37 (1966) p.p. quoad A. setaceus p.p., A. microrhaphis, A. macowanii, A. macowanii

var. zuluensis.

Asparagus sect. Racemosi sensu Jessop: 38 (1966) p.p. quoad A. minutiflorus, A. rigidus.

Cladodia in fasciculis globosis vel stellatis (optime visus in fasciculis apicalibus; fasciculi in

P. plumoso compressi). Radices laterales cum vel sine tuberis (radices principales in P. setaceo et

P. concinno tumidae). Spinae adsunt vel absentes. Typus: Protasparagus setaceus (Kunth) Oberm.

[=Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop].

Cladodes in globose or stellate fascicles (best seen in apical fascicles; fascicles compressed in

P. plumosus). Side roots with or without tubers (main roots swollen in young plants of P. setaceus

and P. concinnus). Spines present or absent. Species no. 54—65.

la Plants with normal spreading branches:

2a Flowers solitary or in fascicles; widespread in southern Africa:

3a Plants scandent; young stems not ribbed:

4a Plants minutely pubescent; flowers not seen; stems bearing swollen knobs; Namibia through Botswana

and Hoth-westerm Cape to. Transvaal cise ottaas 4 See te oe. Os eases Soret BS enw Gee 56. P. nodulosus

4b Plants glabrous; flowers 1—3, placed inside apical cladode seicles stems smooth, southern and eastern

Cape, through Natal to Transvaal:

5a Cladode fascicles globose, cladodes 4—7(—12) mm long; main roots swollen in young plants ... 54. P. setaceus

5b Cladode fascicles compressed (flattened), cladodes + 3(—5) mm long; main roots terete ....... 55. P. plumosus

3b Erect shrubs; young stems ribbed (except in P- macowanii):

6a Cladodes shortly cylindrical or obovoid, broadened and flat at the base, placed on a disc on the receptacle;

flowers solitary, pendulous:

7a Cladodes shortly cylindrical, terete, glabrous; widespread in summer rainfall area ........... 57. P. microrhaphis

7b Cladodes obovoid, clustered, with bristly hairs; eastern Cape to Lesotho and Natal ............... 58. P. stellatus

6b Cladodes filiform, attenuate at base; flowers few to many:

8a Stems and branches smooth, glabrous; flowers many, erect in each dense cladode fascicle; eastern Cape,

INAtal anch@a Stern: | PRaMe ai. opens wat cs alata nalban saison sacinme die Sins mati batten « sipaistebinsai 60. P. macowanii

8b Stems and branches closely, minutely ribbed, often pubescent; flowers few (3 or 4), on long recurved

pedicels, exserted from base of cladode fascicles; southern Transvaal, O.F.S., Lesotho and eastern Karoo

Fo SRM, ait eka eaten ER Eg ee a ta EE AE a MRR GCI <r ENT RE SeT So CRN a 59. P. concinnus

2b Flowers in a compound raceme, viz. a modified branch, with cladodes absent or present among flowers;

eastern and north-eastern Transvaal:

9a Erect; cladodes with papillate ribs; north-eastern Transvaal (Penge) ..................cceeee esse eeee eee ees 61. P fouriei

9b Scandent; cladodes glabrous; eastern Transvaal (Lulu Mnits) ................ cece eceeeeee eee ence eees 62. P. sekukuniensis

Ib Plants ‘fox-tail*shaped, branches and branchlets contracted, forming a ‘cylinder’ around stem; flowers inside

‘cylinder’:

10a Spines absent; plant glabrous; flowers geminate on a short peduncle; Zululand and Swaziland ..... 63. P. biflorus

ASPARAGACEAE

10b Spines present; plant pubescent or glabrous; Transvaal:

lla Plants pubescent with soft, filiform cladodes ..........

shih zune Dab cou cia saa actly Sete otis ea Batecatsa cha syle 64. P. minutiflorus

lib Plant glabrous; xerophytic; cladodes stiff, 3-angled, with a brown, spinous tip .....................45. 65. P. rigidus

Series Sympodioidi

8. Series Sympodioidi Oberm., series nov.

Asparagus sect. Umbellati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. subulatus.

Asparagus sect. Striati Bak.: 257 (1896) p.p. quoad A. striatus, A. erectus; Jessop: 38 (1966).

Caules erecti vel scandentes, sympodioides, fractiflexi quidem juventute. Cladodia solitaria,

congesta vel in fasciculis apicalibus. Flores intra fasciculos apicales cladodiorum congesti. Radices

radicibus lateralibus tubera rhizomati semota ferentibus. Vulgata. Typus: Protasparagus striatus

(L.f.) Oberm. [=Asparagus striatus (L.f.) Thunb.].

Stems erect or scandent, sympodioid, zigzagging, at least when young. Cladodes solitary, clustered

or in apical fascicles. Flowers clustered inside apical cladode fascicles. Roots with tubers borne

on side roots, some distance away from rhizome. Widespread. Species no. 66—69.

la Cladodes 1—3 at ends of branches, flat, clearly striate, 2-5 mm wide; plants erect with ascending branches,

branches somewhat zigzagging; Namibia, O.F.S., Cape, rarely in Namaqualand ......................+4 66. P. striatus

Ib Cladodes 2—8 at ends of branches, terete, + striate; plants erect or scrambling, branches spreading or erect;

eastern Cape to Transvaal:

2a Uppermost nodes with (2)3—8 cladodes bearing the cluster of flowers in their midst; eastern Cape ..........

Coe eee oceeeeesreeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeseeereeeeeeeeeeSeeEeEeoeoeEeeeeeeoesZeee eee?

ne Se ROLE REE OM OR LER ne 67. P. subulatus

2b Uppermost nodes with 2 cladodes; eastern Cape to Transvaal:

3a Branchlets short, stout, zigzagging; cladodes + 10 mm long; compact, dense, spiny shrubs; flower fascicles

about as long as subtending cladodes ...................

sei OR, Teh od ERT PAD... once cee eee, Wee aaa 68. P. intricatus

3b Branchlets long, thin; cladodes filiform, 30—40 mm long; plant erect or scrambling; flower fascicles much

shorter than subtending cladodes .....................065

1. Protasparagus recurvispinus Oberm..,

sp. nov. ab speciebus aliis subgeneris Protaspa-

ragus spinis recurvis differt.

Frutices erecti grossi spinosi griseo-virides

glabri, + 1 malti. Rhizoma compactum, radices

crassas longas cylindraceas ferens. Caules duri

furvi recti, ad 12 mm diametro, ramis multis

adscendentibus lignosis, spinas acutas (ramuli

deformati), + I15—30 mm distantes ferentibus.

Spinae uncatae, + 5—10 mm longae, complana-

tae, basi torulosae ventricosae, interdum spinulis

brevibus lateralibus. Nodi multigemmati, clado-

dia et flores ferentes. Cladodia 1—3 per fascicu-

lum, teretia, ramulis forma similia, sed minora

(uninodia), 5—10 mm longa, apiculata. Ramuli

fertiles floribus binatis remote dispositis,

fasciculis cladodium alternantibus. Pedicellus

brevis, apice discoideo. Tepala oblonga, basi

supraque acuta, + 0,4 mm longa, exteriora

angustiora, supra dentata, omnia erigescentia,

stamina gynoeciumque includentia alba. Stamina

eT er eee re ees Pe ens ee ee 69. P. divaricatus

brevia, filamentis latis complanatis, antheris

flavis. Ovarium oblongo-globosum; stylis 3 laxe

connatis, supra ad exteriorem curvatis, apice

stigmaticis, obtusis; 6—10 ovulis per loculum.

Fructus nucula semen unum laevem nigrum

globosum continens, perianthio sicco duro

persistenti inclusa.

Type: Cape, 3321 (Ladismith): (—CC), north

of Garcia’s Pass on karroid flats, Mauve, Bohnen

& Van Wyk I (PRE, holo.; STE); Bohnen 84ll

(PRE), with fruits.

Erect, coarse, hard, spinous, greyish green,

woody shrubs + 1 m high, glabrous. Rhizome

compact, bearing thick, long, cylindrical, woody

roots. Stems hard, dark, straight, up to 12 mm

in diameter, bearing many ascending, woody

branches, on which the sharp spines (deformed

branchlets) are placed, + 15—30 mm apart.

Spines hooked, + 5—10 mm long, flattened,

knobbed and swollen at the base, occasionally

20 : ASPARAGACEAE

EAN

ees

yy \} vp)

Kor

ASPARAGACEAE

with short lateral spinules. Nodes many-budded,

flanking spine, giving rise to short nonspinous,

deciduous branchlets, bearing cladodes and

flowers. Cladodes 1—3 in a fascicle, terete,

similar to branchlet in shape but smaller (viz.

one node), 5—10 mm long, apiculate. Fertile

branchlets bearing paired flowers widely spaced,

alternating with cladode fascicles. Tepals oblong,

acute below and above, + 0,4 mm long, the

outer narrower, dentate above, becoming erect,

enclosing the stamens and gynoecium, white;

stalk short, apex discoid. Stamens short with

broad, flat filaments, anthers yellow. Ovary

oblong-globose; the 3 styles loosely fused,

curved outwards above, apex stigmatic, obtuse;

6—10 ovules in each locule. Fruit a nutlet,

containing one smooth, black, globose seed

enclosed by the dry, hard, persistent perianth.

Figure 4.

Recorded from the Little Karoo, between Langeberg and

Swartberge, from Ladismith to Oudtshoorn; in sandy or shaley

soil in Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Karroid Broken Veld.

Flowering in November, with fruits in January. Map 6.

Related to P. glaucus (no. 3), but a coarser plant, with short,

recurved spines (hence the specific epithet) and with flowers

more laxly arranged.

Vouchers: Bayer 3463; Bayer 3564A; Bayer 3564B; Britten

1623; Mauve 5432; Mauve & Hugo 213; Mauve & Hugo 215.

Map 6.—® Protasparagus recurvispinus

@ P. bayeri

A P. glaucus

2. Protasparagus bayeri Oberm., sp. nov.

a P. glauco (Kies) Oberm. cladodiis multis in

quoque fasciculo differt.

Frutices erecti ad I m alti, spinosissimi, caeru-

leo-grisei. Rhizoma et radices verosimiliter

typicae. Caules recti laeves cinerei. Rami adscen-

dentes + 1,8 m longi dense instructi ramulis

patentibus spinescentibus + 20—40 mm longis,

spinulas patentes fasciculosque cladodiorum

Jerentibus. Cladodia persistentia, plerumque fas-

ciculis binatis ad nodos, + 4-10 pro fasciculo,

filiformia, + 6 mm longa subcurvata caeruleo-

grisea. Fasciculi florum binati juxta fasciculos

cladodiorum, subsessili in ramulo contracto

squamato. Flores 2—4 (non vidi); pedicelli + 1

mm longi, apice discoideo. Fructus fortasse

nux.

Type: Cape, 3017 (Hondeklipbaai): (—BB),

Darter’s Grave, south of Kamieskroon, sandy

area among rocks, Bayer 3289b (PRE, holo.).

Small, erect shrubs + 1 m high, bluish grey,

very spiny. Rhizome and roots probably typical

_ as for subgenus. Stems erect, smooth, dark grey.

Branches ascending, + 1,8 m long, closely beset

with spreading, spiny branchlets + 20—40 mm

long, bearing numerous spreading spinules and

cladode fascicles. Cladodes persisting, usually

in paired fascicles at the nodes, + 4-10 per

fascicle, filiform, + 6 mm long, somewhat

curved, bluish grey. Flower clusters paired,

beside cladode fascicles, subsessile, placed on a

contracted scaly branchlet. Flowers 2—4 (not

seen); stalks + 1 mm long, apex discoid. Fruit

most likely a nutlet.

A species recorded from Namaqualand, from around

Darter’s Grave, south of Kamieskroon; in karroid vegetation,

‘sandy area among rocks’. Map 6.

This species is named after Mr M.B. Bayer, former cura-

tor of the Karoo National Botanical Garden, Worcester. His

many collections from all over the Cape and his outstanding

photographs have enriched in no small measure our knowledge

of this interesting genus.

Voucher: Mauve & Forrester 5380.

FIGURE 4.—Protasparagus glaucus: 1, branch, < 1; la, flowering branchlet, x 1 (after Mogg 13621). P. recurvispinus:

2, bare branch with recurved spines, X 1; 3, branch with innocuous flowering branchlets, x 1; 4, cladode, x 4; 5, nutlet,

x 4 (after Mauve, Bohnen & Van Wyk I). Artist: G. Condy.

ASPARAGACEAE

i N ‘:

SNA

OO WE

ASPARAGACEAE

3. Protasparagus glaucus (Kies) Oberm. in

South African Journal of Botany 2: 244 (1983).

Type: O.F.S., Fauresmith, Groenvlei, Kies 340

(PRE, holo.!).

Asparagus glaucus Kies: 229, fig. 5 (195la); Sdlch et al.:

30 (1966).

Erect shrubs up to 0,5 m high, glabrous.

Rhizome with thick, terete roots. Stems erect.

Branches ascending, bearing secondary branches

transformed into compound spines, up to + 70

mm long, with numerous lateral spinules up to

10 mm long (occasionally reduced); branchlets

short, unarmed, placed in the axils of the com-

pound spines and bearing the cladodes. Cladodes

filiform, 3—10 mm long, apiculate, glaucous,

overlapping, giving the branchlets a cylindrical

soft appearance; absent at anthesis. Flowers

numerous, axillary, placed close together, single

or paired along short deciduous branchlets; tepals

+ 4 mm, greenish; stalks articulated near the

middle. Ovary with + 8 ovules in each locule;

shortly stipitate. Fruit a nutlet, the one seed

enclosed in the globose, shiny perianth, + 5 mm

in diameter. Figure 4.

Recorded mainly from O.F.S., southern Namaqualand and

eastern and north-western Cape, also from southern Namibia;

usually on brackish soils. Map 6.

Vouchers: Acocks 8464; Acocks & Hafstrém H8/4; Henri-

ci 4535; Muller 1617; Ortendahl 425.

4. Protasparagus capensis (L.) Oberm. in

South African Journal of Botany 2: 243 (1983).

Type: Cape of Good Hope, without precise

locality, Plukenet, Phytographia t. 78, f. 3.

See Jessop: 43 (1966) for the selection of the type of P.

capensis and further general information on this old, variable

species.

Small, dense, hard, spiny shrubs up to 1 m

high, very variable. Rhizome compact, with many

terete, hard roots + 6 mm in diameter. Stems

several, erect, somewhat zigzagging, spine-

tipped, with the branches spreading or contracted

(‘fox-tail’ form). Spines cauline in origin, usually

3-nate, with the central longest, straight or

ba,

recurved, + 30 mm long; the laterals short or

also developing into branches or repressed.

Branchlets bearing cladodes in the second year,

aspinous, in short fascicles on both sides of the

multibudded axils. Cladodes usually 5 in over-

lapping compact fascicles, narrowly obovoid,

2—5 mm long or, in var. litoralis, globose, + 1

mm, or reduced to some small appressed bracts,

pubescent or rarely glabrous, surrounded by a

membranous, ciliate bract at base. Flowers api-

cal, sessile, placed on a disc, solitary or binate,

enveloped by an open, 3-lobed, ciliate, mem-

branous bract; tepals puberulous dorsally, 3—5

mm long, with a green or purple centre streak.

Stamens with flattened filaments; anthers yellow.

Ovary with 4(—6) ovules in upper part, obovoid;

style short with 3 short stigmas. Berry usually

l-seeded, + 4 mm in diameter, red, perianth

persistent at the base. Figure 5.

Recorded from southern Namibia to the Cape Peninsula

and eastwards as far as Port Elizabeth, inland as far as

Griquatown in north-western Cape. In rocky niches near the

sea, in dune vegetation and karroid areas.

Two varieties are recognized:

_Cladodes + 5 in compact, erect fascicles or scattered

along branches, narrowly obovoid to linear, with

acute to mucronulate apices, + 2—4 mm long;

widespread in winter rainfall region ............

Stn tin oLatilateM AGP oate's lp NQUOCR GO NGM ERE Fate 4a. var. capensis

Cladodes + 20 in rounded, compact fascicles, globose

to narrowly obovoid, + 1 mm in diameter, apex

obtuse to slightly indented; littoral, occurring

along south-western Cape coast as far as Liideritz

BRA Sve arr IS Mr NARA Ast s-ashoc ny We akictsr 4b. var. litoralis

4a. var. capensis.

Asparagus capensis L.: 314 (1753); Thunb.: 66 (1794); Jacq.:

t. 266 (1798); Bresler: 21 (1826); Bak.: 617 (1875); Bak.: 263

(1896); Salter: 173 (1940); Jessop: 43 (1966); Sdlch et al.:

30 (1966). A. triacanthus Burm. f.: 10 (1768), nom. illegit.

(Art. 63.1). Asparagopsis triacanthus (Burm. f.) Kunth: 92

(1850). Asparagopsis passerinoides Kunth: 90 (1850), nom.

illegit. Types: as for P. capensis.

Asparagus nelsonii Bak.: 617 (1875); Bak.: 264 (1896).

Type: South Africa, Nelson s.n. (BM, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

The typical variety has narrowly obovoid

cladodes which are longer than in var. litoralis.

See also key above.

FIGURE 5.—Protasparagus capensis: la, mature stem bearing cladodes and berries, 1b, young stem without cladodes

in first year, X 0,33; 2, apical flower with next to it the empty bracts of the second flower, x 4; 3, berry, x 4 (after Bayer

3279). Artist: R. Holcroft.

Widespread and common all over the winter rainfall region

to north-eastern Cape. Map 7.

Vouchers: Acocks 21415; Bayer 3279; Boucher 4009; Jessop

695; Marloth 7255; Mauve & Hugo 89; Rosch & Le Roux

453; Schlechter 7886; Snijman 581; Van Breda 4495. -

4b. var. litoralis Suess. in Mitteilungen der

Botanischen Staatssammlung Miinchen 2: 50

(1950); Jessop: 44 (1966). Types: Namibia,

Pomona, Dinter 3637 (B, holo.!; BOL, PRE!,

SAM, Z); Cape Province, Elands Bay, Strey

427 (M).

The cladodes are reduced, globose and granu-

lar in appearance. See also key on p. 23.

This variety is restricted to the coastal region from

Lambert’s Bay to Liideritz in Namibia. Map 7.

Vouchers: Boucher 2600; Galpin & Pearson 7542; Giess

& Robinson 13219; Giess & Van Vuuren 647; Miiller &

Jankowitz 273; Taylor 3951.

5. Protasparagus stipulaceus (Lam.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Sonnerat s.n.

(P, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus stipulaceus Lam.: 297 (1783); Bresler: 5 (1826);

Roem. & Schult.: 333 (1829); Salter: 173 (1940); Jessop: 44

(1966). Asparagopsis stipulacea (Lam.) Kunth: 91 (1850).

Asparagus densus Soland. ex Bak.: 616 (1875); Bak.: 263

(1896). Type: Cape Province, without precise locality, Auge

s.n. (BM, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Map 7.— A and @ Protasparagus capensis var. capensis

@ and @ P. capensis var. litoralis

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 8.— @ Protasparagus stipulaceus

A P. mariae

Plants erect, with the stems ‘fox-tail*shaped,

viz. closely surrounded by very short, spread-

ing, much reduced branches, + 0,5 m high,

growing in clumps, very spiny. Rhizome typical;

roots cylindrical, + 5 mm in diameter. Stems

erect, closely, minutely ribbed and pubescent.

Spines ternate, the central occasionally with

spinules, the 2 lateral basal spines shorter, divari-

cate, apex orange or brown. Cladodes on very

short innocuous branchlets, usually 3-nate, terete,

+ 10 mm long, apiculate, greyish green. Flowers

apical, 1 or 2, on a minute apical disc, surround-

ed below by brown, membranous, fimbriate

bracts; tepals + 5 mm long. Berry globose,

fleshy, red.

Confined to southern Cape coast, from the Cape Peninsula

as far east as the Bredasdorp area; usually on the dunes near

the sea, often amongst Restionaceae. Map 8.

According to Jessop (1966), the species flowers rarely except

after fires. Taylor (pers. comm.) observed it to regenerate and

flower after ground was cleared. Flowers recorded from April

to July.

Vouchers: Jessop 699; Mauve & Hugo 158; Oliver 3428;

Olivier 1558; Schlechter 10536; Taylor 10000.

6. Protasparagus mariae Oberm., sp. nov.

P. capensis (L.) Oberm. affinis sed caulibus basin

versus sine ramis et floribus pedicellatis differt.

Frutices erecti robusti cinerascentes + I m alti,

caule grosso puberulo infra spinis erectis

ASPARAGACEAE

obtecto, supra in capitulum globosum ramificanti.

Rhizoma typicum cataphyllis grossis acuminatis

circum basin caulis; radices cylindricae. Caulis

erectus dense puberulus, pilis brevibus erectis,

spinis acutis et fasciculis cladodiorum (id est

ramis redactis), albus vel pallidus. Rami supra

bene evoluti, adscendentes, ramis lateralibus

spinescentibus multis. Spinae prominentes durae

ramosae spinibus 2 lateralibus basalibus diver-

gentibus. Ramuli fasciculati + 10 mm longi,

fasciculos cladodiorum ferentes. Cladodia fili-

formia apiculata + 4mm longa 1-4 in quoque

fasciculo. Flores I—3 apicales e fasciculo

cladodiorum exserti; tepala obovata + 6 mm

longa; pedicello + 6 mm longo disco aegre e

fasciculo bractearum parvarum chartacearum,

exserto. Stamina typica. Ovarium ovulis 6

troque loculo. Fructum non vidi, verisimiliter

bacca.

Type: Cape, 3420 (Bredasdorp): (—CA),

‘Uyshoek’, 7 km due north of Arniston, low, lime-

stone hills, Thompson 3424 (PRE, holo.).

Erect, robust, greyish shrubs, + 1 m high, the

coarse puberulous stem covered by erect spines

below, branching out into a rounded head above.

Rhizome typical with coarse acuminate cataphylls

around the stem base; roots cylindrical. Stem

erect, densely puberulous with erect short hairs,

sharp spines and cladode clusters (viz. branches

suppressed below) white or pale. Branches well

developed above, ascending, with numerous spiny

side branches. Spines prominent, hard, branched

with 2 basal, diverging side spines. Branchlets

in clusters, + 10 mm long, bearing small cladode

fascicles. Cladodes filiform, apiculate, + 4mm

long, 1—4 per fascicle, glabrous. Flowers 1—3,

apical, exserted from a cladode cluster; tepals

obovate, + 6 mm long; stalk + 6 mm long, the

disc just exserted from a cluster of small papery

bracts. Stamens typical. Ovary with 6 ovules in

each locule. Fruit not seen, probably a berry.

Recorded from southern Cape, from Bredasdorp and

Riversdale with one disjunct record from Grahamstown; in

dry karroid vegetation, fynbos and semisucculent veld. Map 8.

The species was named after Mary Thompson-Rand, a

dedicated botanist whose untimely death was a great loss to

botany.

Vouchers: Bayer 3556; Jessop 642; Mauve & Hugo 135;

Mauve & Hugo 171; Mauve & Hugo 202; Mauve & Hugo 210.

7. Protasparagus suaveolens (Burch.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Griquatown,

Burchell 1956 (K, holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus suaveolens Burch.: 226 (1824); Pole Evans: t.

409 (1931); Jessop: 45 (1966).

Asparagus triacanthus Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.: 334

(1829). Asparagopsis triacanthus (Roem. & Schult.) Kunth:

91 (1850). Holotype: Cape, Lichtenstein in Herb. Willd. no.

6693 (B-WILLD).

Asparagus spinosissimus Kuntze: 315 (1898). Type: Cape

Province, Cathcart, Kuntze s.n. (NY, holo.; BOL, photo.!).

Asparagus omahekensis Krause: 447 (1914). Type: Namibia,

‘Zwischen Gobabis und Oas’, Dinter 271] (B, holo.; PRE, pho-

to.!; SAM!).

Asparagus intangibilis Dinter: 269 (1931). Type: Namibia,

‘Grosse Karasberge’, Dinter 5168 (B, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagopsis zeyheri Kunth: 92 (1850). Type: without lo-

cality, Zeyher s.n.

Erect chamaephyte, up to + 1 m high. Rhi-

zome typical with terete roots + 3—7 mm in

diameter. Stems erect, annual, straight or slightly

zigzagging, with short internodes, glabrous;

nodes usually many-budded, proliferating into

numerous spines, branches and_ branchlets.

Branches similar to stem, straight or reduced to

a noded, ternate, patent spine with 1 or 2 lateral

spinules (‘fox-tail’ form). Branchlets nonspinous,

short, few to numerous, bearing cladode fascicles

and apical flowers. Cladodes 1-6 in a fascicle,

subulate, 1-19 mm long. Flowers apical, 1-3;

tepals narrowly obovate, 1,5—3,5 mm _ long,

white, with a dark midrib; stalk 1-10 mm long,

articulated near base. Stamens typical. Ovary

obovoid, 3-grooved, yellow, with 4—6 ovules in

each locule; style and stigmas short. Berry black,

+ 5 mm in diameter, the dry perianth persistent,

1—3-seeded. Figure 6.

Widespread and common all over southern Africa except

northern Namibia and northern Botswana; in bushveld under

bush clumps. Flowering June to July. Map 9.

The branches are either spreading or suppressed (‘fox-tail’

habit adopted during dry conditions), and usually very spinous

with straight spines. The old spiny stems remain standing for

some time, thus protecting young, soft growth.

Vouchers: Briickner 487; Galpin M344; Giess & Miiller

12215; Giess, Volk & Bleissner 7253; Jessop 675; Leistner

1099; Mogg 23696; Schlechter 8050; Schmitz 8303; Story

4869; Van Zinderen Bakker 1004; Ward 4434.

ASPARAGACEAE

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ASPARAGACEAE

Map 9.—Protasparagus suaveolens

8. Protasparagus burchellii (Bak.) Oberm. ,

comb. nov. Syntypes: Cap. bon. spei, in aridis,

Burchell 2962 (K, syn.; PRE, photo.!); no

locality given, Zeyher (Asparagus 10) (K, PRE,

syn.!); no locality given, Cooper 1647 (K).

Asparagus burchellii Bak.: 618 (1875); Bak.: 264 (1896).

A. stipulaceus auct. non Lam.: Bak.: 617 (1875); Bak.: 263

(1896).

A. suaveolens auct. non Burch. (1822): Jessop: 45 (1966)

pro parte.

Perennials with stems and branches persistent,

spreading and zigzagging horizontally, up to 1,5

m or more long, or straight, erect. Rhizome com-

pact, woody; roots somewhat swollen above,

cylindrical, long, + 5 mm in diameter, hard.

Lateral branches curving outwards to recurved,

bearing recurved spines + 5 mm long at regular

intervals; on both sides of spines bracteate

clusters of buds are produced, many of these .

developing into annual, globose, green, clustered

branchlets, + 10—20 mm long; these in turn

bearing small cladodes + 1-3 mm long in

fascicles of + (1)2 or 3 and 1-3 apical flowers.

Flowers shortly pedicelled (+ 2 mm long) with

the disc placed in lower half. Perianth with tepals

+ 2 mm long. Stamens with filaments broadened

below, anthers yellow. Ovary globose with 4

ovules in each locule; style and stigmas short.

Berry + 3 mm in diameter, green. Figure 7.

Occurs in south-western to eastern Cape and Transkei; in

karroid thornveld, usually common where found. Flowering

in autumn. Map 10.

A species with an unusual growth habit. The zigzagging

stems, if unhampered, develop laterally, attaining a length of

more than 1 m. Plants having erect, straight stems were seen

near Uitenhage.

Vouchers: Bayer 3280; Galpin 3081; Gibbs Russell 3033;

Hall-Martin 5964; Jessop 648; Jessop 674; Mauve & Forrester

5442.

9. Protasparagus spinescens (Steud. ex

Roem. & Schult.) Oberm., comb. et stat. nov.

Types: Cape Province, ex garden Ludwig (prob.

C); Cape Province, Swartkops River Valley and

adjoining hills from Villa Paul Maré to Uiten-

hage, Zeyher 4163 (PRE, lecto.!; received from

B, 1937).

Asparagus stipulaceus var. spinescens Steud. ex Roem. &

Schult.: 317 (1829); Bak.: 265 (1896). Asparagus spinescens

Steud. ex Roem. & Schult.: 334 (1829); Drége: 234 (1847).

Asparagopsis spinescens (Steud.) Kunth: 93 (1850).

Asparagus suaveolens auct. non Burch. (1822): Jessop: 45

. (1966) pro parte.

Erect shrub + 0,35 m high, with pale stems

and dark olive-grey cladodes. Stems minutely

Map 10.—Protasparagus burchellii

FIGURE 6. —Protasparagus suaveolens: 1, rhizome covered by cataphylls, x 0,5; 2, stem, branches, cladode fascicles

and apical flowers, < 1; 3, flowering cladode fascicles, xX 2; 4, flower, <x 10 (ex Pretoria National Botanical Garden).

Artist: R. Holcroft.

28 ' ASPARAGACEAE

FIGURE 7.—Protasparagus burchellii: 1, flowering branch, x 1; 2, flower, x 5 (after Bayliss 2868). P. flavicaulis:

3, flowering branch, x 0,5; 4, branch showing pubescent basal part and the twin flowering fascicles next to glabrous apical

spine, X 5; 5, berry, X 3 (after Mogg 23696). Artist: R. Holcroft.

ASPARAGACEAE

pubescent, pale grey. Branches ascending, placed

close together. Spines flanking the branches at

the axils and below the cladode fascicles, sharp,

apex orange, usually bearing the cladode fasci-

cles halfway. Cladodes terete, + 7 mm long,

smooth, obtuse above and apiculate, somewhat

attenuated below. Flowers apical, 2—4, on spine-

less short branchlets, surrounded by a cladode

fascicle; tepals + 1,5 mm long; stalks + 3 mm

long, disc placed near the base, where stalks

are surrounded by small membranous bracts.

Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary with 4 ovules

in each locule; style half as long as ovary. Berry

globose, + 4 mm in diameter, black, the perianth

persistent.

Restricted to eastern Cape and Border areas; rare. Map Il.

Vouchers: Archibald 5891; Galpin 2095.

10. Protasparagus exsertus Oberm.., sp. nov.

P. capensi (L.) Oberm. affinis sed ramis longis

sursum curvatis, spinis longis solitariis, floribus

pedunculatis.

Frutices vel chamaephyta, unicaules ad + 0,8

m alta. Rhizoma compacta, radicibus teretibus.

Caulis plerumque ad nodos nudus. Rami tenui

sursum curvati, aliquantum fractiflexi spinas

exsertas tenues, solitarias ad 20 mm longas

Jerentes. Ramuli pauci vel multi, 15—20(—30) mm

longi, cladodiis imbricatis tecti. Cladodia 3 mm

longa, teretes, apiculata, minute dense puberula

glauca. Flores apicales 1—2 in ramulis ad anthe-

Map li.— @ Protasparagus spinescens

A P. exsertus

sin modo exserti; tepala exteriora dorso pubes-

centia. Stamina flava. Ovarium ovulis 6 in quoque

loculo; stylus et stigmata breves. Baccam non vidi.

Type: Cape, 3319 (Worcester): (—CB), Karoo

Botanic Garden, shale hills, Bayer 3286 (PRE,

holo.).

Erect shrubs or chamaephytes with one ascend-

ing stem up to + 0,8 m high. Rhizome compact;

roots cylindrical. Stem usually bare at the nodes,

woody. Branches thin, curving upwards, some-

what zigzagging, bearing exserted, sharp, thin,

solitary spines up to + 20 mm long, rarely a short

lateral spine may be present at the base; branch-

lets few to many at the nodes of the branches,

15—20(-—30) mm long, covered by overlapping

cladodes. Cladodes + 3 mm long, terete, slightly

swollen and obtuse above, apiculate, minutely and

densely pubescent, dull green. Flowers apical,

1 or 2 on branchlets, just exserted at anthesis,

outer tepals with a dorsal, broad, pubescent

midrib; stalk + 2 mm long, the disc 1 mm be-

low perianth. Stamens yellow. Ovary with 6

ovules in each locule; style and stigmas short.

Berry not seen.

Present in the Karoo National Botanical Garden (Worcester)

and surrounding areas; on shaly slopes. In its karroid habitat

it was seen to stand out above the other vegetation (hence the

specific epithet). Map 11.

This species differs from P capensis (no. 4) in the long

upcurved branches, the long solitary spines and the peduncled

flowers.

Voucher: Mauve & Hugo 87.

ll. Protasparagus flavicaulis Oberm., sp.

nov. a speciebus aliis subgeneris Protasparagus

ramulis absentibus differt.

Chamaephytum erectum + 300mm altum ramis

adscendentibus. Rhizoma typicum lignosum radi-

cibus duris teretibus. Caules erecti, dum iuvenes

saturate lutei, demum fuscescentes, minute pu-

bescentes. Rami ramulis brevibus crebris, in

spina dura terminantes. Ramuli laterales 1—3 e

nodo, breves, basin versus pubescentes (sicut

caulis ramusque), pars superior spina laevis,

4—8 mm longa. Cladodia fasciculata, glabra vel

setulosa, pauca vel multa, ad juncturam partium

pubescentium et glabrarum spinae posita. Flores

I—3 erecti juxta fasciculum cladodiorum;

tepala anguste elliptica, + 4mm longa, alba; pedi-

cellus + I mm longus, disco prope basin peri-

anthii. Stamina antheris luteis. Ovarium ovulis 4

in quoque loculo; brunneum vel nigrum, obovoi-

deum; stylo brevi stigmatibus 3 brevibus. Bacca

nigra, + 5 mm diametro, perianthio persistente.

Type: Transvaal, 2627 (Potchefstroom): (—BB),

southern side of Randburg, ridge, Liebenberg

8477 (PRE, holo.).

Erect chamaephyte + 300 mm high with as-

cending branches. Rhizome typical, woody, with

hard terete roots. Stems erect, minutely pubes-

cent, deep yellow when young, darker with age.

Branches ascending, bearing the short divergent

side branches and branchlets close together, all

ending in a hard spine. Lateral branches 1—3

from a node, short, the basal part pubescent

(similar to stem and branch), the upper part a

smooth spine, 4—8 mm long, thin aspinous

branchlets bearing cladodes also present. Bracts

membranous, shiny, apiculate, dentate. Cladodes

fascicled, glabrous or setulose, few to many,

placed at junction of pubescent and smooth areas

of spine. Flowers 1—3, erect, beside a cladode

fascicle, next to base of smooth spine; tepals

narrowly elliptic, + 4 mm long, white; stalk +

1 mm long, disc broadened at or near base of

perianth. Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary

with 4 ovules in each locule; brown to black, obo-

void; style short with 3 short stigmas. Berry

black, + 5 mm in diameter, perianth persistent

below. Figure 7.

Recorded from southern, western and central Transvaal and

eastern Botswana, on rocky hillsides.

Two subspecies are recognized:

Cladodes glabrous; widespread in Transvaal and east-

erm Botswana 2) yc. ike.» lia. subsp. flavicaulis

Cladodes setulose; north-western Transvaal ........

wich cee wth crab Dereraraa gialaclantes a's tere llb. subsp. setulosus

lla. subsp. flavicaulis.

Cladodes smooth, glabrous.

Widespread and fairly common in Transvaal; on rocky hill-

sides in grassveld. Map 12.

Vouchers: Coetzee 335; Goossens 1633; Hillary &

Robertson 544; Jacobsen 2434; Liebenberg 8477; Mogg

22805; Mogg 23696; Young 648; Young 195].

ASPARAGACEAE

q @

@e/e@ PP

NS &

BN neg

Map 12.— @ Protasparagus flavicaulis subsp. flavicaulis

A P. flavicaulis subsp. setulosus

llb. subsp. setulosus Oberm., subsp. nov. a

subspecie typica cladodiis setulosis non glabris

differt.

Type: Transvaal, 2328 (Baltimore): (—CC),

Brown’s Cutting south of Villa Nora, Jerminalia-

Combretum veld, on stony gentle slopes in sandy

soil, Smook 4185 (PRE, holo.).

Differing from the typical subspecies in the

characters given in the key.

This subspecies appears to be confined to north-western

Transvaal and is as yet not often collected. It grows on rocky

hillslopes. Map 12.

Vouchers: Jacobsen 2434; Mauve 5443; Van Wyk 46.

12. Protasparagus oliveri Oberm.., sp. nov.

a omnibus speciebus aliis cladodiis absentibus

differt.

Plantae aggregatae, laete virides durae. Sur-

culi plures, plus minusve cylindracei forma

‘caudae vulpinae’, + 150-200 mm longi et

cylindrus + 20—30 mm diametro, lateraliter e

rhizomate compacto evoluti. Radices teretes +

4 mm diametro durae longae. Caules erecti,

striati-pubescentes ramis ramulisque imbricatis,

adscendentibus brevibus, in spinam longam acu-

tam brunneam terminantes tecti. Flores solitarii

vel pauci prope basin ramulorum siti, subsessili

ASPARAGACEAE

disco parvo superpositi, bracteis minutis cir-

cumcincti; tepala succulenta persistentes basin

baccae cingentes semi-ovoidea + 1,5 mm longa,

apice obtuso, brunnea. Stamina cavo intra tepala

appressa, dimidia longa. Stigmata 3 ad apicem

divergentes. Bacca globosa, + 3 mm diametro,

nigra, ad apicem stigmatibus 3 perparvis diver-

gentibus.

Type: Cape, 3321 (Ladismith): (—DA), Rooi-

berg, Oliver 5343 (STE, holo.; PRE).

Plants forming clumps, bright green, hard.

Shoots several, + cylindrical and shaped like a

foxtail, + 150—200 mm long, and 20—30 mm

in diameter, developing laterally from a compact

rhizome. Roots terete, + 4 mm in diameter, hard

and long. Stems erect, covered by overlapping,

ascending, short branches and _ branchlets,

terminating in a long sharp, brown spine, striate-

pubescent. Flowers 1—few, situated close to base

of branchlets, subsessile, placed on a small disc,

surrounded by minute bracts; tepals succulent,

persistent, surrounding base of berry, semi-ovoid,

+ 1,5 mm long, apex obtuse, brown. Stamens

appressed to hollow inside of tepals and about

half as long. Berry globose, + 3 mm in diameter,

black; with 3 minute, divergent stigmas at apex.

Appears to be confined to the mountains of the Little Karoo;

locally common where found, in areas often ravaged by fires.

Flowering in November. Map 13.

Map 13.— A Protasparagus oliveri

@ P. virgatus

¢ P. pendulus

Various letters and notes (in PRE) from Mr E.G.H. Oliver

(after whom the species is named) emphasize the hardness

of the whole plant. He also notes that the succulent-tepalled

flowers do not appear to open, and that the stigmas of the

closed flowers were covered with pollen.

Voucher: Vlok 587 (PRE).

13. Protasparagus virgatus (Bak.) Oberm..,

comb. nov.

Asparagus virgatus Bak.: t. 214 (1870); Bak.: 606 (1875);

Bak.: 259 (1896); Jessop: 52 (1966). Type: Cape Province,

Somerset East, Boschberg, Burchell 3197 (K, lecto.).

A. virgatus Bak. var. capillaris Bak.: 606 (1875); Bak.: 259

(1896). Type: Cape Province, Caffraria, Cooper 202.

Erect, stiff, herbaceous, spineless shrubs with

thin, straight stems + 0,75—1,00 m high, ending

in fern-like spreading branches bearing the

cladode fascicles. Rhizome compact, with thin

creeping stolons forming colonies. Roots terete.

Stems 1—few, slender, glabrous, quadrate, green;

branches slim, curved upwards. Cladodes 1—3

(—7)-nate, filiform, + 4—15(—25) mm long, un-

equal, maturing after flowering. Flowers solitary,

-pendulous, along the branches; tepals reflexed

above, + 5 mm long, inner broader than outer,

with a few apical teeth, white; flower stalks +7

mm long, articulated in lower half, elongating in

fruit. Stamens erect, forming a column around

ovary and style. Ovary globose with 4(—6) ovules

in each locule; style just exserted at anthesis.

Berry + 5 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from the summer rainfall region in southern

Africa, in northern Namibia, Transvaal, Swaziland, O.FS.,

Natal and north-eastern and eastern Cape; further north to

Angola, Zimbabwe and Malawi; a common shade-loving

species, usually growing under trees but occasionally found

in the open. Evergreen in frost-free areas but a chamaephyte

on the Highveld. Flowers have been recorded from September

to January. Map 13.

The species has been introduced into Kirstenbosch National

Botanical Garden as a ground cover below large trees, where

its soft plumose appearance is very pleasing. It is grazed by

stock and antelope.

Protasparagus virgatus appears to be a primitive species

of this genus. The recurved tepals and the erect stamens

surrounding the style suggest that Myrsiphyllum might have

developed from a similar ancestor.

Vouchers: Acocks 9336; Devenish 407; Flanagan 1292;

Jacobsz 791; Moll 2870; Nel 133; Pole Evans 168; Rodin

9086.

14. Protasparagus pendulus Oberm., sp.

nov. P. virgato (Bak.) Oberm. affinis sed floribus

1—2 apicalibus differt.

Herbae (chamaephyta) erectae aspinosae

glabrae griseo-virides + 0,3—0,4 m altae. Rhi-

zoma compactum; radices multae, teretes, + 3

mm diametro, durae, velamine ex radicibus capil-

laceis constanti tectae. Caules erecti costati,

minute strigosi; rami patentes; ramuli ad angu-

lum 90° patentes, 20—30 mm longi, dense tecti

fasciculis imbricatis cladodiorum. Cladodia

mollia, in quoque fasciculo + 5, filiformia, sub-

curvata, inaequilonga, 5—10 mm longa. Flores

I vel 2 ad apicem ramulorum, penduli; tepala

anguste oblonga, + 4 mm longa, nivea vel

‘sordide alba’; pedicellus recurvatus, + 4mm

longus, supra medium articulatus. Stamina tepa-

lis breviora, antheris flavis. Ovarium oblongo-

globosum, ovulis in quoque loculo 6. Stylus

ovario + aequilongus, ramis brevibus 3, stigmati-

bus apicalibus. Baccam non vidi.

Type: Namibia, 1724 (Katima Mulilo):

—DC), Caprivi Strip, 9 miles north of Ngomo

area, Killick & Leistner 3014 (PRE, holo.;

WIND).

Erect, nonspinous, glabrous, greyish green

herbs (chamaephytes), + 0,3—0,4 m_ high.

Rhizome compact. Roots numerous, terete, + 3

mm in diameter, hard, covered by a velamen of

root hairs. Stems erect, ribbed, minutely strigose;

branches spreading; branchlets at right angles to

branches, 20—30 mm long, closely beset by over-

lapping cladode fascicles. Cladodes soft, + 5 per

fascicle, filiform, slightly curved, unequally long,

5—10 mm long. Flowers 1 or 2 at apex of branch-

lets, pendulous; tepals narrowly oblong, + 4mm

long, white or off-white; stalk recurved, + 4mm

long, articulated above middle. Stamens shor-

ter than tepals; anthers yellow. Ovary oblong-

globose; ovules 6 in each locule; style about as

long as ovary with 3 short branches and apical

stigmas. Berry not seen.

Recorded from the Caprivi Strip and northern Botswana;

also in Zimbabwe and Zambia; in mopane woodland,

Combretum-Acacia savanna and along the Zambesi River.

Flowering in December. Map 13.

Related to P. virgatus (no. 13) but differs in that the 1(2)

pendulous flowers are apical on the branches or branchlets.

In P. virgatus they are placed all along the branches.

ASPARAGACEAE

Vouchers: Angus 1030; Curson 393; Jacobsen 3396.

15. Protasparagus mollis Oberm., sp. nov.

P. virgato (Bak.) Oberm. et P. pendulo Oberm.

affinis sed scandens, caulibus ramisque mollibus

laxe curvatis, cladodiis brevioribus, flore 1, raro

2, prope basin ramuli.

Plantae molles graciles glabrae scandentes

floribus solitariis pedunculatis e fasciculis brevi-

bus cladodiorum exsertis. Rhizoma cylindricum

radicibus longis solidis teretis crebris. Caules

ramique laxe curvati, tenues, brunneo-nitentes;

ramuli breves, fasciculos parvos cladodiorum

et flores solitarios exsertos laterales ferentes.

Bracteae ramos ramulosque subtendentes in-

nocuae membranaceae, base obtusa vel acuta.

Cladodia in quoque fasciculo 1O—12, filiformia,

subcurvata, inaequilonga, ad 7 mm longa,

apiculata, scabro-recutita (oculo armato visa);

bractea subtendens membranacea, parva. Flores

solitarii, penduli; tepala anguste oblonga + 5

mm longa; pedunculo + 5 mm longo, parum

infra medium articulato. Stamina erecta. Bacca

+ 5 mm diametro, testacea; semen 3 mm dia-

metro, ater.

Type: Cape, 3419 (Caledon): (—BC), Jagers-

kraal, on dwyka tillite, Bayer 3983 (PRE, holo.).

Soft, slender, glabrous climbers with solitary,

pedunculate flowers exserted from short cladode

fascicles. Rhizome cylindrical, bearing long,

firm, terete roots placed close together. Stems and

branches laxly curved, thin, shiny brown;

branchlets short, bearing the small cladode

fascicles and solitary, exserted lateral flowers.

Bracts subtending branches and_ branchlets

innocuous, membranous, base obtuse or acute.

Cladodes 10—20 in a fascicle, filiform, somewhat

curved, unequally long, up to 7 mm long, apicu-

late, rough-skinned (when magnified); the

subtending bract membranous, small. Flowers

solitary, pendulous, numerous placed along lower

part of young branchlets, (the immature cladodes

placed in upper half); tepals narrowly oblong, +

5 mm long, white with a dark midrib, forming

a loose tube below; upper half recurved at

anthesis; stalk usually recurved, + 5 mm long,

articulated below middle. Stamens erect, exser-

ted, forming a loose tube, anthers deep yellow.

ASPARAGACEAE

ef )

/ eee |-e| eee

4 5

Map 14.— A Protasparagus mollis

@ P. laricinus

Ovary with 8 ovules in each locule; ovoid; style

just exserted above stamens, stigma apical, small.

Berry + 5 mm in diameter, brownish yellow,

transparent when ripe; seed + 3 mm in diameter,

black with a rough skin.

Occurs in south-western Karoo, on Dwyka tillite. Map 14.

The specific epithet refers to the softness of the plant.

Voucher: Bayer 4314.

16. Protasparagus laricinus (Burch.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Hay, between

Griquatown and Wittewater, Burchell 187] (K,

holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus laricinus Burch.: 537 (1822); Bresler: 40 (1826);

Roem. & Schult.: 337 (1829); Kunth: 75 (1850); Bak.: 620

(1875); Bak.: 267 (1896); Sdlch et al.: 31 (1966); Jessop: 60

(1966).

Erect, much branched, spiny shrubs + 2,0—

2,5 m high, with the young stems and branches

shallowly zigzagging, ribbed, whitish, minutely

hispidulous or glabrous, turning brown and

smooth with age. Rhizome typical. Roots cylin-

drical, thick. Spines short, hard, straight or

slightly curved, present on stems, branches and

below cladode fascicles. Cladodes on branches

and branchlets, up to 60 in a fascicle, filiform,

up to 35 mm long when mature, fairly equal in

length, shorter in some forms. Flowers 1—8, on

outside of cladode fascicles; tepals loosely

spreading, white; stalks articulated below centre.

Stamens with red or orange anthers. Ovary with

+ 6 ovules in each locule; style short with 3

short, spreading stigmas. Berry + 5 mm in

diameter, red, usually pendulous, tipped by the

short style. Figure 8.

Widespread and common in the summer rainfall region,

in central Namibia, south-eastern Botswana, Transvaal, O.ES.,

Natal, Lesotho, Transkei and eastern and northern Cape; fur-

ther north to the subtropics. Generally prefers fairly damp

localities. Flowering in spring and summer. An important bee

plant rich in pollen and nectar. Map 14.

The Tswanas strip and clean the stems and these are then

plaited into mats which serve as doors.

Vouchers: Dieterlen 406; Hansen 3257; Jessop 626; Rogers

6254; Verdoorn 508.

17. Protasparagus bechuanicus (Bak.)

Oberm., comb. nov.

Asparagus bechuanicus Bak.: 429 (1898). Type: Botswana,

Nakalechwe, Lugard 25 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. africanus auct. non Lam.: Jessop: 48 (1966).

Erect, rounded, greyish green shrubs 0,4—0,6

m high, glabrous or minutely puberulous; the

spreading branches and branchlets often ending

in obtuse bare tips. Rhizome and roots not seen.

Stems branching, hard, smooth. Spines exserted,

5 mm long, sharp, from a broad base, .or sup-

pressed. Branches and branchlets spreading and

widely spaced along stems. Cladodes terete,

4—6(—10) mm long, apiculate, in fascicles of

4—12, surrounded at the base by a cluster of

small, membranous, ciliate bracts. Flowers 1—

several, placed inside cladode fascicles; tepals +

2 mm long; stalk + 4 mm long, articulated in

lower half. Ovary with 4 ovules in each locule.

Berry globose, + 3 mm in diameter, red to

orange.

Recorded from Namibia, Botswana, northern Cape,

Transvaal, Natal, O.F.S. and eastern Cape; on red sand dunes,

mopane veld or usually in dry grassveld. Map 15.

Vouchers: Acocks H1I093; Codd 4858; Curson 196; Curson

1212; Hardy 1959; Henrici 1709; Leistner 1009; Leistner 1887;

Leistner 2958; Liebenberg 8968; Pont 190.

18. Protasparagus cooperi (Bak.) Oberm.

in South African Journal of Botany 2: 243 (1983).

ASPARAGACEAE

\\} Wy as \

Sv A ES ‘“

N SCN

Uy, iS A

Woe

liNS é

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 15.—Protasparagus bechuanicus

Syntypes: Cape Province, without precise local-

ity, Cooper s.n. ex Hort. Saunders 7/71 K,

Asparagus 1449 (K, syn.; PRE, photo.!); Cape

Province, Boschberg, MacOwan 1810 (K, syn.).

Asparagus cooperi Bak.: 818 (1874); Bak.: 613 (1875); Bak.:

263 (1896); Phillips: t. 503 (1933).

A. burkei Bak.: 607 (1875); Bak.: 261 (1896). Type: Trans-

vaal, Crocodile River, Burke s.n. (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. fleckii Schinz: 43 (1896). Type: Namibia, Rietfontein,

Fleck 238 (Z, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. judtii Schinz: 44 (1896). Type: Namibia, Hoachanas,

Fleck 901 (AZ, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. conglomeratus Bak.: 428 (1898); non Bak. (1904). Type:

Botswana, Kwebe, Lugard 52 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. lugardii Bak.: 431 (1898). Type: Botswana, near Lake

Ngami, Lugard 31 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. dinteri Eng]. & Krause: 155 (1910). Type: Namibia, bei

Neitsas, Dinter 676 (B, SAM).

A. patens Krause: 448 (1914). Type: Namibia, at Haribis,

40 km SW of Mariental, Engler 6570 (B, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. francisci Krause: 449 (1914). Type: Namibia, between

Omuramba and Omatako, Seiner 689a (B, holo.; PRE,

photo.!).

A. rivalis Burch. ex Kies: 179 (1951b). Type: Cape Province,

Kosiefontein, Burchell 1587 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. asiaticus auct. non L. (1753): Bak.: 618 (1875): Bak.:

265 (1896). .

Scandent, glabrous or pubescent chamaephytes

2—5 m high, bearing supple, curved branches.

Rhizome typical with terete roots. Stems erect

below with short sharp spines, twining above.

Branches long, spreading, sometimes flowering

before cladodes appear. Cladode fascicles matur-

ing later in season, becoming very dense;

cladodes filiform, (5—)10—20 mm long. Flowers

inside cladode fascicle, few to numerous, with

a strong sweet scent; tepals + 2,5 mm long,

white with a green midrib; stalks + 5—10 mm,

articulated near base. Stamens with yellow

anthers. Ovary with 4 ovules in each locule;

obovoid, dark green. Berry + 5 mm in diameter,

red.

A widespread common species in the summer rainfall

region, in Namibia, Botswana, Transvaal, Swaziland, O.FS.,

Lesotho, Natal, Transkei and north-western and eastern Cape;

to tropical Africa. Grows in bush or exposed places, some-

times in disturbed soil, e.g. in the railway reserve. Map 16.

Vouchers: Abner 30; Acocks 10648; Curson 752; Devenish

1848; Dieterlen 346a; Gemmell 4955; Gerstner 160; Giess

11355; Gill 87; Hilliard & Burtt 13759; Jessop 653; Kies 368;

Leistner 1137; Mogg 5177; Reid 112; Rodin 2713; Rogers 6252;

Story 4690; Thode Al648; Wild 5097.

19. Protasparagus africanus (Lam.) Oberm.

in South African Journal of Botany 2: 243 (1983).

Map 16.—Protasparagus cooperi

FIGURE 8.—Protasparagus laricinus: la, flowering branch, x 1 (after Hansen 3257); 1b, in fruit, x 1 (after Curson

372). P. microrhaphis: 2, flowering branch, x 1 (after Moll 1286). P. concinnus: 3, flowering branch, x 1| (after Devenish

1844). Artist: G. Condy.

Type: Cape, without precise locality, Sonnerat

s.n. (P, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus africanus Lam.: 295 (1783); Bresler: 9 (1826);

Roem. & Schult.: 331 (1829); Bak.: 619 (1875); Bak.: 265

(1896); Marloth: t. 20 (1915); Salter: 175 (1940); Kies: 177

(1951b); Jessop: 48 (1966).

Asparagopsis lamarckii Kunth: 87 (1850), nom. illegit.

Type: as for Asparagus africanus.

Asparagus dependens Thunb.: 66 (1794). Type: none given

in Thunb. (1794) or (1823). Lectotype: sheet 8442 in UPS.

This name is not treated by Obermeyer in the original

manuscript of this treatment, but is treated as a synonym of

Asparagus africanus by Baker (1896) and Jessop (1966), and

of A. juniperinus fide Moss in a note on the type specimen.

It is placed in synonymy here by Immelman, a decision based

on the microfiche of the type specimen.

Plant erect when stems young, later scrambling

and up to 0,6 m or more high. Rhizome typical,

bearing thin, rough roots. Stems many, pubescent

or glabrous, smooth, green with spreading

branches and branchlets, often closely beset with

cladode fascicles. Spines straight or reflexed,

sharp, reddish brown with the scale leaves above

similar in colour, present below branches,

branchlets and cladode fascicles. Cladodes + 12

per fascicle, filiform, slightly curved, apiculate,

unequally long, the longest up to 10 mm. Flowers

up to + 6 in each cladode fascicle; tepals

narrowly obovate, + 3—4 mm long, whitish;

stalk + 5 mm long, articulated in lower half.

Stamens with small yellow anthers. Ovary with

4 ovules in each locule; obovoid; style and

stigmas very short. Berry + 5 mm in diameter,

orange.

Recorded from south-western Cape to Natal, from Saldanha

Bay north as far as Sordwana Bay in Natal and into the south-

eastern Transvaal; growing mainly near the coast but also

occasionally further inland; occurs in fairly moist places.

Map 17.

Can be distinguished from related species by, inter alia,

the presence of small, reflexed, reddish brown spines below

the cladode fascicles.

Vouchers: Boucher 4170; Flanagan 255; Fourcade 552;

Gerstner 2405; Jessop 660; Marloth 7319; Pegler 9; Schlechter

9218; Thompson 3587; Zeyher 178.

20. Protasparagus longicladus (N.F. Br.)

B. Mathew in Kew Bulletin 44,1: 181 (1989).

Type: Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, FA. Rogers

3523 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 17.— @ and @ Protasparagus africanus

@ P. longicladus

A and @ P. denudatus

Asparagus longicladus N.E. Br.: 298 (1921).

Scandent or shrubby, tall. Rhizome and roots

not seen. Stems and branches minutely pubes-

cent, grey to brown. Spines short, broad,

exserted. Cladodes in dense fascicles, filiform,

25—50 mm long, soft. Flowers in dense, sessile,

globose fascicles pressed against the stems

amongst cladodes; bracts small, numerous; tepals

+ 3 mm long, white; stalk + 8 mm long, articu-

lated near base. Stamens typical; anthers yellow.

Ovary with 4 ovules in each locule; obovoid; style

short with 3 broad, recurved stigmas. Berry +

7 mm in diameter.

Recorded from Namibia (Caprivi Strip) and north-western

Botswana; also from Zimbabwe and Zambia, often collected

around Lake Kariba; rocky hills in woodland. Map 17.

According to notes on Kerfoot 7464, this species is ‘A thorny

scrambler of variable form; it may form dense masses in

canopies of trees’.

Vouchers: Killick & Leistner 3362; Larson 60 (J); Kerfoot

7379 (J); Kerfoot 7464 (J, photostat in PRE).

21. Protasparagus denudatus (Kunth)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Queenstown,

Stormberg, Drége 3533 (B, holo.; BOL, lecto.!;

MO).

Asparagopsis denudatus Kunth: 82 (1850). Asparagus

denudatus (Kunth) Bak.: 606 (1875); Bak.: 258 (1896); Jes-

sop: 52 (1966), excl. synonyms.

ASPARAGACEAE

Erect, much branched coppicing shrubs

(chamaephytes), 1,0—1,5 m high, appearing

almost ‘leafless’ at times, as the small cladodes

are widely spaced and deciduous in late winter

to December. Rhizome compact, woody, covered

by acute cataphylls; roots terete, long. Stems

several, old and young, bearing a few innocuous

applanate spines near the base. Branches curving

upwards with many widespreading branchlets.

Cladode fascicles placed far apart on branchlets,

with 2—4 filiform cladodes, cladodes 2—4 mm

long, appearing after flowering (January to July),

deciduous. Flowers 2—4, in apical umbels, on

short bare branchlets with occasional flowers

lower down; tepals 3 mm long, cream or white

with a green median stripe; stalks + 4 mm,

articulated in lower half. Stamens with yellow

anthers. Ovary with + 6 ovules per locule;

obovoid, dark; style short. Berry + 6 mm in

diameter, red or greyish black.

Recorded from south-eastern O.F.S., Lesotho and north-

eastern Cape; usually in rocky situations, often on riverbanks.

Flowering October to November; in fruit December; with

cladodes January to June. Map 17.

Vouchers: F’ Bolus 151; Comins 1741; Dieterlen 828; Galpin

2092; Galpin 13881; Gerstner 121; Jarman 5; Oliver 5199;

Peeters, Gericke & Burelli 298; Schmitz 7527.

22. Protasparagus pearsonii (Kies) Oberm.

in South African Journal of Botany 2: 244 (1983).

Type: Namibia, Ramans Drift, Pearson 4003 (K,

holo.; PRE, SAM, iso.!, PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus pearsonii Kies: 179 (195ib).

A. abyssinicus auct. non Hochst. ex A. Rich.: H. Bol.,

L. Bol. & Glover: 103 (1915); R. Wordsworth et al. : 33 (1923).

A. denudatus auct. non Kunth (1850): Jessop: 52 (1966);

Solch et al.: 30 (1966).

Erect or straggling, innocuous, pale yellow-

green, hard suffrutex up to + 1 m high with stout

basal stems and lax divaricate branches, often

entangled above. Rhizome and roots not seen.

Stems minutely and densely striate-papillate,

glabrous with age. Branches and branchlets laxly

spreading or deflexed, occasionally clustered

on a swollen node. Spines absent or poorly

developed at base of stem. Cladodes in fascicles

of 2—6, filiform, variable in size, up to 25 mm

long, deciduous. Flowers appearing before or

contemporary with cladodes, few to several in

terminal umbels on short branchlets, occasion-

ally some on the peduncle below; tepals + 3 mm

long, cream with a green keel; stalk + 3—7 mm

long, articulated near the base, occasionally with

2 nodes. Stamens with yellow or orange anthers.

Ovary with + 6 ovules per locule; globose,

brown; style and stigmatic branches short. Berry

+ 10 mm in diameter, blue to black.

Widespread in southern Namibia and in north-western

Cape; common on sandy flats.in cracks of boulders, or near

watercourses. It appears to flower in late summer after rains,

the cladodes maturing later. Map 18.

Vouchers: Giess 9675; Kinges 2169; Leistner 1770;

Ortendahl 83; Wanntorp 1003; Werger 320.

23. Protasparagus lignosus (Burm. f.)

Oberm., comb. nov. Type: Cape, Garcin s.n. (G,

Burman herb., holo.; PRE, xerox copy).

Asparagus lignosus Burm. f.: 10 (1768).

A. compactus Salter: 165 (1940); Salter: 175 (1950); Kies:

179 (1951b); Jessop: 59, fig. 1a (1966). RP compactus (Salter)

Oberm.: 243 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Cape Peninsula,

Orange Kloof, Wolley-Dod 2521 (BOL, holo.!).

A. africanus Lam. var. wrightii Bak.: 619 (1875); Bak.: 266

(1896). Type: Cape Province, Simons Bay, Wright 454.

Rigid, erect, glabrous, evergreen, shrublets, +

0,6 mm high, very spiny. Rhizome compact,

bearing numerous long, cylindrical roots. Stems

erect, grooved, branching frequently, pale grey

Map 18.— @ Protasparagus pearsonii

A P. lignosus

or white, becoming brown and smooth with age.

Spines sharp, exserted, + 5 mm long, progres-

sively shorter on branches and the shallowly

zigzagging branchlets. Cladodes terete, + 12—20

(—45) mm long, grooved when dry, apiculate,

glaucous green, the base flattened into a small

yellow disc. Flowers 1—4, inside apical cladode

fascicle of the branchlets, tepals 2—4 mm long,

white. Stamens with orange anthers. Ovary with

5 or 6 ovules in each locule. Berry 1—3-seeded,

6—9 mm in diameter, red.

Winter rainfall region, from the Cape Peninsula to Still Bay,

Beaufort West and Porterville, often gregarious; a fynbos

species common on the Peninsula, in rocky and sandy areas,

coastal renosterveld and marshy flats. Flowering from

February to April and October to November, according to

records. Map 18.

Vouchers: Bayer 3320; Bohnen 8089; Boucher 4154; Gibbs

Russell, Robinson & Herman 429; Marloth 9491; Salter 8268;

Schlechter 10364; Thompson 258; Williams 3192.

24. Protasparagus rubicundus (Berg. )

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Caput Bonae Spei, comm.

Grubb (SBT, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus rubicundus Berg.: 88 (1767); Jessop: 60, fig.

9 (1966).

Asparagus ruber Burm. f.: 10 (1768). Type: Cape (G-

Burmann herb., holo.; PRE, xerox.!).

Asparagus thunbergianus Schult.: 333 (1827); Bak.: 615

(1875); Bak.: 262 (1896); Salter: 175 (1940); Jessop: 55 (1966);

Mason: t. 10,3 (1972). Asparagopsis thunbergii Kunth: 85

(1850), nom. illegit. Type: Cape Province, Cape Peninsula,

Thunberg s.n. (UPS No. 8448, holo.; BOL, photo.!, PRE,

photo.!).

Asparagus nivenianus Schult.: 331, 1674 (1827).

Asparagopsis niveniana (Schult.) Kunth: 88 (1850). Type:

Cape Province, without precise locality, Niven (not located).

Ecklon 95b (Herb. Cap. union, itin.) was identified as this

species by Kunth (1850), and was also seen by Jessop (1966).

Asparagopsis dregei Kunth: 84 (1850). Type: Cape

Province, Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain and Devil’s

Mountain), Drége s.n. (K, iso.?, PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus albus auct. non L. (1753): Thunb.: 66 (1794).

Asparagus capensis auct. non L. (1753): Marloth: t. 20 C

(1915).

Erect, dense shrublets up to 1 m high,

glabrous. Rhizome woody with long, cylindrical, —

woody roots. Stems rigid, spreading, smooth,

shiny dark brown (yellow to green when young).

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 19.—Protasparagus rubicundus

Spines present below axils of branches and

branchlets, patent-recurved, hard, sharp, up to

8 mm long. Branches closely beset with short,

spineless branchlets bearing cladode fascicles and

flowers. Cladodes + 10 in each fascicle, terete,

+ 7—10 mm long (thin and longer in shade), sub-

tended by fimbriate membranous bracts; rarely

a minute spine may also be present. Flowers

solitary or rarely paired beside each cladode

fascicle; tepals obovate, + 2—3 mm long, white;

stalks + 5 mm long, articulated below. Stamens

with red or brownish anthers. Berry with a single

seed, pendulous, globose, + 9 mm in diameter,

apiculate, red.

Recorded from south-western Cape, east as far as Uitenhage

and north as far as Piketberg; usually in more moist areas,

‘common on flats and hillsides’ (Salter: 175 (1950)). Flowering

mainly March to June, but also at other times. Map 19.

This was the first Cape species of Protasparagus to be

illustrated: in Simon van der Stel’s Journey to Namaqualand:

t. 817 (1685).

Vouchers: Bos 88; Fourcade 2195; Marloth 7723; Marloth

9492; Muir 931; Pillans 2942; Schlechter 7887.

25. Protasparagus mucronatus (Jessop)

Oberm., comb. nov. Type: Cape Province,

Middelburg district, Grootfontein, Theron 55]

(PRE, holo.!).

Asparagus mucronatus Jessop: 56 (1966).

Erect, xerophytic, spiny, greyish shrubs + 1 m

high. Rhizome bearing numerous long, cylin-

ASPARAGACEAE

drical, thick roots. Stems erect, the young spears

covered with erect, appressed, linear-attenuated

scale leaves, + 20—60 mm long; mature stems

glabrous, branches and branchlets pubescent.

Spines short, sharply recurved, + 5 mm long,

absent below cladode fascicles. Cladodes + 4 in

a fascicle (often a few fascicles approximated),

filiform, + 5 mm long, somewhat curved, apex

with a long mucro, base discoid, pale, placed on

a raised, bulbous, pale, permanent receptacle; the

fascicle subtended by a membranous scale leaf.

Flowers + 2 in each cladode fascicle; tepals +

4 mm long; stalks + 8 mm long, articulated near

base. Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary with

+ 6 ovules in each locule, oblong-ovoid, style

short. Berry + 5 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from Cathcart to Montagu, Worcester and

Kimberley; from dry karroid regions in the Cape, fairly

common in some areas. Flowers recorded October to

December with berries in May. Map 20.

A species with some unusual characters, such as the many

membranous, long, erect scale leaves present on the young

shoot. These may be up to 25—60 mm long; those present

in the axils of branches are also long-attenuate and here

moreover a second shorter pair may develop above the first.

The persistent, pale-rimmed, circular base of the cladode

fascicle is also present, as in P. stellatus (no. 58) and P.

microrhaphis (no. 57).

Vouchers: Acocks 2580; Bayer 3284; Dahlstrand 2990;

Denman 282; Jessop 637; Jessop 661; Mauve & Hugo 208;

Mauve & Hugo 254; Thompson 3157.

26. Protasparagus retrofractus (L.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: without locality or collector

(LINN No. 434.4, holo.; NBG!, PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus retrofractus L.: 313 (1753); Bresler: 10 (1826);

Roem. & Schult.: 330 (1829); Bak.: 621 (1875); Bak.: 266

(1896); Salter: 167 (1940); Jessop: 58 (1966). Asparagopsis

retrofracta (L.) Kunth: 88 (1850).

Asparagus africanus Lam. var. microphyllus Bak.: 266

(1896). A. microphyllus (Bak.) Kies: 178 (1951b). Type:

Kuruman, Kosi Fontein, Burchell 2572 (K, holo.; PRE,

photo.!).

A. namaensis Schinz: 44 (1896). Type: Namibia, Great

Namaqualand, without precise locality, Fleck 307a (Z, holo.;

PRE, photo.!).

Scrambler up to + 3 m high, or forming

tangled shrubs, bearing dense terminal fascicles

of bunched cladodes. Rhizome typical; roots

fusiform when young, cyindrical, + 12 mm in

diameter and becoming hard with age. Stems

hard, with strong bare internodes; nodes usual-

ly swollen, bearing primary and, later, secondary

branches. Spines basal, short, recurved, reduced

or absent above. Branches grey, with ciliate

ribbing when young, zigzagging and bearing con-

tracted, reflexed branchlets. Cladodes in dense,

terminal, feathery clusters, filiform, + 10—30

mm long, curved, pale to bright yellow-green.

Flowers 2—7-nate, inside cladode fascicles; tepals

broadly linear, + 3 mm long, inner somewhat

wider than outer, white; stalks 5—40 mm long,

articulated in lower half. Stamens with orange an-

thers. Ovary ovoid, attenuated into a short style;

stigma 3-lobed. Berry + 7 mm in diameter,

orange or pinkish red.

Recorded from Namibia south of Windhoek, and from most

of the Cape Province, but not from Transkei; in sandy or rocky

areas. Map 21.

Vouchers: Acocks 1741; Bayer 3344; Bos 149; Ecklon &

Zeyher 20; Mogg 8976; Taylor 8574.

27. Protasparagus multiflorus (Bak.)

_Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Somerset Di-

vision, Bowker s.n. (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus multiflorus Bak.: 610 (1875); Bak.: 261 (1896);

Kies: 177 (1951b).

A. africanus var. pubescens Bak.: 619 (1875). Syntypes: lo-

calities not given: Cooper 414; Ecklon Smilac. 15; Ecklon &

Zeyher 236; Zeyher 4158.

Map 20.—Protasparagus mucronatus

Map 21.—Protasparagus retrofractus

A. dependens auct. non Thunb.: Eckl.: 363 (1830).

Coarse innocuous perennials, climbers or, if

in the open, forming very large tangled shrubs,

more or less evergreen. Rhizome hard, large;

roots cylindrical. Stems coarse, hard, somewhat

zigzagging, velvety-pubescent, minutely striate,

pale green; nodes swollen, the spine forming a

blunt triangular knob. Branches bearing short

retrorse branchlets. Cladodes + 7 per fascicle,

terete, (S—)10—12 mm long. Flowers inside

cladode fascicles on short reduced branchlets;

tepals + 3 mm long, white; stalks + 4 mm long,

articulated in lower half. Stamens with the fila-

ments slightly swollen. Ovary with + 6 ovules

per locule; obovoid, papillate, dark. Berry not

seen.

Recorded disjunctly from south-western and south-eastern

Cape, both coastal and further inland; common, often forming

large shrubs; flowering December to January. Map 22.

This species has been used as a vegetable in the south-

eastern Cape. ‘The bush is chopped down towards the end

of winter. When the thick young shoots appear in spring, they

are cut in lengths of + 0,15 m and boiled in salted water. They

can be eaten as a vegetable with or without a cheese sauce.

The taste is quite unlike the cultivated asparagus, more like

a green vegetable, with a slight nutty flavour’: Mr T. Hoole,

farm Slaaikraal near Grahamstown. Ecklon, however, under

Asparagus dependens sensu Ecklon (non Thunberg): 363

(1830), writes the following—‘The young shoots of A. de-

pendens are large and more agreeable to the taste than the

cultivated Asparagus’.

Vouchers: Hall-Martin 5734; Hoole s.n.; Mauve 5430;

Zeyher 236; Zeyher 4158.

/.SPARAGACEAE

28. Protasparagus fractiflexus Oberm.., sp.

nov. a P. cooperi caulibus fractiflexis squamis

membranaceis spinas fingentibus differt.

Planta scandens (chamaephytum?) lignosa

glabra ad I m alta caulibus ramisque valde

fractiflexis. Rhizoma et radices non vidi. Caulis

gracilis laevis. Spinae absentes, folia squamoides

membranacea rubrobrunnea attenuata. Rami

inter fasciculos cladodiorum fractiflexi, ramulos

perbreves ferentes in fasciculum cladodiorum

apicalem solitarium terminantes. Flores 1—3,

parvi, e fasciculo apicali cladodiorum exserti;

tepala oblonga, 2—3 mm longa, alba; pedicellus

4 mm longus, infra medium articulatus. Stamina

filamentis latis antheris flavis. Ovarium obo-

voideum, ovulis in quoque loculo + 4, furvum;

stylo stigmatibusque brevibus. Baccam non vidi.

Type: Transvaal, 2730 (Vryheid): (—AD), farm

Oshoek (Wakkerstroom district), Télken 116

(PRE, holo.).

A woody, glabrous scrambler up to 1 m high

with the stems and branches slightly to strongly

zigzagging (chamaephyte?). Rhizome and roots

not seen. Stem slender, smooth. Spines absent,

the scale leaves membranous, reddish brown, —

attenuate. Branches zigzagging between cladode

fascicles and giving off very short branchlets

which end in a solitary apical cladode fascicle,

sessile in younger upper part. Cladodes 2—6

(—10) mm long. Flowers 1—3, small, exserted

Map 22.— @ Protasparagus multiflorus

A P. fractiflexus

ASPARAGACEAE

from the apical cladode fascicle; tepals oblong,

2—3 mm long, white; stalk 4 mm long, articu-

lated in lower half. Stamens with broad filaments

and yellow anthers. Ovary with + 4 ovules in

each locule; obovoid, dark; style and stigmas

short. Berry not seen.

Known only from three collections in southern Transvaal;

from rocky montane areas; said to be common where found.

Map 22.

Vouchers: Pupils of the Convent 77; Tolken ILI6.

29. Protasparagus edulis Oberm., sp. nov.

P. devenishii Oberm. affinis sed glabra, axillis

nudis.

Chamaephytum annuum caule uno vel caulibus

paucis, primo erectis, demum elongantibus scan-

dentibus, gracilibus glaucis. Rhizoma typicum,

radicibus cylindraceis. Spinae ad basin caulis,

ad 10 mm longae, reflexae fragiles, supra basin

caulis minutae vel absentes. Rami ad angulum

90° patentes, apicibus juvenibus saepe vere

cernuis, axillis nudis (sine fasciculis cladodio-

rum). Ramuli ad angulum 90° patentes, primo

brevi planta florenti, demum elongescentes ad

40—60 mm, saepe ramificantes, fasciculis

cladodiorum imbricatis. Cladodia parva, varia-

bilia longitudine, + 5 mm longa, apiculata

mollia. Flores 1—4, exserti saepe apicales, inter

Jasciculos cladodiorum; tepala + 3 mm longa,

alba; pedicellus fructu + 4mm longus. Stamina

tepalis valde breviora, filamentis latis planis.

Ovarium obovoideum, infra attenuatum, furvum,

stylo stigmatibusque brevibus, ovulis in quoque

loculo 4. Bacca + 5 mm diametro.

Type: Transvaal, 2330 (Tzaneen): (—CA),

Westfalia Estate, Scheepers 1028 (PRE, holo.;

MO, iso.).

Stems one to few, annual (chamaephyte), erect

at first, lengthening and scrambling with age,

glabrous, slender. Rhizome typical; roots cylin-

drical. Spines present at base of stem, reflexed,

up to 10 mm long, brittle, minute or absent above.

Branches at right angles to stem, often with the

young tips drooping in spring, the axils bare

(without cladode fascicles); branchlets at right

angles to branches, short at first when flower-

ing, lengthening to + 40—60 mm and often

Map 23.—Protasparagus edulis

branching; the cladode fascicles overlapping.

Cladodes small, variable in length, + 5 mm long,

apiculate, soft. Flowers 1—4, exserted, and often

apical, amongst cladode fascicles, tepals + 3 mm

long, white; stalk + 4 mm long in fruit. Stamens

much shorter than tepals; filaments wide and flat.

Ovary with 4 ovules in each locule; obovoid,

attenuate below, dark; style and stigmas short.

Berry + 5 mm in diameter.

Recorded from the more humid areas of northern, eastern

and southern Transvaal, Swaziland, eastern O.F.S. and eastern

Cape; also collected in eastern Zimbabwe; open grassveld

or in shade in scrub. Map 23.

Mrs M. Jacobsz from Harrismith recorded that the young

shoots were eaten by both the white and the black commu-

nity.

Vouchers: Compton 30974; Dahlstrand 2702; Devenish

1849; Kluge 616; Mogg 20511; Pott Leendertz 4690.

30. Protasparagus devenishii Oberm., sp.

nov. P. eduli affinis sed pubescens et grossior.

Suffrutex robustus + 0,6—1,0 m altus, dumeta

faciens. Rhizoma typicum lignosum radicibus

teretibus longis. Caules plures implicantes lignosi

multiramosi. Spinae reflexae + 5 mm longae,

solum secus nodos caulis. Rami satis longi,

ramulos numerosos breves minute pubescentes

facientes qui fasciculos densos cladodiorum

crebros vel imbricatos ferentes. Cladodia filifor-

mia ad anthesin + 3 mm longa, demum ad + 8

mm elongescentia. Flores multi, intra fasciculos

cladodiorum; tepala anguste oblonga, + 4mm

longa, alba; pedicellus + 4 mm longus, infra

medium articulatus. Stamina antheris flavis.

Ovarium anguste obovoideum furvum, ovulis 6,

stylo breve. Bacca rubra.

Type: Transvaal, 2730 (Vryheid): (—AD), farm

Oshoek (Wakkerstroom district), Devenish 1156

(PRE, holo.).

Robust shrublet + 0,6—1,0 m high, forming

thickets. Rhizome typical, woody, with long terete

roots. Stems several, intertwining, woody, much

branched. Spines reflexed, + 5 mm long, present

only on stem nodes. Branches fairly long,

producing numerous short, minutely pubescent

branchlets bearing thick cladode fascicles placed

close together to overlapping. Cladodes filiform,

+ 3 mm long at anthesis, lengthening to + 8

mm. Flowers numerous inside cladode fascicle;

tepals narrowly oblong, + 4 mm long, white;

stalk + 4 mm long, articulated in lower half.

Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary with 6

ovules; dark, narrowly obovoid; style short.

Berry red.

Recorded from south-eastern Transvaal, eastern O.F.S.

and western Natal; montane, rocky areas; fairly common.

Map 24.

Vouchers: Acocks 10626; Bredenkamp 848; Devenish 97;

Jessop 664; Mogg 18129; Van der Zeyde 129.

Map 24.— @ Protasparagus devenishii

A P. graniticus

ASPARAGACEAE

31. Protasparagus graniticus Oberm.., sp.

nov. a P. exuviali spinis multis bene evolutis

differt.

Frutices erecti spinosissimi + I m alti. Rhizo-

ma compactum. Radices multi longi, prope

rhizoma tumidi, infra gradatim attenuati, pelle

molli spongiosa. Caules multi, juvenes cernui,

durescentes, pelle exteriore grisea subaspera in

forma laciniarum albarum membranacearum

exuviante, corticem brunneum inferiorem patefi-

ciente; internodiis perbrevibus, fractiflexis.

Spinae exsertae, acres, IO—15 mm longae, subter

ramis, ramulis et fasciculis cladodiorum positae.

Ramuli guam rami valde tenuiores et breviores,

patentes luteoli dense spinis fasciculisque

cladodiorum muniti. Cladodia permulti in quoque

Jasciculo, filiformia, + 15 mm longa, griseola.

Pedicelli 2 ad nodum, divaricati. Flores non vidi.

Bacca + 5 mm diametro, viridis (fide Bayer

3333b).

Type: Cape, 2917 (Springbok): (—BD), Riet-

berg Mine, north of O’Kiep, granite la Bayer

3333b (PRE, holo.).

Erect, very spiny, greyish shrubs + 1 m high.

Rhizome compact. Roots numerous, long, swollen

near rhizome, gradually attenuate below, skin

soft, spongy. Stems numerous, drooping when

young, becoming hard, the grey, somewhat rough

outer skin exuviating as white membranous

strips, exposing the smooth bark underneath;

internodes very short, zigzagging. Spines

exserted, sharp, 10—15 mm long, present below

branches, branchlets and cladode fascicles.

Branchlets much thinner and shorter than

branches, spreading, yellowish, closely beset

with spines and cladode fascicles. Cladodes very

many in a fascicle, deciduous, filiform, + 15 mm

long, greyish. Flower stalks 2 at a node, divari-

cate. Flowers not seen. Berry + 5 mm in

diameter, green (fide Bayer 3333b).

Recorded from a few localities to the north and south of

Springbok, with one record from the Sperrgebiet in Namibia;

granite slopes and sandy flats, also in gullies; locally com-

mon. Map 24.

Vouchers: Bayer 3841; Mauve & Forrester 5439.

32. Protasparagus exuvialis (Burch. )

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

ASPARAGACEAE

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, along the Vaal

River, Griqualand West, Burchell 1768 (K, holo.;

PRE, photo.!). |

Erect or scrambling, glabrous shrubs + 1—2

m high, with short, strongly zigzagging inter-

nodes (or upper branches straight in forma

ecklonii), the skin peeling off as white mem-

branes. Rhizome typical, bearing numerous roots

with fusiform swellings (Figure 9) up to 0,2 m

long in upper part, cylindrical below. Stems,

branches and branchlets with short, divaricate

internodes in forma exuvialis, or with the upper

flowering branches long, straight and supple in

forma ecklonii. Spines minute or absent.

Cladodes deciduous, absent or immature at

anthesis, filiform, lengthening with age, up to 30

mm long and in time multiplying in each fascicle.

Flowers 2, divergent, placed at nodes on outside

of immature cladode fascicle, in forma ecklonii

2—6-nate, with the long, young, upper branches

and. branchlets appearing racemose, tepals

narrowly oblong, + 4 mm long, yellow or white,

opening in the morning, closing early; stalk 3—6

mm long, articulated near middle. Ovary with 4

ovules in each locule; ovoid. Berry red or orange,

+ 10 mm in diameter.

Widespread in the drier parts of South Africa, Botswana

and Namibia, but not so far recorded from Swaziland, Natal

or Lesotho; usually in sandy areas.

Two forms are recognized:

Branches and branchlets widely zigzagging with short

internodes; flowers 2 at each node, divaricate;

stalk 2—3 mm long; bracts broad, short ......

DN oo a sce eS Oe 32a. forma exuvialis

Branches and branchlets straight or nearly so; flowers

2—4(—6) at each node; stalk + 1 mm long; bracts

acute, irregularly dentate ......... 32b. forma ecklonii

32a. forma exuvialis.

Asparagus exuvialis Burch.: 432 (1822); Bresler: 40 (1826);

Roem. & Schult.: 337 (1829); Kunth: 74 (1850); Bak.: 608

(1875); Bak.: 259 (1896); Schinz: 42 (1896); Salter: 175 (1950);

Sdlch et al.: 30 (1966); Jessop: 62 (1966). Type: Cape

Province, along the Vaal River, Griqualand West, Burchell

1768 (K, holo.!; PRE, photo.!).

A. hereroensis Schinz: 43 (1896). Syntypes: Namibia,

Rehoboth, Fleck 295a (Z!); Harris, Fleck 549 (Z).

Stems, branches and branchlets strongly zig-

zagging. The two flowers divergent, placed at the

nodes on the outside of the immature cladode

fascicle.

Recorded from most of the Cape, from O.F.S., Transvaal,

eastern Botswana and Namibia; usually in sandy areas and

on surface limestone. Map 25.

Vouchers: Acocks 1465; Bayer 3277; Bolus 13201; Giess,

Watt & Snyman 11059; Herman 253; Story 5177; Verdoorn 932.

32b. forma ecklonii (Bak. ) Oberm., comb.

et stat. nov.

Asparagus ecklonii Bak.: 615 (1875); Bak.: 258 (1896).

Type: Cap. bon. spei, Ecklon & Zeyher s.n. (marked ‘A.

stipularis ?’) (TCD; photo. in PRE!).

Similar to forma exuvialis but with the young

upper branches and branchlets straight, or laxly

curved, appearing racemose with the 2—4-

flowered fascicles closely arranged at regular,

short intervals.

Apparently more common in northern and north-eastern

Transvaal than the typical form. Map 25.

Vouchers: Codd 6197; Huntley 1420; Obermeyer, Schweick-

erdt & Verdoorn 51; Obermeyer, Schweickerdt & Verdoorn

97; Smook 4263; Zambatis 376; Zwanziger 117.

33. Protasparagus falcatus (L.) Oberm. in

South African Journal of Botany 2: 244 (1983).

Iconotype: Burman, Thesaurus Zeylanicus t. 13,

f. 2 (1737).

- Map 25.—@ and @ Protasparagus exuvialis forma exu-

vialis

A and @ P. exuvialis forma ecklonii

ASPARAGACEAE

Asparagus falcatus L.: 313 (1753); Bresler: 2 (1826); Kunth:

71 (1850); Bak.: 626 (1875); Bak.: 271 (1896); Jessop: 69

(1966). i

Tall climbers. Rhizome woody, broad; main

roots swollen when young, fusiform, lengthening

with age and becoming cylindrical and hard, +

15 mm in diameter. Stems smooth, usually pale.

Spines short, recurved. Cladodes linear, + (30—)

60(—110) x 3—5 mm, straight or falcate, smooth,

with a distinct midrib. Racemes simple, 1—3,

axillary, + 30—60 mm long, present on main

stems and branches, but often compound and

present in great profusion; bracts ovate-

acuminate, membranous. Flowers with tepals

obovate, 3 mm Jong, white; stalks + 7 mm long,

articulated below middle, articulation forming a

wide frilly disc. Stamens with flattened filaments.

Ovary with + 6 ovules in each locule; dark,

obovoid, attenuate at the base; style short with

3 short swollen stigmas. Berry globose or some-

what flattened, 2- or 3-grooved, red, 1—3-seeded;

seed + 6 mm in diameter. |

Widespread in warmer parts of southern Africa, from

Transvaal, Natal and Transkei; also from tropical East Africa

to India. Originally described from Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Growing in moist situations, usually on margins of forest and

bush clumps. Map 26. :

Map 26.—Protasparagus falcatus

Vouchers: Compton 28020; Forbes 369; Netshiungani 775;

Pegler 1335; Van der Schijff 572.

34. Protasparagus buchananii (Bak.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Nyasaland (Malawi), Shiré

Highlands, Buchanan 1503 (K, lecto.!; PRE,

photo.!); Buchanan 757.

Asparagus buchananii Bak.: 211 (1893); Bak.: 434 (1898),

Jessop: 67 (1966).

Tall, glabrous, densely branched, woody clim-

bers. Rhizome compact, woody, bearing numer-

ous roots swollen above. Stems several, up to

+ 3 m long and up to + 15 mm in diameter at

base, shiny yellowish brown. Spines on stems

straight, reflexed, flattened, + 30—60 mm long,

those on branches progressively smaller, absent

from branchlets. Cladodes on short branchlets in

fascicles of 2—6, unequal in length, filiform, up

to + 12—30 mm long, usually absent at anthe-

sis. Flowers in simple or compound racemes,

tepals white, + 2 mm long, reflexed, flower base

elongate (pericladium), lengthening with age to

_ 1 mm long; bract enveloping stalk, inflated at the

base, membranous, dentate, acuminate; stalk

articulated at apex, + 3 mm long. Stamens with

flattened filaments, anthers yellow or dark. Ovary

with + 4 ovules in each locule; dark, narrowed

below, obtuse above; style short, with 3 short

obtuse stigmas. Berry shortly stipitate, usually

3-seeded, tepals persisting at base. Figure 10.

Recorded from northern Namibia, eastern Botswana, Trans-

vaal, Swaziland and Natal; to eastern subtropical Africa; in

bushveld. Map 27.

Vouchers: De Winter & Giess 7054; Jessop 670; Schweick-

erdt 1019; Strey 9829. —

35. Protasparagus racemosus (Willd.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: India, in herb. Willdenow (B,

holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus racemosus Willd.: 152 (1799); Wight: t. 2056

(1853); Bak.: 623 (1875); Engl.: 169 (1892); Bak.: 434 (1898).

FIGURE 9.—Root systems: a, Protasparagus exuvialis showing swollen main roots (after Toelken 292); b, P. striatus

showing tuberous side roots (after Mauve & Hugo 203). Artist: R. Holcroft.

ASPARAGACEAE

i isgeeit

HK SA

dss Sy

ee oe

———

——

————

—

cazsth

—

—.,

| |

LAN

\ |

FIGURE 10.—Protasparagus buchananii: 1, basal part of stem showing recurved spines (modified leaves), x 1

Rauh & Schlieben 9693); 2, young flowering branch, x 1; 3, flower with pericladium (p) and stalked ovary, x 6

Zambatis 1196). Artist: G. Condy. .

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 27.—Protasparagus buchananii

Asparagopsis floribunda Kunth: 98 (1850), nom. illegit.

Type: as for A. racemosus.

Asparagus saundersiae Bak.: 42 (1889); Bak.: 269 (1896).

Type: Natal, Mrs K. Saunders s.n. (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Tall climbers or, if without support, tangled

shrubs with shiny yellow stems and soft, feathery

branches when ‘in leaf’, usually bare when in |

flower. Rhizome woody, small, compact. Roots

many, with fusiform swellings near rhizome.

Stems straight, smooth. Spines short, recurved,

present on stems and main branches. Branches

spreading, bearing numerous branchlets, + 70

mm long, closely beset with overlapping cladode

fascicles. Cladodes + 4-8 per fascicle, un-

equally long, filiform, 10—16 mm long, thin.

Flowers in simple racemes, in multibudded axils

of stems and branches, usually several racemes

together, racemes + 20—30 mm long; tepals

attenuate below, + 3 mm long, white with a

reddish central streak, reflexed in fruit; bracts

membranous, acuminate, curved around stalk

below; stalk + 2 mm long, articulated in middle.

Stamens with red (or dark) anthers. Ovary

attenuate below. Berry shortly stipitate, + 7mm

in diameter, red. |

Northern Namibia and Botswana, northern and central

Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and Transkei; widespread from

India to tropical and subtropical eastern Africa; a thicket

constituent in frost-free savanna with a fairly high rainfall.

Map 28.

Vouchers: Culverwell 42]; Deall 1825; De Winter 3776a;

Giess 11460; Smith 609; Ward 4804.

36. Protasparagus lynetteae Oberm., sp.

nov. P. racemoso (Willd.) Oberm. affinis sed

caulibus puberulis et radicibus tumoribus grandi-

oribus.

Planta perennis scandens, caulibus gracilibus

puberulis ramis brevibus patentibus. Rhizoma

compactum radicibus multis tumidis crebris

patentibus, tumore unoquoque + 0,2 m longo,

in extremis ambobus attenuato. Caules tenues ad

3 m longi, basin versus 5 mm diametro, flexibiles

minute albopuberuli. Spinae tenues exsertae + 4

~ mm longae. Rami breves, ad 0,1 m longi, exserti

crebri. Cladodia in quoque fasciculo 1I0—I2,

spina breve subtenta, 3-angulata tenuia + 1O—I5

mm longa, curvata apiculata. Racemi discreti ex

eodem nodo ut rami, sed longiores. Flores laxe

dispersi in pedicellis persistentibus brevibus atque

longioribus, interdum 2 vel 3 aggregati; perian-

thium (marcidum) + 4 mm longum. Stamina

antheris flavis. Gynoecium obovoideum, vero-

similiter ovulis 4 in quoque loculo. Baccae

globosae flavae, siccae verrucosae, + 5 mm

diametro.

Type: Transvaal, 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

(—CB), near Burgersfort, in dense bushveld at

Gethlane Lodge, Mauve, Reid & Smook 5408

(PRE, holo.).

Scandent perennial, with long, thin, puberu-

lous stems, clambering over surrounding shrubs,

with the branches short, spreading. Rhizome

Map 28.— @ Protasparagus racemosus

A P. lynetteae

compact, with numerous swollen roots placed

close together, spreading; each swelling + 0,2

m long, attenuate at both ends. Stems thin,

supple, minutely white puberulous, up to + 3m

long, 5 mm in diameter at base. Spines thin,

exserted, + 4 mm long. Branches exserted,

placed close together, short, up to 0,1 m long.

Cladodes in fascicles of 10—20, subtended by a

short spine, 3-angled, thin, + 10—15 mm long,

curved, apiculate. Racemes separate, from same

node as branches but longer; flowers laxly

dispersed on short and longer persistent stalks,

occasionally in clusters of 2 or 3; perianth (faded)

+ 4 mm long. Stamens with yellow anthers.

Gynoecium obovoid, probably with 4 ovules in

each locule. Berries globose, much wrinkled in

dry state, + 5 mm in diameter, yellow.

Occurs in eastern Transvaal; in bushveld. Map 28.

Named after Lynette Fish (née Smook), the first to collect

this species and in appreciation for her unstinting support on

many excursions.

Voucher: type only.

37. Protasparagus nelsii (Schinz) Oberm. in

South African Journal of Botany 2: 244 (1983).

Type: Namibia, ‘Hereroland’, Nels 70 (Z, holo.;

PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus nelsii Schinz: 44 (1896); Sdlch et al. : 31 (1966);

Jessop: 76 (1966).

Erect spiny shrubs up to + 1 m high, with

short, plumose branchlets in summer, bare in

spring when flowering and fruiting. Roots nume-

rous, very long and thick, with fusiform swellings

up to 0,3 m long, near or further away from the

hard, woody rhizome. Stems minutely pubescent

or glabrous, grey with minute black speckles;

nodes many-budded, swollen, below with a sharp

recurved spine 5—10 mm long. Branches spread-

ing, spinous, bearing short plumose branchlets.

Cladodes filiform, 4—9 per fascicle, + 10—25

mm long, overlapping, greyish green, with a

minute spine below each fascicle, deciduous,

absent at anthesis. Racemes from the stem nodes,

1 to several, short, simple, rarely large and many-

flowered; flowers 1—4 in a fascicle; tepals + 5 —

mm long, white or pale cream; bracts spinous,

minute; stalks short. Stamens with pale anthers.

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 29.— @ Protasparagus nelsii

A P. oxyacanthus

Ovary ellipsoid with + 8 ovules per locule. Berry

one-seeded, red.

Recorded from Namibia, Botswana, Transvaal and north-

ern Cape; also present in Angola; from dry areas, sandy grassy

flats, or along dry river beds. Map 29.

Berries eaten by korhaan (fide Bradfield 89). Used as a tea

by Kwanyama: ‘Leaves and twigs stamped and made into a

tea; drunk for an upset stomach’ (Rodin 9357).

Vouchers: Codd 10568; Giess, Watt & Snyman 11909; Giess

3706; Jensen 464; Leistner 2236; Liebenberg 8967; Mauve,

Reid & Smook 5404; Smook 4288; Theron 2904.

38. Protasparagus oxyacanthus (Bak.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Somerset East,

Bowker s.n. (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus oxyacanthus Bak.: 625 (1875); Bak.: 270 (1896).

Erect, woody shrubs up to + 1 m high, vir-

gate or branched. Rhizome woody; roots tuberous

when young, lengthening with age, with an

occasional tuber towards growing point. Stems

erect, with short internodes, minutely pubescent.

Spines short, reflexed, sharp. Cladodes solitary,

overlapping, linear, + (25—)40—65 xk +5 mm,

l-nerved, apiculate, leathery, dark green, mar-

gin entire, thickened below. Raceme short, com-

pact, + 20—70 mm long; flowers fascicled or

solitary; bracts ovate-acuminate, 5 mm long,

ASPARAGACEAE

membranous; tepals ovate, 3—4 mm long; stalks

+ 1 mm long, articulated below attenuate flower

base. Stamens typical. Ovary with locules +

6-ovuled; globose; style short with 3 short

stigmatic lobes. Berry not seen.

Confined to eastern Cape, from Bathurst to East London,

reported to be fairly common on the slopes above the Fish

River; on dry slopes, in scrub or on edge of forest. Flowering

October to January. Map 29.

Cultivated as a ground cover at the Kirstenbosch National

Botanical Garden.

Vouchers: Acocks 11885; Dyer 3375; Medley Wood sub

Galpin 3147; Smith 3765; Story 4531.

39. Protasparagus densiflorus (Kunth)

Oberm., comb. nov. Type: Cape Province,

Lalande s.n. (P, lecto.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagopsis densiflora Kunth: 96 (1850). Asparagus

sarmentosus var. densiflorus (Kunth) Bak.: 625 (1875).

Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop: 65 (1966).

Asparagus sarmentosus var. comatus Bak.: 625 (1875).

Syntypes: Cap. bon. spei, Hort. Kew 1778; Cooper 192; —

Cooper 402; Cooper 3251; Admiral Grey s.n.; Murray s.n.;

MacOwan 1772.

Asparagus myriocladus Bak.: 43 (1889); Bak.: 271 (1896).

Type: Natal, Inanda, Medley Wood 355 (K, holo.; NH!; PRE,

photo.!).

Asparagus sprengeri Regel: 302 (1890); Bak.: 271 (1896).

Type: described from a cultivated specimen received from

- Durban.

Asparagus ternifolius (Bak.) Hook. f.: t. 7728 (1900). A.

aethiopicus var. ternifolius Bak.: t. 261 (1871). Type: living

material sent from Durban by Thomas Cooper, which

flowered in England in Wilson Saunders’s nursery.

Asparagus sarmentosus auct. non L.: Bak.: 625 (1875);

Watson: 746, t. 94 (1894).

Asparagus tetragonus auct. non Bresler: Prain: t. 8288

(1909).

Moritz Bresler (1802—1851), a German physician, wrote

a thesis entitled ‘Generis Asparagi historia naturalis atque

medica’, in which he described a number of South African

species. His herbarium and types are unknown, cf. Barnhart:

248 (1965).

Plants erect or with simple, spreading or

recumbent, striate, spiny stems. Rhizome with the

long roots bearing tubers on side roots. Branches

short, more or less equally long, close together.

Spines short, recurved. Cladodes evergreen, one

to few in a fascicle, terete, 5—15 xX 1—2 mm.

Racemes (modified branchlets) simple, short,

20—50 mm long, many-flowered or reduced to

a few flowers, borne in axils and along branches;

bracts small, membranous or minutely spinous;

tepals linear, spreading, 4 mm long, white with

a pink tinge, glistening; stalks short, articulated

near middle. Stamens erect, with yellow or

orange anthers. Ovary with 4 ovules in each

locule; globose, white. Berry red, + 10 mm in

diameter. Figure 11.

A common and variable species of the eastern region, i.e.

southern and eastern Transvaal, Natal and eastern Cape; also

in Mozambique; habitat variable. Map 30.

This species is easy to cultivate and is therefore much used

in parks and gardens or as a pot plant. It is commonly

cultivated in Europe, and is the most successful cultivated

species in this genus. The seeds are spread by birds.

Cv. ‘Sprengeri’: When at Kew (1923-07-26), Burtt Davy

wrote the following note: “The late Dr Medley Wood informed

me that, recognizing its possible horticultural value, he sent

seeds to Sprenger (of Messrs Dammann & Co., Naples), who

propagated and distributed it and received the credit for

introducing it into cultivation (as Asparagus sprengeri Regel),

though it was really Medley Wood’s introduction’. It was also

sent to England by Thomas Cooper.

Cv. ‘Meyersii’: The cultivar Meyersii is a trade name, after

the nurseryman Meyers from East London, who introduced

this compact erect form. A strain of wild plants found in the

eastern Cape, showing a tendency to shorten their branches

were, through selection, changed to a compact cylindrical

shape. The cladodes are smaller and the raceme is reduced

to a few flowers; the red berries are borne inside the cylinder

next to the stem.

Map 30.— @ and @ Protasparagus densiflorus

A and @ P. filicladus

ASPARAGACEAE

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il, RE ag

WWF Ah hy

: G Sk.

ON ris GH) Cin}

. i}

Sa M : Ee

if | \ > (

U —S— i i SS

= . ] A » x \

. —<——_— 7 Pas iS :

: <S Mf \ \ Mia .<,

\ \N Me

\ \ \ N \, x i

\ N €

d \ Y

a OY, sc

DS" R ~

wi \

S 7 >

: << SSR

a Zz Z

A ——— du

ZEEE =< = “

a= Ne |

eS eee Legs AR

ASPARAGACEAE

Prain (1909) described the root system of the synonym

A. tetragonus as follows: ‘A. tetragonus has a rootsystem

remarkable for the large, whitish, watery, ovate tubers which

are formed along the principal roots and are calculated

to enable the plant to endure prolonged periods of drought’.

This has proved to be true; species with tuberous roots

will survive transplantation but those with plain cylindrical

roots do: not.

Vouchers: Baur sub Marloth 8729; Breyer PRE 57213;

Galpin 2094; Germishuizen 1624; Jessop 607; Pegler 1482;

Venter 914; Ward 492].

40. Protasparagus filicladus Oberm., sp.

nov. a P. conferto cladodiis multis in quoque

fasciculo differt.

Suffrutex erectus spinosus glaber + 0,6 m al-

tus, ramis longis sursum curvatis. Rhizoma

radicesque non vidi. Caules laete grisei, laeves,

internodiis brevibus et spinis brevibus acribus

recurvis sub nodis plurigemmatis. Rami ad 0,2

m longi sursum curvati fasciculos confertis

cladodiorum ferentes. Cladodia in quoque fas-

ciculo + 15—25, + 1IO—I5 mm longa curvata

laete viridia apiculata; fasciculi cladodiorum

interdum floribus paucis. Ramuli juxta ramos

positi, sed breviores, etiam sursum curvati, aphyl-

li, flores fasciculis sessilibus vel glomerulis demi-

nutis ramosis. Flores pedicellis + 3 mm longis,

parum infra medium articulatis, tepalis late

linearibus, + 2 mm longis. Stamina antheris fla-

vis. Ovarium globosum, stylo perbreve, ovulis in

quoque loculo 4. Baccam non vidi.

Type: Cape, 3126 (Queenstown): (—DD),

Fincham’s Nek, Galpin 2195 (PRE, holo.!, GRA,

iso.!).

Erect, spiny, glabrous suffrutex, + 0,6 m high,

with long branches curved upwards. Rhizome and

roots not seen. Stems pale grey, smooth with short

internodes and short, sharp, recurved spines

below multibudded nodes. Branches up to 0,2 m_

long, curved upwards, bearing cladode fascicles

placed close together. Cladodes + 15—25 in each

fascicle, + 10—15 mm long, curved, pale green,

apiculate; a few flowers occasionally present.

Branchlets placed beside branches but shorter,

also curved upwards, leafless, bearing flowers in

sessile fascicles or in reduced, branched clusters;

flowers with tepals broadly linear, + 2 mm long;

on stalks + 3 mm long, articulated just below

middle. Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary with

4 ovules in each locule; globose; topped by a very

short style. Berry not seen.

Endemic to southern and eastern Cape; in grassveld and

open savanna. Map 30.

Vouchers: Jessop 658; Oliver 8406.

41. Protasparagus confertus (Krause)

Oberm., comb. nov. Type: Namibia, Schakals-

kuppe, Engler 6764 (B, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus confertus Krause: 449 (1914); Sdlch et al.: 32

(1966).

Erect, glabrous, glaucous, very spiny, harsh

shrublets, + 1 m high. Rhizome large, woody.

Roots bearing tubers on side roots. Stems strong,

woody, with short internodes, bearing spreading

‘branches + 0,15 m long, and shorter branchlets,

all closely ribbed and distinctly papillate with

bulging, shiny cells. Spines orange brown,

exserted, + 10 mm long, becoming smaller

below branchlets, cladodes and _ flowers.

Cladodes 1—3 in a fascicle, erect, narrowly

linear, + 10-15 X 2 mm, mucronate, margin

raised, papillate. Racemes (flowering branchlets)

axillary, 1—3 in axils of branches, simple, + 50

mm long; flowers solitary or binate; tepals

persisting below berry; stalk + 4 mm long,

articulated near base. Stamens and gynoecium not

seen. Berry (when dry and wrinkled) + 7 mm

in diameter.

Occurs in western and south-western Cape and Little Karoo.

Map 31.

Vouchers: Bayer 367la; Jessop 702; Mauve 5436.

42. Protasparagus krebsianus (Kunth)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

FiGuRE 11. —Protasparagus densiflorus: 1, showing rhizome, roots and tubers, < 0,6; 2, branch with cladodes, flowers

and berries, X 1,2; 3, flower, < 3 (after Stirton 905]). Artist: R. Holcroft.

Map 31.— @ and @ Protasparagus confertus

A and @ P. krebsianus

@ P. transvaalensis

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, without precise

locality, Krebs s.n. (KIEL'; B*); Cape Province,

Komga, Flanagan 2377 (PRE, neo.!; BOL,

GRA).

Asparagopsis krebsiana Kunth: 93 (1850). Asparagus

krebsianus (Kunth) Jessop: 74 (1966) pro parte.

Asparagus racemosus vat. tetragonus auct. non Willd.:

Bak.: 624 (1875); Bak.: 269 (1896).

Erect, glabrous, spiny, glaucous shrublets

+1 m high, evergreen. Rhizome typical, hard,

woody, with tubers on side roots. Stems ribbed

when young, becoming smooth with age. Spines

sharp, exserted, + 10 mm long, present below

branches and cladode fascicles. Branches close

together, axils multibudded, bearing branchlets

and racemes. Cladodes 1—4 in a fascicle, trian-

gular in cross-section, + (l0—)IS—20 x 1-2

mm, smooth, apiculate. Racemes simple, 50—80

mm long, closely beset with solitary flowers on

short, persistent stalks and bracts, subtended by

small spines; tepals narrowly obovate, + 3 mm

long. Stamens with thin filaments and yellow

anthers. Ovary with + 6 ovules in each locule;

globose. Berry + 10 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from eastern Cape and Montague; in open veld

amongst scrub. Map 31.

Vouchers: Acocks 11145; Archibald 5488; Daly & Sole 216;

Jessop 659; Jessop 702; Schonland 1612; Van Breda & Joubert

2121.

ASPARAGACEAE

43. Protasparagus transvaalensis Oberm. ,

sp. nov. a P. krebsiano antheris purpureis et

cladodiis I1—2(3) in quoque fasciculo differt.

Frutices erecti acerbi spinosi ramosissimi

glabri + I m alti. Rhizoma typica radicibus

lateralibus tubera ferentibus. Caules veteres

lignosi + 10 mm diametro, juvenes leviter

fractiflexi internodiis brevibus leviter costati.

Spinae exsertae + 6 mm longae infra nodos

fasciculosque cladodiorum, infra flores parcae.

Rami soli vel ramis lateralibus. Ramuli multi.

Cladodia 1—2(3) in quoque fasciculo I5—30

(—50) mm longa erecta rigida filiformia. Racemi

(rami mutati) simplices, floribus solitariis vel

binatis, a spinulis parvis reflexis et bracteis

erectis amplectentibus subtentis. Perianthium

tepalis anguste obovatis albis 3 mm longis;

pedicello + 3 mm longo, basin versus articulato.

Stamina antheris atropurpureis. Ovarium ovulis

in quoque loculo 6—8; globosum brunneolum;

stylo brevissimo, stigmatibus 3 aliquantum quam

stylus longioribus. Bacca 8 mm diametro, rubra.

Type: Transvaal, 2527 (Rustenburg): (—CA),

Rietvallei Nature Reserve, Magaliesberg plateau,

between boulders, BJ. Coetzee 1461 (PRE,

holo.!). 3

Erect, harsh, spiny, much branched, glabrous

shrubs + 1 m high. Rhizome typical with side

roots bearing tubers. Old stems woody, + 10 mm

in diameter. Young stems slightly zigzagging, with

short internodes, faintly ribbed. Spines exserted,

present below nodes and cladode fascicles, + 6

mm long, small below flowers. Branches single

or flanked by side branches; branchlets nume-

rous. Cladodes 1—3 in a fascicle, erect, stiff,

filiform, 15—30(—50) mm long. Racemes

(modified branchlets) simple, flowers solitary or

binate, subtended by small, reflexed spines and

erect, clasping bracts. Perianth with tepals

narrowly obovate, 3 mm long, white; on a stalk

+ 3 mm long, articulated near base. Stamens

with dark purple anthers. Ovary with 6—8 ovules

in each locule; globose, light brown; style very

short, with 3 spreading stigmas somewhat longer

than style. Berry 8 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from Transvaal, from Rustenburg in the west to

the Blyde Nature Reserve in eastern Transvaal, common on

ASPARAGACEAE

the Magaliesberg; in rocky places, hillslopes and kranzes in

bushveld. Map 31.

Related to P. krebsianus (no. 42), an eastern Cape species,

but with longer, erect cladodes and flowers with longer

pedicels, more loosely arranged along the axis. The anthers

are dark. A shy flowerer.

Vouchers: Codd 6805; Fourie 1325; Leendertz 531; Mauve,

Reid & Smook 5379; Mogg 15103; Repton 4915; Smith 351;

Theron 813; Vahrmeijer 1263; Van Wyk 107.

44, Protasparagus schroederi (Engl.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Togo Republic, Togo, Schroe-

der 20 (B, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus schroederi Eng}.: 97 (1903).

A. wildemanii Weim.: 446 (1937), nom. nov. for A. striatus

De Wild.: 293 (1913); non A. striatus Thunb. Type: Upper

Katanga: Kakonde, Ad. Hock (BRU, holo.).

A. obermeyerae Jessop: 73 (1966). Type: Transvaal, Pieters-

burg district, near Boyne on road to Wolkberg, Mauve 4442

(PRE, holo.).

A. aspergillus sensu Jessop p.p.: 71 (1966) for specimens

cited from Namibia.

Erect, rigid, spiny shrubs 0,5—1,0 m high, from

a woody rootstock; roots with tubers on sideroots. |

Stems several, striate, the ridges bearing minute,

sharp, transparent cells, rarely smooth, brown

when young, grey with age. Spines sharp, +

5—15 mm long, patent to recurved. Branches

spreading to arcuate, + 100—200 mm long,

simple, close together, bearing overlapping

cladode fascicles; spinules present below each

fascicle. Cladodes + 3-10 per fascicle, filiform

(somewhat triangular in cross section), up to 50

mm long, turning dark when dry, deciduous,

absent at time of flowering (viz. August to

October). Flowering branchlets similar to

branches, appearing from same swollen nodes,

persisting after flowering, studded with spinules

and short pedicels. Flowers usually paired, placed

close together along branchlets; bracts mem-

branous, fimbriate, enclosing pedicels + 2 m

long, which terminate in a swollen disc below

perianth; tepals white or cream. Stamens with

somewhat swollen filaments; anthers red. Ovary

ovoid, dark, with 4 ovules in each locule. Berry

red, + 8 mm in diameter.

Recorded from northern Namibia and northern Botswana

to northern Transvaal; further north to Angola, Zimbabwe,

Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Katanga and the Cameroons. In

dry, often sandy areas. Map 32.

Vouchers: Curson 900; Gerstner 5359; Hafstrém & Acocks

197b; Merxmiiller & Giess 1517; Rodin 9356; Wright

G95.

45. Protasparagus coddii Oberm., sp. nov.

P. schroederi affinis sed caulibus et ramis erectis

paucispinosis, ramulis nullis, inflorescentiis

prope basin dispositis.

Frutices (vel chamaephyta) erecti, glabri, ad

+ 0,3 malti. Rhizoma et radices lignosi. Caules

et rami erecti, sine ramulis. Spinae paucae,

recurvatae, 3—5 mm longae, durae. Cladodia +

8—12 in quoque fasciculo, linearia, + 20 mm

longa, griseo viridis. Flores in racemis densis

brevibus prope basin plantarum; tepalis oblongis,

+ 2 mm longis; pedicellis + 5 mm longis.

Stamina antheris flavis vel aurantiacis. Ovarium

ovoideum stylo brevissimo attenuatum; stigmati-

bus 3; ovulis in quoque loculo 4. Bacca + 10 mm

diametro fulva.

Type: Natal, 2730 (Vryheid): (—CB), Knight’s

Pass, + 4 km east of Utrecht, on doleritic hill-

side, in dense bushveld vegetation, Story 1766

(PRE, holo.!).

Shrubs or chamaephytes, erect, glabrous, +

0,3 m high, flowering before cladodes develop.

Map 32.— Mi Protasparagus schroederi

A P. coddii —

@ P. aethiopicus

Rhizome compact, woody, covered by numerous

acute cataphylls. Roots (incomplete) spreading,

many, long, cylindrical, + 12 mm in diameter

with some thin side roots. Stems several, simple,

erect, placed close together, ridged, the ridges

consisting of large transparent cells. Spines few,

recurved, 3-5 mm long, hard. Cladodes + 8—12

per fascicle, linear, + 20 X< 0,5 mm, unequally

long, flat above, margin and keel with large trans-

parent cells, greyish green. Racemes near base

of plant, maturing before cladodes develop,

simple, short, dense, up to 250 mm long but

usually shorter. Flowers 2—4 per fascicle, placed

close together, subtended by minute, membranous

bracts and a small, reflexed spine; pedicels short;

tepals oblong, + 2 mm long; stalk + 5 mm long,

disc placed near or below centre. Stamens with

yellow or orange anthers. Ovary ovoid, attenuated

into a short style; ovules 4 in each locule. Berry

+ 6 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from western Natal, often in overgrazed areas

near Estcourt; in dense bushveld vegetation. Map 32.

Named after Dr L.E. Codd in appreciation of his con-

tribution to South African botany.

Vouchers: Mauve 4477; West 364; West 1167; West 1209.

46. Protasparagus aethiopicus (L.) Oberm.

in South African Journal of Botany 2: 243 (1983).

Type: Cape, without precise locality (LINN,

434.6, neo.; NBG!, PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus aethiopicus L.: 63 (1767); Willd.: 153 (1799);

Roem. & Schult.: 335 (1829); Bak.: 626 (1875); Bak.: 271

(1896); Salter: 175 (1950); Jessop: 67 (1966); Mason: t. 10,4

(1972). Asparagopsis aethiopica (L.) Kunth.: 95 (1850).

Asparagus lanceus Thunb.: 66 (1794). Asparagopsis lancea

(Thunb.) Kunth: 104 (1850). Type: without precise locality,

Thunberg s.n. (No. 8452 in UPS, PRE, microfiche!).

Asparagus sarmentosus vat. kunthii Bak.: 625 (1875). Based

on type of Asparagus lanceus. This variety is an accepted

taxon in Flora capensis 6: 270 (Bak. 1896) but is not treated

in Jessop (1966) or by Obermeyer (1983). It is placed here

by Immelman after seeing a microfiche of the type specimen.

A. tetragonus Bresler: 27 (1826). A. racemosus Willd. var.

tetragonus (Bresler) Bak.: 624 (1875); Bak.: 269 (1896). Type:

South Africa, Mund & Maire s.n. (B, holo.?).

A. racemosus var. decipiens Bak.: 269 (1896). Type: Cape

Province, on the rocks of Zwartwater Poort, Burchell 3403

(K!).

A. racemosus auct. non Willd.: Jessop: 72 (1966).

ASPARAGACEAE

? Asparagopsis subquadrangularis Kunth: 94 (1850). Type:

Mund, Maire (B"). In the PRE copy of Jessop (1966), this

name is marked ‘= aethiopicus’ by Obermeyer. It is not other-

wise dealt with by her.

Tall, woody, robust climbers up to 3 m high,

young stems twining. Rhizome compact, bearing

many long roots with side roots forming ellip-

soid tubers + 20 mm long, as well as a large

network of white, branched rootlets. Stems firm,

smooth, woody, ribbed when young, pale. Spines

short, + 10—20 mm long, exserted, recurved,

hard. Branches many, close together, fairly equal

in length, + 120 mm long; on older branches

branchlets appear from knobs above spines and

are enveloped basally by a flush of small bracts.

Cladodes 4—6 in a fascicle, terete or ridged,

10—40 mm long, 1,0—1,5 mm wide, apiculate,

discoid at the base, glaucous green. Racemes

many, placed all along the branches, from basal

side buds, usually exserted, simple or with some

short branchlets; tepals with the 3 outer perianth

segments minutely ciliate, forming a long

pericladium, white; pedicels short, subtended by

bracts, both persisting after flowers have dropped

off. Stamens with orange (or red?) anthers. Ovary

dark, contracted below; ovules 4 in each locule.

Berry red.

A common species in the Cape Province, widespread both

in western and eastern parts, but not in central Karoo or

northern Cape; usually in dry areas, shale hills, coastal bush.

Map 32.

Vouchers: Burgers 1679; Ecklon & Zeyher 8; Galpin 6419;

Goldblatt 5571; Marloth 12006; Mauve 5431; Mauve & Hugo

165; Van Breda 4499; Van Wyk & Kok 5827.

47. Protasparagus clareae Oberm.., sp. nov.

P. aethiopico affinis sed gracilior racemisque

brevibus.

Plantae scandentes altae graciles glabrae. Rhi-

zoma lignosum, radices multas + 6 mm

diametro, velamine pilorum radicalium tectas

ferens; radices laterales breves tubera ellipsoidea

+ 20 mm longa aggregata formantes. Caulis

erectus Strictus + 5 mm diametro, minute costa-

tus papillatus. Spinae breves crassae recurvatae

durae, infra cladodia absentes. Rami tenues longi

cauli similes, ramulos breves simplices ferentes,

quorum nonnulli cladodiis ad + 90 mm longis,

ASPARAGACEAE

alii racemis 30—40 mm longis. Cladodia in

quoque fasciculo + 6, filiformia + 20 mm longa

apiculata, basin obtusa, ut videtur aliquantum

3-costata siccis. Racemi 1—2 e nodo, simplices,

30—40 mm longi. Flores crebri, bracteis acumi-

natis membranaceis furvis; perianthium per-

sistens, tepalis albis anguste obovatis, 2 mm

longis, apice minute dentatis; pedicellis + 3 mm

longis, basin versus articulatis, disco annulum

pallidum faciens. Stamina antheris flavis.

Ovarium pyriforme, ovulis in quoque loculo 4;

stylo stigmatibusque brevibus. Bacca 5 mm

diametro, rubra succida.

Type: Transvaal, 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

(—CB), 6 km from Burgersfort on road to Ohrig-

stad, in thicket on N side of road, near river,

Mauve, Reid & Smook 5413 (PRE, holo.).

Tall, slender climbers. Rhizome woody, bear-

ing numerous, long roots, + 6 mm in diameter,

covered by a velamen of root hairs; side roots

short, swollen to form ellipsoid, pointed tubers

+ 20 mm long, placed close together. Stem erect,

straight, + 5 mm in diameter, minutely ribbed

and papillate. Spines short, thick, recurved, hard, —

absent below cladodes. Branches thin, long, simi-

lar to stem, bearing short, simple branchlets,

some of these bearing cladodes and up to + 90

mm long, others the simple racemes. Cladodes

in fascicles of + 6, filiform, appearing somewhat

3-ribbed when pressed, + 10 mm long, apicu-

late, base obtuse. Racemes 1 or 2 from a node,

simple, 30—40 mm long. Flowers closely placed;

bracts acuminate, membranous, dark; perianth

persistent, tepals white, narrowly obovate, 2 mm

long, apex minutely dentate; stalks + 3 mm long,

articulated near base, the disc forming a pale ring.

Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary pyriform,

ovules 4 in each cell, style and stigmas short.

Berry 5 mm in diameter, red, juicy.

Recorded from eastern Transvaal in the Olifants River val-

ley, and in the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve; in succu-

lent bushveld. Map 33. |

The type plants were dug out in August, after the dry winter

months. It was seen that many of the root tubers were ‘empty’

husks, the fluid having been absorbed by the plant. Named

for Clare Reid, of the National Botanical Institute, Pretoria,

who loves plants.

Vouchers: Obermeyer & Verdoorn 22; Reid PRE 672543;

Viljoen 159.

Map 33.—® Protasparagus clareae

A P. aggregatus

@ P. natalensis

48. Protasparagus aggregatus Oberm., sp.

nov. a P. natalensi fasciculis cladodiorum in

dimidio supero ramulorum brevium aggregatis in-

florescentiisque parvioribus compactioribus sine

cladodiis interspersis differt.

Plantae scandentes ad 3 m altae. Caulis glaber.

Spinae reflexae, breves. Rami et ramuli juniori

laxe dispositi, minute papillati. Cladodia in

dimidio supero ramulorum aggregata, anguste

linearia, + 15—20 x 1,5 mm, apiculata. Racemi

compositi ad 50 mm longi. Flores 1—3, fasci-

culati, bracteis membranaceis ad basin spiniferis;

tepala oblonga, + 3 mm longa. Stamina flava.

Ovarium ovulis in quoque loculo 6; ovoideum.

Bacca ignota.

Type: Transvaal, 2327 (Ellisras): (—DC), near

Elmeston, 41,5 miles from Vaalwater on Ellisras

road, mixed bushveld on rocky soil, Meeuse &

Strey 10430 (PRE, holo.).

Scandent, up to 3 m high. Stems smooth, grey,

bearing short, reflexed spines. Young branches

and branchlets widely spaced, minutely papillate

and somewhat ridged when young. Cladodes ag-

gregated in upper half of short branchlets, flat,

narrowly linear, + 15—20 x 1,5 mm, apiculate,

drying a dark grey. Inflorescence a compound

raceme, + 50 mm long. Flowers in fascicles of

1—3, subtended by a membranous bract bearing

a small spine below; tepals oblong, + 3 mm long,

smooth and obtuse above, cream. Stamens yel-

low. Ovary with ovules 6 in each locule; ovoid;

attenuated into 3 short stigmas. Berry not seen.

Occurs in northern Transvaal; in mixed bushveld, on dry

sandy soil or rocky hillslopes. Map 33.

Related to P. natalensis (no. 49) but with the cladodes

aggregated in upper half of the short branchlets; the inflores-

cence is smaller, more compact and without interspersed

cladodes.

Vouchers: Du Toit 798; Du Toit 886; Krijt 73; Schlieben

& Hartmann 12026; Werdermann & Oberdieck 1774.

49. Protasparagus natalensis (Bak.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Natal, Inanda, Medley Wood

1351 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!, NH, iso.!).

Asparagus aethiopicus L. var. natalensis Bak.: 272 (1896).

A. aethiopicus L. var. ternifolius auct. non Bak. (1871): Jessop:

70 (1966).

Tall, evergreen, glabrous climbers or forming

a suffrutex in the open. Rhizome bearing long

roots with tubers on side roots. Stems woody, pale

grey, striate when young, becoming smooth with

age; nodes thick, bearing spines, branches and

branchlets. Spines small, exserted, present below

branches, branchlets, cladode fascicles and flower

fascicles. Branches and branchlets fairly short.

Cladodes on branches, 1—4 per fascicle, persis-

tent, linear, + 20 < 2 mm, apiculate, base nar-

rowed into a discoid foot, firm, bright dark green,

usually turning dark when dry. Inflorescences

(flowering branchlet) long, compound or reduced

to simple racemes, often with some cladodes

present. Flower fascicles subtended by a small

spine and small membranous bracts; outer tepals

ciliate, white; stalk stout with a large

membranous frilled disc in lower half. Stamens

with yellow or pale orange anthers. Ovary with

6—8 ovules in each locule; globose; style and

stigmas short. Berry red or orange.

Occurs in eastern Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal, and possibly

also in southern and eastern Cape; also in Mozambique and

further north; in dry bushveld, common where found. Map 33.

Vouchers: Acocks 12936; Compton 30323; Fourie 2075;

Gerstner 2421; Gush 30; Strey 11335; Vahrmeijer 431; Van

der Schijff 1130; Ward 4452; Zambatis 287.

ASPARAGACEAE

50. Protasparagus angusticladus (Jessop)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Transvaal, Middelburg district,

Olifants River Gorge, Mogg 22470 (PRE, holo.!).

Asparagus aethiopicus L. var. angusticladus Jessop: 69

(1966). |

Tall, glabrous climbers up to 3 m high,

spreading in upper branches of trees, deciduous.

Roots with tuberous side roots. Stems terete,

+10 mm in diameter below, mottled grey,

smooth. Spines short, patent-recurved, longer

and swollen near base of stem, up to 20 mm long,

upper progressively smaller, present (but minute)

below flowers. Branches twining, slightly zigzag-

ging; branchlets thin, fairly short,.+ 80 mm

long, bearing cladodes and/or flowers. Cladodes

deciduous, 1—3 per fascicle, narrowly linear,

slightly curved, + 40-50 X< 1 mm, margin

minutely beaded with transparent cells. Racemes

appearing before cladodes, compound, + 300—

400 mm long, irregularly branched, young

branchlets angled and beaded. Flowers solitary

or in fascicles of 2—4, on short side branchlets;

with spreading oblong tepals, + 3 mm long,

white; stalk + 4 mm long, articulated near base.

Stamens with red anthers. Ovary with 4 ovules

in each locule; ovoid; style and stigmas short.

Berry + 8 mm in diameter, red, shiny.

Recorded from Transvaal, common around the Witwaters-

rand and Pretoria areas, Swaziland, Natal and eastern Cape

(Hogsback); also from neighbouring Mozambique territory;

in bushveld. Map 34.

Vouchers: Codd 10268; Coetzee 258; Compton 28002;

. Kluge 1305; Mogg 19574; Roberts TM 15839; Thode A250.

51. Protasparagus aspergillus (Jessop)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Transvaal, Letaba district,

Birthday Gold Mine, Breyer TM 19063 (PRE,

holo.!).

Asparagus aspergillus Jessop: 71 (1966) p.p. excl. Namibia

specimens.

Slender, erect or twining shrubs up to 2 m

high, leafless when flowering. Rhizome and

roots unknown. Stems grey, finely striate with

minute, conical, transparent papillae. Branches

from nodes with multiple buds, annual (or

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 34.— @ and @ Protasparagus angusticladus

A and @ P. aspergillus

@ P. crassicladus

biennial?). Cladodes hysteranthous, in fascicles

of + 4, subtended by a small, narrowly linear

bract, + 20—30 x 0,5 mm, with an indistinct

keel. Flowering stems 300—500 mm long, naked,

with 1—3 short simple racemes from each node;

racemes compact, + 20—30 mm long; basal

spine small, bracts small, semiovoid, apiculate,

fringed, shiny brown; tepals + 3 mm long, white;

pedicels 1,5 mm long, articulated at apex; disc

swollen, flat. Stamens with filiform filaments and

blackish purple anthers. Berry 6 mm in diameter,

dark. |

Recorded from northern and eastern Transvaal; also from

Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi; in bushveld areas.

Map 34.

Vouchers: Breyer TM 21592; Brynard & Pienaar 4488;

Curson 900; De Winter & Giess 7053; Rodin 9356; Rogers

19418; Van der Schijff 518; Van Wyk 5562.

52. Protasparagus crassicladus (Jessop)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Uniondale

district, Kouga, Esterhuysen 4670 (BOL, holo.!).

Asparagus crassicladus Jessop: 75 (1966).

Scandent or spreading, somewhat coarse

shrublets up to 2 m high. Rhizome broad, flat,

hard, woody. Roots cylindrical, somewhat

swollen, pale; side roots forming fusiform tubers.

Stems stout, glabrous with age, bearing raised,

short, recurved spines. Branches short, somewhat

spreading, zigzagging, densely and minutely

pubescent when young, greyish, bearing sessile

cladode fascicles or these placed on branchlets.

Cladodes curved, up to + 25 mm long and 1 mm

in diameter, oval in cross section, succulent,

apiculate, base discoid, placed on a semiglobose

torus, covered by circular pads. Flowering

branchlets 1—several, arising next to cladode-

branchlets, thin, minutely pustulate, drying

black, bearing sessile and pedunculate flower

fascicles. Flowers obconical in bud, subtended

by membranous bracts; tepals narrowly ovate, +

3 mm long, yellow or cream. Stamens with small

anthers. Ovary with 4 ovules in each locule;

ovoid; style short with 3 short spreading stigmas.

Berry not seen.

Recorded from the eastern Cape, near Port Elizabeth,

Uitenhage and Bathurst, often collected in the Great Fish River

areas. In dry bushveld areas or succulent scrub. Map 34.

As in P. mucronatus (no. 25), P. stellatus (no. 58) and

P. microrhaphis (no. 57), the cladode bases are discoid and

fit onto raised pads on the torus.

~ Vouchers: Bayliss 6332; Hall-Martin 5745; Jacot Guillar-

mod & Brink 8; Jessop 617; Jessop 631; Jessop 639; Repton

5674; Smook 3841; Werdermann & Oberdieck 1045.

53. Protasparagus acocksii (Jessop)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Cradock

district, + 18 km north-north-east of Fish River

Station, Acocks 16296 (PRE, holo.!).

Asparagus acocksii Jessop: 74, t. 7 (1966).

Large, shrubby plants or scandent, up to 3 m

high but short and compact in south-eastern

Cape. Rhizome not seen; roots tuberous (fide

Reid). Stems more or less straight, becoming

furrowed with age, + 10 mm in diameter, lower

nodes with swollen buds bearing short, broad,

recurved spines and swollen bracts. Young bran-

ches shortly and densely pubescent, glabrous

with age, the flaking dry white skin stippled with

minute black dots. Spines present below

branches, branchlets and cladode fascicles, short,

broad, hard, patent, acute, + 10 mm long,

decreasing in size up the plant. Cladodes vary-

ing in size and number, numerous (up to 40) in

a fascicle, filiform, curved, apiculate, + 5 mm

long in typical form, but up to 35 mm long in

Zululand form. Flowers in short, simple or com-

plex, branched, delicate racemes, drying black,

contemporary with cladodes, strongly scented;

tepals spreading, narrowly obovate, + 3 mm

long, attenuated into a long pericladium, white;

stalk thin, + 5 mm long, articulated near base.

Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary with + 4

ovules in each locule; ovoid; style very short with

3 short spreading stigmas. Berries + 6 mm in

diameter.

Recorded from eastern Cape and, disjunctly, in Zululand

and eastern Transvaal. There is also a rather dubious locality

in the far south of Namibia. The southern (typical) form is _

more xerophytic with shorter cladodes; the subtropi-

cal form is a large shrub or climber with cladodes up to 35

mm long and with more complex racemes. Usually in

bushveld or savanna, occasionally in grassveld or where

overgrazed. Flowering October to January and March. Map

35.

Vouchers: Drége PRE 3164; Pooley 115; Reid 491; Ward

4522; Young A6I6.

54. Protasparagus setaceus (Kunth)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: ‘Drége, Herb. no. 8584, cn.s.

in Herb. reg. Berol. et Luc’ (B'; KIEL, lecto.;

PRE, photo.!).

Asparagopsis setacea Kunth: 82 (1850). Asparagus setaceus

(Kunth) Jessop: 51 (1966), proparte excl. A. plumosus Bak.

-Map 35.—Protasparagus acocksii

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 36.—Protasparagus setaceus

Asparagus declinatus auct. non L. (which is Myrsiphyllum

declinatum): Bak.: 609 (1875); Bak.: 261 (1896).

Asparagus conglomeratus Bak.: 176 (1904); non Bak. (1898)

(which is PR. cooperi). Type: Natal, Durban, Conrath 91]

(GZU, holo.!; PRE, photo.).

Asparagus plumosus auct. non Bak.: Jessop: 51 (1966).

Evergreen perennial, erect or usually scandent, ©

up to 2 m high, glabrous. Rhizome compact, woo-

dy; roots with swellings when young, spreading.

Stems woody, smooth, bearing a few basal, short,

hard spines, nonspinous above; with numerous

spreading, loosely twining branches. Branchlets

short, bearing numerous overlapping, glabrous

cladode fascicles. Cladodes numerous in each

fascicle, filiform, up to 15 mm long with age,

soft, shiny. Flowers solitary in centre of apical

cladode fascicle, placed on a small disc, sur-

rounded by a few small, membranous bracts;

tepals narrowly obovate, 3 mm long, white.

Stamens with flattened filaments and yellow

anthers. Ovary with + 4 ovules in each locule;

obovoid; style short, stigmas 3. Berry + 5 mm

in diameter, black. |

Occurs from southern Botswana, Transvaal, O.F.S. and

Natal to southern Cape (Riversdale area); also in tropical

Africa; in undergrowth in moist, humus-rich soil. Not

common. Map 36.

Vouchers: Codd 5283; Compton 24851; Devenish 1297;

Jantjies 20; Netshiungani 776; Pott Leendertz 4689; Schlechter

6693; Verdoorn 52.

ASPARAGACEAE

55. Protasparagus plumosus (Bak. ) Oberm.

in South African Journal of Botany 2: 244 (1983).

Syntypes: Natal, Port Natal [Durban], Drége

4482 (K, syn., PRE, photo.!); Cape Province,

British Kaffraria, Cooper 202, partly (K, syn.,

PRE, photo.!); Natal, Gerrard & M’Ken 754

(TCD). |

Asparagus plumosus Bak.: 613 (1875); Bak.: 260 (1896).

Asparagopsis setacea auct. non Kunth: Jessop: 51 (1966)

(as Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop).

Scandent, evergreen perennial with branches,

branchlets and cladodes spreading in one plane,

attenuated to a point above, as side branches and

branchlets decrease in size. Rhizome typical, with

terete roots. Stems often stoloniferous; twining

above. Cladodes + 12 in compressed fascicles,

_ spreading on both sides of branches and branch-

lets, terete, glabrous, shiny, dark green. Flowers

apical, in centre of upper cladode fascicle, sur-

_ rounded at base by a circle of small, membranous

bracts; tepals narrowly oblong, + 3 mm long,

white; stalk 2—3 mm long, articulated near base.

Stamens with thin filaments and yellow anthers.

Ovary with ovules + 6 in each locule; obovoid;

style and stigmas short; Berry red, + 4 mm in

diameter, perianth persistent.

Recorded from eastern Cape, Natal and Transvaal; to

tropical East Africa. Naturalized in Mauritius, tropical West

Africa and elsewhere. Usually undergrowth in shade of forests,

occasionally in open grassveld, frequently recorded from dune

forest. Often found growing wild in gardens as birds distribute

the berries. Cultivated for decorative purposes. Map 37.

Vouchers: Balsinhas 3189; Gerstner 6023; Pegler 345; Ross

& Moll 2287; Spies 647; Strey 9843; Symons 40.

56. Protasparagus nodulosus Oberm. .,-sp.

nov. P. setaceo affinis sed pubescens et caulibus

versus basin nodulosis.

Planta scandens caulibus minute tomentosis

pilis albis erectis cladodibus tenuibus obscure

viridibus, fundo caulis nodoso. Rhizoma ligno-

sum durum radicibus teretibus. Caules infra

umbonibus (bases veteres tumidae spinarum)

furvis + 4 mm diametro, spinae juniores ex-

sertae breves acuminatae. Rami multi, erecto-

patentes, obscure virides, pubescentes, ramulis

Map 37.—Protasparagus plumosus

multis brevibus glabris cladodia tenuia graciles

+ 5 mm longa in fasciculis semicircularibus

crebris ferentibus. Flores baccasque non vidi.

Type: Transvaal, 2231 (Pafuri): (-AD), Kruger

National Park, north-eastern corner, junction of

Pafuri and Motala Rivers, Jeppe PRE 616449

-(PRE, holo.).

Plant scandent. Rhizome woody, hard; roots

terete. Stems minutely tomentose with erect,

white hairs, knobbed below, the dark knobs (old

swollen spine bases) + 4 mm in diameter,

younger spines exserted, short, sharp. Branches

numerous, spreading-erect, pubescent, dull

green; branchlets numerous, short, glabrous.

Cladodes fine, thin, + 5 mm long, in dense semi-

circular fascicles. Flowers and berries not seen.

Recorded from northern Transvaal, northern Namibia,

northern Botswana and northern Cape; also from Zimbabwe

and Zambia. Usually in woodland or bush, often near rivers.

Map 38.

Vouchers: Banks 62; Biegel & Russell 3840; Guy 80/64;

Loeb 255; Pole Evans 1459; Pole Evans 1691; Van Son TM

28668.

57. Protasparagus microrhaphis (Kunth)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Queenstown,

Drége 3534 (BOL, lecto.!).

Asparagopsis microrhaphis Kunth: 83 (1850). Asparagus

microrhaphis (Kunth) Bak.: 612 (1875); Bak.: 262 (1896);

Jessop: 61 (1966).

ASPARAGACEAE

FiGuRE 12.—Protasparagus microrhaphis: 1, cladode,

4, apex of cladode, X 240 (after Bruce 369).

Dome-shaped shrub + 1 m high, evergreen.

Rhizome typical with sharp cataphylls; roots

cylindrical, woody. Stems erect, ribbed, pale

grey. Spines exserted, thin, sharp, + 4 mm long,

reduced to absent above. Branches spreading,

bearing numerous branchlets covered by cladode

fascicles. Cladodes numerous in each fascicle,

glabrous or rarely with a few apical setae, cylin-

drical, + 2—4 mm long, apiculate, narrowed at

base into an obtuse disc, together with the others

of the fascicle placed on a pale, circular recep-

tacle (Figure 12). Flowers solitary, pendulous,

XxX 36; 2, setae on cladode, x 120; 3, base of cladode, x 240;

placed beside a cladode fascicle; perianth with

tepals + 4 mm long, cream with a salmon or

green centre stripe; flower stalk with disc near

base. Stamens fairly long. Ovary with 6—8 ovules

in each locule; ovoid; style short with 3 short

spreading stigmas. Berry + 7 mm in diameter,

orange. Figure 8.

Recorded from south-eastern Transvaal, O.F.S., Natal,

Lesotho and eastern Cape; montane, in humid rocky places

and mountain slopes. Map 38.

Vouchers: Devenish 1844; Devenish 1846; Galpin 2169;

Schmitz 8336; Symons 38; Trauseld 857.

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 38.— ™@ Protasparagus nodulosus

A P. microrhaphis

P. stellatus

58. Protasparagus stellatus (Bak. ) Oberm. ,

comb. nov.

Asparagus stellatus Bak.: 612 (1875). Types: Cape Province,

‘Albert Div’, Cooper 622 (K, syn., PRE, photo.!); Cape

Province, Aliwal North, Witteberge, Drége 8589 (K, syn.,

PRE, photo.!).

A. microrhaphis auct. non (Kunth) Oberm.: Jessop: 61

(1966).

Shrublets up to 2,5 m high, evergreen. Rhizome

and roots not seen. Stems erect, ribbed, minutely

pubescent, pale to dark grey with age. Spines

thin, sharp, + 6 mm long, recurved, absent

above. Branches bearing numerous branchlets

closely beset with rounded cladode fascicles.

Cladodes obovoid, with some setae, + 1 mm

long, apiculate above, narrowed into a flat disc;

together with other cladodes of the fascicle placed

on a circular receptacle. Flowers solitary, pen-

dulous, beside a cladode fascicle; tepals + 4mm

long; flower stalk with disc near base. Stamens

typical. Ovary with + 10 ovules in each locule;

ovoid. Berry not seen.

Recorded from Lesotho and eastern Cape; montane, in

rocky places and on mountain slopes. Map 38.

Vouchers: Dieterlen 1374; Hilliard & Burtt 6728; Miiller

707; Staples 36; Stretton 65.

59. Protasparagus concinnus (Bak.) Oberm.

& Immelman, comb. et stat. nov. Type: Cape

Province, Pearston, lower part of Bruintjies

Hoogte, Burchell 3020 (K, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagus africanus Lam. var. concinnus Bak.: 619 (1875).

A. concinnus (Bak.) Kies: 178 (1951b).

Small shrub up to 1 m high, erect stems from

a hard rhizome. Stems clearly ribbed, minutely

pubescent or glabrous, with recurved spines up

to + 5 mm long along whole length. Branches

single from nodes, usually shallowly zigzagging,

with short spines; branchlets multinoded, bear-

ing numerous cladode fascicles. Cladodes appear

to be perennial, fascicles each with (8—)12—16

cladodes, these more or less equal in length, 4—9

mm long, triangular in cross section. Flowers

inside cladode fascicles, 1 or 2(3) per fascicle;

tepals + 3 mm long, creamy white; stalks

recurved, articulated in lower part, 4-6 mm

long. Stamens with linear filaments, colour

not recorded. Berry + 6 mm in diameter, red.

Figure 8.

Southern Transvaal, Lesotho, south-western O.F.S. and

eastern Cape; growing on hillsides in grassland. Map 39.

The original text for this species was either mislaid or never

written, but it is quite clear from its inclusion in the key and

from determinations on specimens that Obermeyer intended

it to be published as a distinct species. This description

has therefore been compiled from those specimens in

PRE determined and labelled by her as P. concinnus. The

_ Map 39.— MM Protasparagus concinnus

A P. macowanii

@ P. fouriei

distribution and voucher specimens have also been taken from

these specimens. It is unfortunately not possible to know what

synonymy and literature she intended to include under P. con-

cinnus. The photograph of the type specimen is in PRE and

therefore would certainly have been seen by her.

Vouchers: Bayer 4582; Bayer 4632; Devenish 1844; Drews

168; Kies 339.

60. Protasparagus macowanii (Bak.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Cape Province, Albany, Zeyher

879 (K, lecto.!; BOL, iso.!).

Asparagus macowanii Bak.: 609 (1875); Jessop: 57 (1966).

A. zuluensis N.E. Br.: 283 (1912). A. macowanii Bak. var.

zuluensis (N.E. Br.) Jessop: 58 (1966). Type: Natal, Zululand,

Medley Wood 11969 (K, holo.; NH, iso.!).

Erect, glabrous shrub 1—2 m high, seeking

support when very tall. Rhizome woody with

many swollen main roots clustered around it.

Stems smooth with short recurved spines below,

spines suppressed above. Branches 1—several

from an enlarged node, spreading, bearing

numerous short branchlets terminating in globose

cladode fascicles (often from twin _ buds).

Cladodes + 50 in a fascicle, more or less equal

in size, + 15 mm long, deciduous, surrounded

at base by 2 or 3 ovate, membranous bracts, pale

green. Flowers profuse, in fascicles on young

branches, usually appearing before cladodes are

fully developed; tepals oblong, + 3 mm long,

white; stalk + 5 mm long, articulated in lower

half. Stamens with linear filaments and yellow

anthers. Ovary with + 4 ovules in each locule;

attenuate below; style and stigmas short. Berry

probably + 12 mm in diameter.

Recorded from southern and eastern Cape, Natal (common

in the Hlabisa district) and eastern Transvaal; also in Mozam-

bique; near rivers or in shady moist places. Flowering

September to November. Map 39.

Introduced into horticulture as it has good lasting qualities

and is very attractive.

Vouchers: Dyer & Verdoorn 5832; Galpin 2504; Tyson 1878;

Van der Schijff 3982; Venter 2142; Ward 4379.

61. Protasparagus fouriei Oberm.., sp. nov.

P. sekukuniensis affinis sed erecta, cladodiis

papillatis-costatis.

ASPARAGACEAE

Frutices erecti ad I m alti, caulibus clado-

diisque minute papillato-costatis. Rhizoma typi-

cum, radicibus lateralibus tuberiferis. Caules

pauci erecti griseoli, spinis infra ramos

ramulosque et fasciculos cladodiorum florumque.

Rami satis breves, adscendentes, ramulis

Jasciculos cladodiorum ferentes. Cladodia erecta,

in quoque fasciculo 2—6, filiformia 6-angulata

+ 20 X I mm, subcurvata, costis papillatis.

Flores in racemo composito nudo sine cladodiis,

vel in ramulis infra fasciculis cladodiorum supra

spinam plerumque 2 vel 3 in fasciculis divergen-

tibus; tepala anguste oblonga, + 5 mm longa,

apice obtuso, breve dentata, exteriora recurvata;

pedicello + 2 mm longo, supra discoideo, ad

fundum attenuatum discoideum perianthii affixo.

Stamina basin versus tepalorum inserta, antheris

grandis (1,5 mm) atropurpureis. Ovarium

globosum, ovulis in quoque loculo 8; stylo breve

stigmatibus 3 brevibus. Bacca + 10 mm diametro,

viridis vel rubra.

Type: Transvaal, 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

(—AD), Penge, on a small dolomite hill (NW)

in closed woodland, in gritty, sandy loam, Fourie

3114 (PRE, holo.).

Erect shrubs + 1 m high; stems and cladodes

minutely papillate-ribbed. Rhizome typical, side

roots with tubers. Stems few, erect, greyish.

Spines present below branches, branchlets,

cladode fascicles and flower fascicles. Branches

fairly short, ascending; branchlets bearing

cladode fascicles. Cladodes erect, 2—6 in a fas-

cicle, 6-angled, + 20 xX 1 mm, somewhat

curved. Flowers white, in a compound, bare

raceme without cladodes, or placed along branch-

lets below cladode fascicle and above spine,

usually 2 or 3 in divergent fascicles; tepals

narrowly oblong, + 5 mm long, apex obtuse,

shallowly dentate, outer tepals recurved; pedicel

+ 2 mm long, discoid above, attached to atte-

nuate discoid base of perianth. Stamens attached

to tepals below, bearing large (1,5 mm) dark

purple anthers. Ovary with 8 ovules in each

locule; globose; style short with 3 short stigmas.

Berry with 4 ovules in each locule, + 10 mm in

diameter, green to red.

ASPARAGACEAE

Recorded from dolomite koppies near Penge Mine (eastern

Transvaal); in mixed bushveld. Map 39.

Vouchers: Codd 10569; Fourie 3/20; Fourie 3100.

62. Protasparagus sekukuniensis Oberm.,

sp. nov. P. fouriei affinis sed scandens, cladodi-

isque glabris.

Planta scandens ad 2 m alta. Rhizoma radi-

cesque non vidi. Caules subfractiflexi, copiose

ramificantes, glabri costati. Spinae (saltem

veteres inferiores) recurvatae latae breves. Rami

ramulique laxe fractiflexi, cladodia erecta, spina

parva subtenta ferentes. Cladodia in quoque

fasciculo 3—4, glabra plus minusve erecta, filifor-

mia, + 25—30 mm longa, laevia. Racemi (rami

mutati), 5}O—60 mm longi crebri ramulis sursum

curvatis fasciculos florum ferentibus, bracteis

membranaceis infra in spinam parvam terminan-

tibus subtentis. Perianthium tepalis oblongis +

3 mm longis apice obtuso breve eroso. Stamina

antheris linearibus flavis + 1 mm longis. Ovar-

ium globosum, ovulis in quoque loculo 4; in sty-

lum brevem stigmaque obtusum 3-lobatum

attenuatum. Bacca 10 mm diametro, rubra.

Type: Transvaal, 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

(—CA), Driekop, farm Driekop, on lower hills

of Lulu mountains, on rosite rocks, Mogg & Bar-

nard 602b (PRE, holo.!); Barnard 201 (PRE).

Scandent, up to 2 m high. Rhizome and roots

not seen. Stems somewhat zigzagging, branching

freely, glabrous, ribbed. Spines (viz. older ones

below), recurved, broad, short. Branches and

branchlets laxly zigzagging, bearing erect

cladodes subtended by a small spine. Cladodes

in fascicles of 3 or 4, glabrous, more or less erect,

filiform, + 25—30 mm long. Racemes (modi-

fied branches) 50—80 mm long, dense, with

numerous upcurved side branchlets bearing

flower clusters, subtended by membranous bracts

ending in a small spine below. Perianth with

tepals + 3 mm long, apex obtuse and shallowly

erose. Stamens with linear yellow anthers + 1

mm long. Ovary with ovules 4 in each cell;

globose; attenuated into a short style and obtuse,

3-lobed stigma. Berry + 10 mm in diameter, red.

Map 40.— ® Protasparagus sekukuniensis

A and @ P. biflorus

@ and @ P. minutiflorus

Known from only one locality, where it was recorded as

frequent, by WG. Barnard 201, on the farm Driekop, on the

lower hills of the Lulu Mountains (eastern Transvaal). Used

medicinally by the local population. Map 40.

Related to P. fouriei (no. 61) but scandent and the cladodes

- with a smooth epidermis. It produces a similar type of

inflorescence in which a side branch has been converted into

a compound flower cluster.

Vouchers: types only.

63. Protasparagus biflorus Oberm., sp.

nov. a P. minutifloro floribus geminatis pedun-

culatis differt.

Frutices erecti non spinosi habitu ‘caudae vul-

pinae’, ad + 0,45 m alti 45 mm lati. Rhizoma

et radices non vidi. Caulis ramis crebris brevibus

+ 10—20 mm longis ad angulum 90° patentibus

in fasciculo globoso cladodiorum terminantibus.

Cladodia in quoque fasciculo + 50 vel ultra,

filiformes, usque ad I5 mm longa, laete viridia, in

disco basali parvo superposita. Flores geminati

intra ‘caudam vulpinam’ tecti, ad nodos juxta

ramos ramulosque; perianthium fortasse cam-

paniforme, tepalis 2 mm longis albis; pedunculo

1,5—3 mm longo, pedicellis geminis + 1 mm

longis, uterque bractea elongata triangulari tec-

ta. Stamina typica antheris flavis. Ovarium ovu-

lis aliquot in quoque loculo; ovoideum; stylo

breve. Bacca + 5 mm diametro.

Type: Natal, 2732 (Ubombo): (—CB), Mkuzi

Game Reserve, Gerstner 4597 (PRE, holo.).

Erect, spineless shrubs of ‘fox-tail habit’, up

to 0,45 m high and 45 mm wide. Rhizome and

roots not seen. Stems with branches placed close

together, short, + 10—20 mm long, spreading at

right angles from stem, terminating in a globose

cladode fascicle. Cladodes + 50 or more in each

fascicle, filiform, up to 15 mm long, pale green,

placed on a small, basal disc. Flowers in pairs

hidden inside “fox-tail’ at nodes, beside branches

and branchlets; perianth possibly bell-shaped;

tepals 2 mm long, white; peduncle 1,5—3,0 mm

long; twin pedicels + 1 mm long, each covered

by an elongate, triangular bract. Stamens typical,

anthers yellow. Ovary ovoid; style short; ovules

several per locule. Berry + 5 mm in diameter.

Recorded from northern Zululand and southern Swaziland;

on mountain slopes in dry bushveld. Flowering in spring. Map

40.

This species is related to P. minutiflorus (no. 64) but the

twin flowers, placed on a peduncle, are an unusual character.

Like P. stellatus (no. 58), P. microrhaphis (no. 57) and P.

mucronatus (no. 25), the base of the cladode forms a flat disc

which is placed on a semiglobose, white, apical torus. These

apical knobs are very characteristic on the old, bare branches.

Vouchers: Bayliss 3449; Gerstner 4597; Prosser 1972.

64. Protasparagus minutiflorus (Kunth)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

244 (1983). Type: Mozambique, Delagoa Bay,

Forbes s.n. (B, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Asparagopsis minutiflora Kunth: 89 (1850). Asparagus

minutiflorus (Kunth) Bak.: 616 (1875); Bak.: 263 (1896);

Jessop: 63 (1966).

Erect shrubs of ‘fox-tail’ habit, + 0,3—0,5 m

high, with stems, branches and cladodes bearing

scabrid ridges. Rhizome producing several stems,

woody, with long, spreading roots forming

lateral, globose tubers. Stems enveloped by short,

ascending branches and branchlets. Spines

exserted, often curved upwards, variable in size,

up to + 8 mm long. Cladodes + 10 ina fascicle,

stellately arranged, thin, filiform, 3-angled, up

to 10 mm long, apiculate, base obtuse. Flowers

solitary or binate, borne along branches and

branchlets at or near stem; tepals + 2 mm long,

ASPARAGACEAE

white; stalk + 2 mm long, disc near base.

Stamens with orange or yellow anthers. Ovary

+ 1 mm long; with a short style; + 4 ovules in

each locule. Berry + 7 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from eastern Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and

Zululand; also from southern Mozambique; in mopane veld,

open thorn bushveld, and on stony hillsides. Map 40.

Vouchers: Codd 10296; Codd & Dyer 4694; Compton

30940; Nel 5524; Pooley 1486; Thorncroft 3006b; Ward 4529.

65. Protasparagus rigidus (Jessop) Oberm.

in South African Journal of Botany 2: 244 (1983).

Type: Transvaal, Mariepskop, Killick & Strey

2380 (PRE, holo.!).

Asparagus rigidus Jessop: 64 (1966).

Erect, dense shrubs with ‘fox-tail’ habit, + 0,5

m high, bearing coarse, prickly, dark green

cladodes. Rhizome typical; main roots with tube-

rous swellings near rhizome. Spines minute.

Branches short, ascending, overlapping, with

branchlets strongly ridged, somewhat zigzagging.

Cladodes usually in clusters of 3, the apical

cluster of + 6 cladodes, divaricate, stellate

(Figure 13), sharply 3-ribbed, straight, + 10 mm

long, ribs with prominent, large cells, apex pun-

gent and brown, base broad and flat. Flowers on

short peduncles, in clusters of 3, rarely in clusters

of 5 or 6, with dark small bracts below; tepals

oblong, + 4 mm long; stalk articulated in lower

half. Stamens with yellow anthers. Ovary with

+ 3 or 4 ovules in each locule; obovoid. Berry

+ 8 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from eastern Transvaal; montane, in rocky ledges.

Flowering in November. Map 41.

Vouchers: Codd & De Winter 3313; Fourie 931; Kluge 1875;

McNeil PRE 36485; Rogers 21982; Van der Schijff 5589.

66. Protasparagus striatus (L.f.) Oberm. in

South African Journal of Botany 2::244 (1983).

Type: Cape of Good Hope, without precise

locality, Thunberg s.n. (UPS, no. 8463, holo.;

PRE, photo.!).

Dracaena striata L.f.: 204 (1781); Roem. & Schult.: 346

(1829) as D. stricta. Asparagus striatus (L.f.) Thunb.: 65

(1794); Bak.: 621 (1875); Bak.: 267 (1896); Jessop: 76 (1966).

Myrsiphyllum striatum (L.f.) Kunth: 110 (1850).

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 41.— @ Protasparagus rigidus

A P. striatus

D. erecta L.f.: 204 (1781); Roem. & Schult.: 346 (1829).

Asparagus erectus (L.f.) Thunb.: 65 (1794); Bak.: 621 (1875);

Bak.: 267 (1896). M. erectum (L.f.) Kunth: 109 (1850).

Syntypes: Cape of Good Hope, without precise locality,

Thunberg s.n. (UPS, nos. 8444, 8445, holo.; PRE, photos!).

A. striatus var. linearifolius Bak.: 622 (1875); Bak.: 268

(1896). Syntypes: Cap. bon. spei, Thunberg s.n.; Burchell

1570; Zeyher 480; Ecklon, Smilac. No. 6; Drége 8465a; Bolus

576.

A. striatus var. dregei Bak.: 622 (1875); Bak.: 268 (1896).

Type: Cap. bon. spei, Drége 8565.

A. striatus var. zeyheri Bak.: 268 (1896). Type: Cape

Province, Uitenhage div., Zeyher, Asparagus No. 6.

A. engleri Krause: 450 (1914). Type: Namibia, Great Karas-

berg, Engler 665] (B, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

Erect, xerophytic, stiff, branched, glabrous or

minutely papillose green shrublets, + 0,3—0,6

m high. Rhizome typical; root system extensive,

lateral root tubers may be present (Figure 9).

Stems hard, with short branches and branchlets,

minutely striate. Spines poorly developed.

Branches ascending, straight or laxly zigzagging.

Cladodes borne on abbreviated branchlets

(Figure 13), solitary, linear, + 30—40 x 2-5

mm, but variable in size, acute, striate, hard.

Flowers few to many, in sessile apical fascicles

subtended by small, hard, brown, acute bracts at

base; tepals delicate, + 4 mm long, white, per-

sistent; stalks + 5 mm long, articulated in lower

half. Stamens typical. Ovary with + 10 ovules

in each locule; oblong. Berry 1- or 2-seeded,

globose, + 5 mm in diameter, orange or red.

Occurs in southern, eastern and northern Cape, Karoo and

western O.F.S.; inhabiting dry karroid areas, often in rocky

niches. Flowering October to December. Map 41.

Vouchers: Bayliss 2573; Ecklon 6; Galpin 7374; Herman

478; Jessop 644; Mauve 5433; Roberts 5381; Van Breda 28;

Verdoorn H2371; Zeyher 480.

67. Protasparagus subulatus (Zhunb.)

Oberm. in South African Journal of Botany 2:

243 (1983). Type: Cape of Good Hope, without

precise locality, Thunberg s.n. (UPS Nos. 8464

holo.; BOL!, PRE!, photos).

Asparagus subulatus Thunb.: 66 (1794); Thunb. : 333 (1823);

Willd.: 154 (1799); Roem. & Schult.: 326 (1829); Kunth: 74

(1850); Bak.: 612 (1875); Bak.: 262 (1896); Jessop: 78 (1966).

Shrubby or scandent up to 2 m high, with

zigzagging branches and branchlets. Rhizome

typical, woody. Roots terete, long, thick, with

fusiform tubers + 20 mm long placed along

them. Stems erect, minutely grooved, hard, with

- small, appressed spines below. Branches thin,

spineless, somewhat zigzagging; branchlets short,

Zigzagging and widely divergent, fairly similar

in length, ending in 2 opposite cladode fascicles.

Cladodes + 3-6 in the fascicle (Figure 13),

filiform, thin, + 15 mm long. Flowers placed

inside cladode fascicles, shorter than cladodes,

surrounded at base by minute bracts; tepals

broadly linear, + 2 mm long, yellowish green;

stalk + 1—2 mm long, articulated near base.

Stamens typical. Ovary with 2 ovules in each

locule. Berry 1—3-seeded, globose, + 5 mm in

diameter, orange.

Restricted to eastern Cape; in dry fynbos or Fish River

scrub. Map 42.

Vouchers: Acocks 11893; Bayliss 2606; Britten 1875; Dyer

1082; Friis, Norlindh & Weimarck 956; Galpin 2923; Jessop

608; Jessop 610; Thode A 2768; Zeyher 250.

68. Protasparagus intricatus Oberm.., sp.

nov. P. divaricato affinis sed cladodiis breviori-

bus fasciculisque florum cladodia superantibus.

Frutices rigidi erecti compacti perennes + 0,6

m alti, valde fractiflexi internodiis brevibus,

66 | ASPARAGACEAE

. R Holewelt

FicurE 13.—Species showing stellate pattern of cladode fascicles: 1, Protasparagus rigidus, x 0,5 (after Van der Schijff |

5589); 2, P. striatus, < 0,5 (after Van Breda 28); 3, P. intricatus, x 1 (after Flanagan 1293); 4, P. divaricatus, x 1

(after Gerstner 2825); 5, P. subulatus, x 1 (after Dyer 1082). Artist: R. Holcroft.

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 42.— A Protasparagus subulatus

@ P. intricatus

cladodiis teretibus pungentibus, glabris vel

minute pubescentibus. Rhizoma radicesque non

vidi. Caules rami et ramuli corpus densum for-

mantes; cladodiis solitariis alternis divaricatis

spinosis + 10 mm longis. Flores pauci vel plures

fasciculo apicale breviore quam cladodiis 3

cingentis; perianthium typicum; tepalis 4 mm

longis albis; pedicello + 4 mm longo, basin

versus disco, bracteis minutis circumcincto. Bacca

+ 5 mm diametro.

Type: Cape, 3227 (Stutterheim): (—DB), near

Komga, Flanagan 1293 (PRE, holo.).

Rigid, erect, dense, compact, perennial shrubs

+ 0,6 m high, strongly zigzagging with short

internodes, glabrous or minutely pubescent.

Rhizome and roots not seen. Cladodes solitary,

paired at stem apices, alternate, divaricate,

spinous, + 10 mm long (Figure 13). Flowers few

to several, in an apical fascicle, shorter than the

3 surrounding cladodes; perianth typical, tepals

+ 4 mm long, white; stalk + 4 mm long,

surrounded by minute bracts, disc near base.

Berry + 5 mm in diameter.

Recorded from eastern Transvaal, northern Natal and,

disjunctly, from Transkei and eastern Cape as far south as

Komga; on dry rocky hills. Map 42.

Vouchers: Acocks 12158; Adkins sub Galpin 3114; Adkins

sub Galpin 8324; Barnard & Mogg 602A; Flanagan 1293;

Mauve PRE 36299; Mogg 16890.

69. Protasparagus divaricatus Oberm.., sp.

nov. P. intricato affinis sed cladodiis longioribus,

fasciculisque florum cladodibus brevioribus.

Frutices erecti vel scandentes glabri griseo-

viridi, intricate ramosi, 0,5—1,5 m alti, ramulis

longis tenuibus divergentibus. Rhizoma parvum

lignosum. Radices tuberibus fusiformibus in

radicibus lateralibus prope rhizoma. Caulis

erectus + 3 mm diametro, spinis crebris parvis

retrorsis squamam superiorem triangularem

appressam habentibus. Rami et ramuli sympo-

dioides in cladodiis 1-3 terminantes. Cladodia

solitaria vel binata ad extrema caulium, filifor-

mia, + 30—40 mm longa, rigida apiculata.

Flores fasciculo compacto 6—20 florum in nodo

superiore, inter par cladodiorum divergentium

valde fasciculos florum excedentium ‘atromal-

vacei, demum pallentes’ (fide Ward 4760 in

PRE); tepala late linearia, + 4 mm longa;

pedicello 5—6 mm longo, infra medium articula-

to. Stamina typica. Ovarium ovulis in quoque

loculo + 4; anguste ovoideum, attenuatum ad

basin et supra ad stylum longum, stigmate tumido

_apicale. Baccae + 5 mm diametro, flavae dum

maturae (fide Strey 7457).

Type: Natal, 2831 (Nkandla): (—AD), Mahla-

batini, Gerstner 2825 (PRE, holo.).

Erect or scandent shrubs, glabrous, greyish

green, intricately branched, 0,5—1,5 m high, with

long thin divergent branchlets. Rhizome small,

woody. Roots with fusiform tubers on side roots

near rhizome. Stem erect, + 3 mm in diameter,

closely beset with small, retrorse spines with a

triangular, appressed upper scale. Branches and

branchlets sympodioid, terminating in 1—3

cladodes. Cladodes solitary, paired at stem

apices, filiform, + 30—40 mm long, stiff, apicu-

late (Figure 13). Flowers in a compact fascicle

of 6—20 in upper node, flanked by 2 divergent

cladodes which much exceed flower fascicles,

‘deep mauve, paling later’ (fide Ward 4760 in

PRE); tepals broadly linear, + 4 mm long; stalk

5—6 mm long, articulated in lower half. Stamens

typical. Ovary with + 4 ovules in each locule;

narrowly ovoid, attenuated below and above into

a long style; stigma apical, swollen. Berries +

5 mm in diameter, yellow when ripe (fide Strey

7457 in PRE).

68 . ASPARAGACEAE

- Species insufficiently known

Asparagopsis juniperina Kunth, Enumeratio plantarum

5: 85 (1850). Type: Bergius (BM). Given as a synonym of

Asparagus africanus in Jessop: 48 (1966). In a copy of Jessop

marked by Mauve, she queries if this is = P multiflorus.

Asparagus denudatus vat. fragilis Bak. in Flora capensis

6: 258 (1896). Type: Sneeuwberg Range, 3 500 ft., Bolus 791.

Asparagus pilosus Bak. in Journal of ‘the Linnean

Society of London, Botany 14: 610 (1875). Asparagopsis pilosa

(Bak.) Oberm.: 244 (1983). Type: Botswana, Lake Ngami,

MacCabe.

Asparagus planiusculus Burm. f., Prodromus florae

capensis: 10 (1768). No specimen which could typify this name

has been traced in G-Burman (fide D.O. Wijnands in litt.).

Asparagus undulatus var. rugosus Bak. in Journal of the

Linnean Society of London, Botany 14: 629 (1875). Type: Cap.

bon spei, Oldenburg (BM).

Map 43.—Protasparagus divaricatus

Excluded species (other than those now

Occurs in eastern Cape, Natal, Zululand, Swaziland, eastern placed in Myrsiphyllum)

Transvaal and probably further north; widespread and Asparagus cuscutoides Burch. ex Bak.: 606 (1875)

common in dry bushveld areas, usually in rocky niches. = Schizobasis cuscutoides (Burch. ex Bak.) Benth.

ee oe ee Asparagus nodosus Soland. ex Bak.: 608 (1875); Bak.:

Vouchers: Acocks 10971; Codd 5718; Culverwell 1105; 260 (1896) = Adenogramma teretifolia (Thunb.) Adams.

Gerstner 2825; Jacobsen 1876; Strey 7457. (Aizoaceae). .

REFERENCES

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BAKER, JG. 1871. Asparagus aethiopicus var. ternifolius. In WW. Saunders, Refugium botanicum 4: t. 261. Van Voorst, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1874. New garden plants: Asparagus (Asparagopsis) cooperi Baker. Gardeners’ Chronicle 1: 818.

BAKER, J.G. 1875. Revision of the genera and species of Asparagaceae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany

14: 594-631.

BAKER, J.G. 1889. New petaloid monocotyledons from Cape Colony. Journal of Botany, London 1889: 42—43.

BAKER, J.G. 1893. Decades kewenses — Decas VI. Kew Bulletin 1893: 209—212.

BAKER, J.G. 1896. Asparagus. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora capensis 6: 256—274. Reeve, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1898. Asparagus. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora of tropical Africa 7: 425—436. Reeve, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1904. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der afrikanischen Flora XVII. Vierteljahrschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft

in Ziirich 49: 176.

BARNHART, J.H. 1965. Biographical notes upon botanists 1: 248. Hall, Boston.

BENTHAM, G. & HOOKER, J.D. 1883. Genera plantarum 3. Reeve, London.

BERGIUS, P.J. 1767. Descriptiones plantarum ex Capite Bonae Spei. Salvius, Stockholm.

BOLUS, H., BOLUS, L. & GLOVER, R. 1915. Flowering plants and ferns collected on the Great Karasberg by the Percy

Sladen Memorial Expedition, 1912 — 1913. Annals of the Bolus Herbarium of the South African College 1: 97-4.

BRESLER, M. 1826. Generis Asparagi historia naturalis. Dissertio inauguralis: i—x, 1—46. Berlin.

BROWN, N.E. 1912. Diagnoses africanae XLIV. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1912:

270—283.

BROWN, N.E. 1921. New plants from tropical and South Africa collected by Archdeacon F.A. Rogers. Kew Bulletin 1921:

289—301.

BURCHELL, W. J. 1822. Travels in the interior of southern Africa 1. Longman, London.

BURCHELL, W. J. 1824. Travels in the interior of southern Africa 2. Longman, London.

BURMAN, N.L. 1768. Prodromus florae capensis in Flora indica. Haak, Leiden.

COONEY-SOVETTS, C. & SATTLER, R. 1986. Phylloclade development in the Asparagaceae: an example of homeosis.

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 94: 327-371.

DAHLGREN, R.M.T., CLIFFORD, H.T. & YEO, R.F. 1985. The families of the ikiaag eoren structure, evolution and

taxonomy. Springer, Berlin.

ASPARAGACEAE 69

DE WILDEMAN, E. 1913. Decades novarum specierum florae katangensis XII—XIV. Repertorium novarum specierum regni

vegetabilis 12: 281-298. ;

DINTER, K. 1931. Diagnosen neuer stidwestafrikanischer Pflanzen 39. Repertorium novarum specierum regni vegetabilis

292 LOO rn es

DREGE, J.F. 1847. Vergleichungen der von Ecklon und Zeyher und von Drége gesammelten siidafrikanischen Pflanzen.

Linnaea 20: 183-258.

DYER, R.A. 1976. The genera of southern African flowering plants 2. Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria.

ECKLON, C.F. 1830. A list of plants found in the district of Uitenhage, between the months of July, 1829, and EEDEEEy,

1830, together with a description of some new species. South African Quarterly Journal 1: 363.

ENGLER, H.G.A. 1892. Uber die Hochgebirgsflora des tropischen Afrika. Verlag der Koning]. Akademie der Wissenschaften,

Berlin.

ENGLER, H.G.A. 1903. Liliaceae africanae II. Botanische Jahrbiicher fiir Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzen-

geographie 32: 89—97. )

ENGLER, H.G.A. & KRAUSE, K. 1910. Liliaceae africanae II. Botanische Jahrbiicher fiir Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte

und Pflanzengeographie 45: 123—155.

HOOKER, J.D. 1900. Asparagus ternifolius. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 126: t. 7728.

HUTCHINSON, J. 1959. The families of flowering plants II: Monocotyledons, edn 2. Clarendon, Oxford.

JACQUIN, N.J. 1798. Plantarum rariorum horti caesarei schoenbrunnensis descriptiones et icones 3. Wappler, Vienna.

JESSOP, J. 1966. The genus Asparagus in southern Africa. Bothalia 9: 31—96.

KIES, P. 195la. Newly described species. Bothalia 6: 213-238.

KIES, P. 1951b. Notes on Asparagus africanus and related species. Bothalia 6: 177-181.

KRAUSE, K. 1914. Liliaceae africanae V. Botanische Jahrbiicher fiir Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie

51: 440—450.

KRAUSE, K. 1930. Asparagus. Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien, edn 2, 15a: 362—365, Figs 148—150.

KUNTH, C.S. 1842. Uber die natiirliche Gruppe der Liliaceen im weitsten Sinne des Worts. Physikalische Abhandlungen

der K. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1—S5.

KUNTH, C.S. 1850. Enumeratio plantarum 5. Cotta, Stuttgart & Tiibingen.

KUNTZE, O. 1898. Revisio generum plantarum 3,2. Felix, Leipzig.

LAMARCK, J.B.A.P.M. DE. 1783. Encyclopédie méthodique 1. Mme veuve Agasse, Paris.

LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum, edn 1. Salvii, Stockholm.

LINNAEUS, C. 1767. Mantissa plantarum. Salvii, Stockholm.

LINNAEUS, C. VON (filius). 1781. Supplementum plantarum. Impensis Orphanotrophei, Brunswick.

MARLOTH, R. 1915. The flora of South Africa, with synoptical tables of the genera of the higher plants 4. Darter, Cape Town.

MASON, H. 1972. Western Cape Sandveld flowers. Struik, Cape Town.

MATHEW, B. 1989. Notes on tropical African Asparagaceae. Kew Bulletin 44,1: 181-182.

McCLEAN, R.C. & IVIMEY-COOK, W.R. 1951. Textbook of theoretical botany 1. Longmans, New York.

MONTAGNE, J.P.EC. 1841. In P.B. Webb & S. Berthelot, Histoire naturelle des Iles Canaries 3(2:4): XV. Béthune, Paris.

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PHILLIPS, E.P. 1933. Asparagus cooperi. The Flowering Plants of South Africa 13: t. 503.

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710 | ASPARAGACEAE

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WORDSWORTH, R., HUTCHINSON, J., BOLUS, F. & BOLUS, L. 1923. Flowering plants collected in South West Africa

by the Percy Sladen Memorial Expedition, 1915—1916. Annals of the Bolus Herbarium of the South African College

Sip = ot.

ASPARAGACEAE 71

1113b 2. MYRSIPHYLLUM

by A.A. OBERMEYER*

(Literature references on p. 81)

Myrsiphyllum Willd. in Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin Magazin 2: 25 (1808);

Kunth: 105 (1850); Oberm.: 86 (1984). Type species: M. asparagoides (L.) Willd. (= Medeola

asparagoides L.).

Hecatris Salisb.: 66 (1866). Type species: H. asparagoides (L.) Salisb.

Asparagus section Myrsiphyllum (Willd.) Bak.: 597 (1875); Bak.: 258 (1896); Jessop: 38 (1966); R.A. Dyer: 943 (1976).

Perennial, innocuous, glabrous climbers or erect, usually chamaephytes. Rhizome cylindrical,

often not lignified; cataphylls small or vestigial. Roots placed radially on the often long, creeping

rhizome, or irregularly dorsiventral on a compact rhizome; forming fusiform tubers crowded on

rhizome or distant from it, filled with soft tissue saturated with aqueous fluid; in M. ovatum (no.

3) and M. undulatum (no. 6) new plants may evolve on distal side of a tuber. Stems voluble or erect.

Phylloclades solitary or 2- or 3-nate, placed in axils of scale leaves, the latter not forming spines.

(M. fasciculatum (no. 12) forms an exception in that the cladodes are many in each fascicle and

small spines are developed.) Flowers 1—3-nate, bisexual, pendulous on short to long pedicels or

stalks (viz. a combination of pedicel and pericladium, separated by a disc). Jepals white, usually

with a green central band, connivent at base, forming a cup or tube, free lobes recurved above

(except in M. ramosissimum (no. 11) and M. scandens (no. 10) where they remain erect). Stamens

erect, usually connivent around gynoecium with filaments flattened, attenuate above, widened below,

where they may form two extended spurs; anthers introrse, yellow, orange or red. Ovary 3-locular;

ovules 6—12 in each locule, biseriate; styles 1 or 3, stigmas 3, papillate. Berry globose or ovoid-

apiculate, red, yellow or orange; seeds globose, black.

Species 12, recorded from the winter rainfall region, with M. asparagoides and M. ramosissimum extending along the

eastern escarpment to the Transvaal; the former also spreading northwards to tropical Africa and southern Europe. Recently

recorded as a troublesome adventive in Australia.

The genus Mysiphyllum, separated from Asparagus by Willdenow (1808), was upheld by Kunth (1850). Baker (1875), however,

placed it as a section of Asparagus and so did subsequent taxonomists. H. Huber in The monocotyledons, a comparative

study by Dahlgren & Clifford (1982), resuscitated the genus and I agree. Huber divided the classical family Liliaceae of

Kunth, Baker and others into two orders, Asparagales and Liliales. The former contains 24 families, the latter eight. His

family Asparagaceae is represented by six genera; two of these, Protasparagus and Myrsiphyllum, are African.

The genus Myrsiphyllum takes its name from the phylloclades of M. asparagoides (L.) Willd. which resemble the leaves

of the myrtle.

la Phylloclades solitary:

2a Plants scandent (but cf. M. multituberosum which may be erect when stunted):

3a Phylloclades ovate to cordate, 12—20 mm broad:

4a Root tubers attached close to rhizome:

5a Styles 3; root tubers cylindrical, + 10-12 xX 3 mm, overlapping on long rhizomes ...... 1. M. multituberosum

5b Style 1; root tubers fusiform, + 40—60 x 10—15 mm, radiating from rhizome .............. 2. M. asparagoides

4 Root tubers distant from, MiZOme. .c<sicacsscee remaster eater al vy onic ae ae bet Mane te tae 3. M. ovatum

3b Phylloclades narrowly ovate to broadly linear, + 4—6 mm broad:

6a Phylloclades narrowly ovate, midrib distant; root tubers fusiform, firm .......................04. 4. M. kraussianum

6b Phylloclades narrowly elliptic without a distinct midrib, soft; root tubers oblong-globose .......... 5. M. volubile

2b Plant erect:

7a Plants branching freely; phylloclades narrowly ovate-acuminate, strongly ribbed .................... 6. M. undulatum

7b Plants ‘fox-tail-shaped’, viz. the erect stems bearing numerous contracted branches forming a leafy cylinder

around stem; phylloclades narrowly linear:

8a Phylloclades 1-2 mm broad with smooth or minutely ciliate margins; roots with fusiform tubers some

Gistance away from. PHAGE: occa sadicleiassanaicasieadatbaatentend wa te oedaieat culaae iss sian ae ea ete ao 7. M. juniperoides

8b Phylloclades 0,5 mm broad; margin fimbriate; root tubers densely packed on rhizome ........ 8. M. alopecurum

* Pinelands Place, Lonsdale Road, 7405 Pinelands; formerly of the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.

ASPARAGACEAE

Mudeaddddae ais

es —S5< yore same 4

fF a

2G A

2 AK eo RIS

_——_———

= Sa ee ee

SSS << SWAY

YY me

~ KAN |

ASPARAGACEAE 73

lb Phylloclades in fascicles of 3, or very numerous, linear to filiform; scandent, shade-loving:

9a Phylloclades in dense fascicles (15—30-nate), linear, arcuate, + 4—8 mm long ................. 12. M. fasciculatum

9b Phylloclades in fascicles of 3, linear to filiform:

10a Branches declinate (viz. forming recurved loops); branchlets short with overlapping phylloclades; berry

ovoid, shortly pointed above and below, many-seeded .................c ccc e ccc eceeee eens eeeeeeenaeees 9. M. declinatus

10b Branches and branchlets spreading at right angles to stem; berry globose, 1—few-seeded:

lla Phylloclades spreading in one plane, shallowly S-shaped, + 2 mm wide, one opposing two others and one

shorter ‘than. Other 10> vs cesses coated sacs Gcdeow cee

ee oe RM REID LED Es lid eine Dae ee 10. M. scandens

lib Phylloclades laxly spreading, + 1 mm wide, with a prominent midrib; stems, branches and branchlets

angled ....2:2. Lad ginbog agp ducks Micaela Ata N eh ame Meee Gai ek

1. Myrsiphyllum multituberosum (R.A.

Dyer) Oberm. in Bothalia 15: 77 (1984). Type:

Ceres, Karoopoort, Marloth 9006 (PRE, holo.!;

STE!).

Asparagus multituberosus R.A. Dyer: 442 (1954).

A. asparagoides sensu Jessop: 81 (1966).

Scandent with thin stems up to + 0,4 m tall,

or short, erect and compact (in dry areas in

Namaqualand). Rhizome thin, horizontal, up to

0,5 m long, covered by a cylinder of overlapping

small, fusiform, pointed tubers + 10 X 3 mm,

occasionally some continuing below as normal .

thin roots but scattered long filiform roots are also

produced, sometimes one of these producing a

tuber distant from rhizome (Figure 14.1). Phyl-

loclades ovate to cordate, + 15—25 mm long,

apiculate, many-veined, margin papillate (Figure

15.1). Flowers 1—3 in axils of membranous scale

leaves; stalk + 5 mm, curved, articulated below

perianth 7epals + 7 mm, forming a wide tube

below, spreading above. Stamens as long as

tepals, filaments expanded at base, flat. Ovary

ovoid, with 10—12 ovules in each locule. Styles

3, curved outwards; stigmas apical, papillate.

Berry not seen.

Known only from the western Cape in montane vegetation.

Flowering July to September. Map 44.

It is the only species of Myrsiphyllum in which the three

styles have not fused into a single column.

Vouchers: Bayer 3454; Marloth 9006; Marloth 12778;

Rosch & Le Roux 01218 (01211); Schlechter 8069.

plepek hair Ail elles CARRE IA SI Ie Recs atl Aue, oO iarlak aryl ll. M. ramosissimum

2. Myrsiphyllum asparagoides (L.) Willd.

in Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu

Berlin Magazin 2: 25 (1808); Kunth: 105 (1850);

Hook. f.: t. 5584 (1866). Type: Tilli, Catalogus

Plantarum Horti Pisani, t. 12, f. 1 (1723) as

‘Asparagus Africanus, scandens Myrti folio’

(icono. ).

Medeola asparagoides L.: 339 (1753); L.: 370 (1771); Del.:

t. 442 (1816). Hecatris asparagoides (L.) Salisb.: 66 (1866).

Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Wight: 854 (1909); Jessop: 81

(1966), nom. illegit. A. asparagoides (L.) Druce: 414 (1914).

Medeola angustifolia Mill.: (1768); Ait.: 490 (1789). Myrsi-

phyllum angustifolium (Mill.) Willd.: 25 (1808). A. medeo-

loides (L.f.) Thunb. var. angustifolius (Mill.) Bak.: 273 (1896).

Type: Tilli, Catalogus Plantarum Horti Pisani, t. 12,

f. 2 (1723), as ‘Asparagus Africanus, scandens Myrti folio

angustiore’ (icono.).

Map 44.—Myrsiphyllum multituberosum

FiGuRE 14.—Myrsiphyllum multituberosum: 1, root system, < 1. M. asparagoides: 2, root system, < 0,5. M.

ovatum: 3, showing young plant appearing from a root, reduced [after Salter (1940), Figure 1]. M. fasciculatum: 4, root,

x 0,25. M. ovatum: 5, flower, x 6 [after Dyer (1943), Plate 1146]. Artist: R. Holcroft.

ASPARAGACEAE

Dracaena medeoloides L.f.: 203 (1781). Asparagus

medeoloides (L.f.) Thunb.: 66 (1794); Thunb.: 333 (1823);

Bak.: 627 (1875); Bak.: 272 (1896); Marloth: t. 20F (1915).

Type: Cape of Good Hope, without precise locality, Thunberg

(UPS, holo.; BOL!, PRE!, photos of sheet 8453).

Elide Medik. (1791) by lectotypification, cf. Farr et al.: 1139

(1979).

Myrsiphyllum falciforme Kunth: 107 (1850); Saunders: t.

47 (1869). Type: Cape, without precise locality, Drége 2704a

in ‘Herb. Luc” (K, iso.). A. medeoloides (L.f.) Thunb. var.

falciformis (Kunth) Bak.: 273 (1896).

A. kuisibensis Dinter: 270 (1931). Type: Namibia at the

Kuiseb River, Tjuezu in Herb. Dinter 4698 (B, holo.; PRE,

photo.!).

Scandent, much branched perennials with

shiny green, ovate phylloclades, deciduous or

semideciduous. Rhizome cylindrical, bearing

numerous fusiform root tubers + 40—60 x

10—20 mm, radially arranged, variable in size,

close to rhizome (Figure 14.2). Stems twisting,

wiry, smooth or ridged, up to 2 m tall. Branches

usually short, with beaded ridges. Phylloclades

variable in size and shape, ovate-acuminate, +

25—40 x 8—20 mm, flat or folded and curved,

on each side; margin smooth or minutely den-

ticulate (Figure 15.2). Flowers on pedicels + 10

mm long, articulated below prianth. Tepals 6—10

mm long, forming a tube in lower half, reflexed

above. Stamens erect, connivent, expanded below

into 2 small spreading teeth; anthers red. Ovary

pear-shaped, stipitate, narrowed into a style as

long as ovary; ovules + 6 in each locule; stigmas

short, spreading, ciliate. Berry globose, 10 mm

in diameter, usually many-seeded.

Widespread and common in southern and eastern Cape

forests and coastal valley bushveld; inland in wooded areas

and along riverbanks in the eastern parts of Natal and Trans-

vaal. Also recorded from Namibia and further north to tropical

Africa. Naturalized locally in southern Europe. An invader

in Australia where it has become troublesome. Flowering July

to September. Map 45.

Introduced in England in 1702 by the Duchess of Beaufort.

It was in cultivation in the hortus in Pisa, Italy, and illustra-

ted in Tilli’s Catalogue of plants in 1723, t. 12, fig. 1. The

fa)

Map 45.—Mpyrsiphyllum asparagoides

plant pictured on the right-hand side has narrower, somewhat

smaller phylloclades, which led Tilli, Miller and others to

regard it as a separate species but the phylloclades vary in

size and width. The origin of the plants figured by Tilli is

unknown.

Vouchers: Archibald 3610; Goldblatt 2638; Merxmiiller &

Giess 32272, Purcell 7; Rosch & Le Roux 457; Ward 4998.

3. Myrsiphyllum ovatum (Salter) Oberm.

in Bothalia 15: 79 (1984). Type: Cape, Rugby,

Salter 8214 (BOL, holo.!; NBG!, PRE!).

Asparagus ovatus Salter: 167 (1940); Salter: 174 (1950);

R.A. Dyer: t. 1146 (1943).

A. asparagoides sensu Jessop: 81 (1966).

Scandent, with twining branches up to 1,0—1,5

m tall. Rhizome compact, scaly, woody with long

roots extending in all directions, bearing nume-

rous hard, swollen, fusiform tubers + 50—100

<x 20 mm, far removed from rhizome; much

smaller in young plants; tubers may bring forth

young plants at their proximal ends (Figure 14.3).

Phylloclades deciduous, ovate, 30 X 15 mm but

variable in size, many-nerved, shiny (Figure

15.3). Flowers 1—3, beside the base of a phyl-

loclade; pedicels + 10 mm, articulated near base

Ficure 15.—Phylloclades of Myrsiphyllum species: 1, M. multituberosum, x 1; 2, M. asparagoides, x 1; 3, M.

ovatum, < 1; 4, M. kraussianum: a, typical form, b, elongated form, x 1; 5, M. volubile, x 1; 6, M. undulatum,

x 1; 7, M. juniperoides, < 1 and x 4; 8, M. alopecurum, xX 1 and x 4; 9, M. declinatum showing declinate branching,

x 1; 10, M. scandens, x 1; ll, M. ramosissimum, x 1; 12, M. fasciculatum x 1. Artist: R. Holcroft.

of flower (Figure 14.5). Perianth + 6 mm, tepals

reflexed near centre. Stamens with filaments

flattened, erect, bearing a small basal spur on

each side. Ovary oblong, with + 8—10 ovules in

each locule; style and stigmas just exserted from

staminal column. Berry globose, 10 mm in

diameter, red.

Confined to the Cape Province, usually along the coastal

belt from the south-western Cape to the eastern Cape, but

also inland. Map 46.

Vouchers: Dyer 5338; Leach & Bayliss 12647; Mauve 5347;

Mauve & Hugo 243.

4. Myrsiphyllum kraussianum Kunth,

Enumeratio plantarum 5: 107 (1850) (as krausia-

num). Type: Cape, Wynberg, Constantia, Krauss

1333 (B, holo.; in errore Krause).

Asparagus krausianus (Kunth) MacBride: 17 (1981); Salter:

174 (1950). A. krausii Bak.: 272 (1896).

A. asparagoides sensu Jessop: 81 (1966).

?M. gramineum Kunth: 108 (1850). Type: Cape of Good

Hope, collector unknown (B).

Scandent, 1—2 m tall, resembling M. aspara-

goides (no. 2) but with straight, narrower

phylloclades and shorter pedicels. Rhizome bear-

ing a congested cluster of sessile fusiform tubers.

Stems and branches laxly curved, angled, ridged.

Phylloclades narrowly cordate-acuminate,

+ 15-30 x 5 mn, flat, striate, with a distinct

Map 46.—Mpyrsiphyllum ovatum

ASPARAGACEAE

Map 47.—Mpyrsiphyllum kraussianum

midrib, apiculate (Figure 15.4). Flowers pendu-

lous, axillary; pedicels + 3—5 mm long, articu-

lated below perianth. Tepals + 5 mm, white with

a green midrib. Stamens with flattened filaments

bearing two basal spurs; anthers orange. Ovary

with 6 ovules in each locule. Berry 6—9 mm in

diameter, red.

Occurs in the southern Cape: recorded from the Cape

Peninsula to the south-western Cape, in strandveld and fynbos.

Map 47.

A form of this species, bearing longer, narrower phyl-

loclades + 35—45 mm long, has been collected around the

south-western Cape, viz. Ceres, Worcester, Laingsburg and

Swellendam: Bayer 3153, 3344; Bond 247; Mauve & Hugo

240. 7

Vouchers: Acocks 17992; Barker 10227; Purcell 68; Strey

521; Taylor 10235; Van Breda & Joubert 1960.

5. Myrsiphyllum volubile (Thunb.) Oberm.

in Bothalia 15: 82 (1984). Type: Cape, without

locality, Thunberg 8469 (UPS, holo.; PRE,

photo.!).

Asparagus volubilis Thunb.: 66 (1794); Thunb.: 332 (1823);

Roem. & Schult.: 347 (1829); Bak.: 628 (1875); Bak.: 262

(1896).

?Ruscus volubilis Thunb.: 13 (1794); Kunth: 276 (1850). Type

as above. Dracaena volubilis L.f.: 204 (1781). The name is

mentioned on the microfiche edition, Nr 435/4 but no speci-

men is shown. Bak.: 272 (1896) identified it as A. scandens

Thunb.

ASPARAGACEAE

A. asparagoides auct. non Druce: Jessop: 81 (1966).

Scandent with wiry twisted stems and short

leafy branches, + 1,0-—1,5 m tall, often with a

garlic scent. Rhizome terete, bearing swollen

bulbous tubers + 300-500 mm long, closely

attached to it. Stems bearing short branches

40-80 mm long. Phylloclades broadly linear,

abruptly acute above and below, + 15—20 x 3

mm, without a distinct midrib, flat, soft, pale

green (Figure 15.5). Flowers on short pedicels

4—5 mm long, articulation below perianth; tepals

fused below, spreading above, + 5 mm long,

cream. Stamens with orange anthers, typical.

Ovary ovoid; ovules 6 in each locule; style short.

Berry not seen.

Recorded from the southern to north-eastern Cape, in

fynbos, coastal scrub or in forest undergrowth. Map 48.

Myrsiphyllum volubile can be distinguished from M. kraus-

sianum (no. 4) by its softer phylloclades, which are rounded

_at the base and do not show a midrib.

Said to give off ‘a garlic odour which scents the air around’

(Tyson in Tvl. Mus. 17552 in PRE). Milk becomes tainted

when cows feed on this plant.

Vouchers: Archibald 4557; Ecklon & Zeyher 4; Gelden-

huys 639; Jessop 623; Mauve & Hugo 124, 138, 174, 241;

Sim 4082; Smook 3819; Thode A277].

6. Myrsiphyllum undulatum (L.f) Kunth,

Enumeratio plantarum 5: 109 (1850). Type: Cape

Map 48.—Mpyrsiphyllum volubile

Map 49.—Mpyrsiphyllum undulatum

of Good Hope, without precise locality, Thun-

berg (UPS, 8446; PRE, photo.!).

Dracaena undulata L.f.: 203 (1781); Roem. & Schult.: 346

(1829). Asparagus undulatus (L.f.) Thunb.: 66 (1794); Bak.:

628 (1875); Bak.: 273 (1896); Marloth: t. 20E, Fig. 24a (1915);

Salter: 173 (1950); Sdlch: 39 (1960); Jessop: 84 (1966).

A. klinghardtianus Dinter: 270 (1931). Type: Namibia:

-Klinghardtgebirge, Dinter 3998 (B, holo.! PRE!).

Erect, rigid bushes (chamaephytes) 0,3—0,5

m tall, with long, simple, spreading branches

bearing regularly placed phylloclades. Rhizome

compact, scaly, bearing numerous roots, some

of these with large fusiform tubers continued

below as normal long, thin roots; occasionally

they may produce a new shoot. Stem erect,

ridged, with spreading, long, usually simple

branches. Phylloclades ovate-acuminate, up to

25 mm long (smaller on new growth), leathery,

Striate, often folded above (Figure 15.6). Flowers

pendulous, 1—3 at a node; pedicels + 5—9 mm

long, with disc below perianth. Tepals broadly

linear, + 6 mm long, purple or green with cream

margins, reflexed in upper half. Stamens with flat

attenuate filaments bearing 2 small basal spurs;

anthers orange. Ovary with 8—10 ovules in each

locule. Berry globose, + 5 mm in diameter, red.

Recorded from the Cape Peninsula along the west coast

to Namibia, usually in the strandveld with its sandy soil.

Flowering in spring. Map 49.

Vouchers: Goldblatt 2280; Mauve 5339; Merxmiiller &

Giess 28756; Schlechter 8461; Van Niekerk 598.

7. Myrsiphyllum juniperoides (Engl.)

Oberm. in Bothalia 15: 84 (1984). Type:

Namibia, Aus, Marloth 1538 (B, holo.; PRE,

photo.!).

Asparagus juniperoides Engl.: 3 (1889); Schinz: 44 (1896);

Sdlch: 37 (1960); Jessop: 63 (1966), pro parte.

Erect chamaephytes with stems up to 0,5 m tall,

covered by a ‘cylinder’ of short ‘leafy’ branches

(viz. phylloclades) + 40 mm in diameter (‘fox-

tail’ habit). Rhizome dorsiventral, creeping,

bearing numerous long roots which form

fusiform swellings + 30 mm long towards root

tips, up to 120 mm away from rhizome, densely

covered by a velamen of root hairs when young.

Branches short, erect, + 10—30 mm long, over-

lapping placed in axil of a short membranous

erect scale leaf. Phylloclades solitary, linear, +

10 X 2 mm, apiculate, margin smooth, bright

shiny green (Figure 15.7). Flowers axillary, soli-

tary, on peduncles + 1 mm long. Zepals narrowly

oblong, + 6 mm long, forming a short tube

below, curved outwards in upper half, outer

ciliate. Stamens with outer shorter than inner,

filaments fused to tepals in lower half, erect.

Ovary obovoid with + 10 ovules in each locule;

style about as long as ovary; stigmas apical. Berry

+ 5 mm diameter, several-seeded, red.

A psammophyte recorded from southern Namibia and

northern Namaqualand, with a few records further inland.

Map 50.

Map 50.— @ Myrsiphyllum juniperoides

@ M. alopecurum

ASPARAGACEAE

Vouchers: Dinter 3723; Giess 13004; Merxmiiller & Giess

3418; Verdoorn 18335.

8. Myrsiphyllum alopecurum Oberm. in

Bothalia 15: 85 (1984). Type: Cape, 22 km west

by south of Springbok, Acocks 19268 (PRE,

holo.!).

Chamaephyte with erect annual stems + 0,5

m tall, slender, attenuate above, covered by a

feathery ‘cylinder’ of much abbreviated, densely

leafy branches, appearing ‘fox-tail*shaped.

Rhizome creeping, long, densely covered by

numerous allantoid, shortly stalked root tubers,

placed in all directions, up to 40 < 10 mm, con-

tinued below as normal thin roots, densely

covered by a velamen of root hairs. Stems ridged,

scale leaves persisting. Branches + 30 mm long,

ascending, overlapping. Phylloclades narrowly

linear, + 12 X 0,5 mm, glossy, yellow-green,

margin densely ciliate, apex mucronate (Figure

15.8). Flowers solitary on the short branches;.

pedicels 1 mm long with the disc below perianth.

Tepals free, connivent, forming a tube, curved

outwards above, linear, obtuse, + 7 mm long,

white with a green midrib, margin of outer tepals

densely, shortly ciliate, inner smooth. Stamens

with filaments fused to tepals in lower half, outer

somewhat shorter. Ovary oblong-ovoid with 4

ovules in each locule; style as long as ovary,

stigmas small, curved outwards. Berry several-

seeded, + 7 mm in diameter, red?

Apparently endemic to the north-western Cape from Nama-

qualand to Clanwilliam, in sandy places in Namaqualand

Broken Veld. Flowering in winter. Map 50.

Marloth 6719 from Garies-Okiep and Andreae 409 from

Klawer show a sudden lengthening of the upper side branches

giving the plants a plumose apex. This has also been observed

in other species adopting the cylindric habit.

Schlechter on some of his collections gave it the name

alopecurus (as alepocurus), meaning fox-tail.

Vouchers: Marloth 6719, 7794; Schlechter 8028; Van der

Westhuizen 272.

9. Myrsiphyllum declinatum (L.) Oberm.

in Bothalia 15: 86 (1984). Type: Herbarium van

Royen in Herb. Lugd. Bat. 913 62 567 (L, holo.!;

PRE, photocopy!).

Asparagus crispus Lam.: 295 (1783); Roem. & Schult.: 326

(1829); Kunth: 73 (1850); Bak.: 607 (1875); Bak.: 259

ASPARAGACEAE

(1896); Marloth: t. 20 (1915); Salter: 174 (1950); Jessop: 80

(1966). Type: ‘LTle de France’ (Mauritius), collector unknown

(P, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. flexuosus Thunb.: 66 (1794); Kunth: 74 (1850). Type:

Cape of Good Hope, without precise locality, Thunberg (UPS,

8450, holo.; PRE, photo.!).

A. decumbens Jacq.: 51, t. 97 (1797). Asparagopsis decum-

bens (Jacq.) Kunth: 77 (1850). Type: Cape of Good Hope,

without precise locality, collector unknown.

Soft, deciduous, copiously branched scram-

blers up to + 1 m high. Rhizome creeping,

covered by numerous thick fusiform root tubers

up to 50 mm long. Stems annual, angled, thin,

green, declinate; branches likewise (Figure 15.9);

branchlets short, bearing overlapping ternate

cladodes, or sometimes these more laxly

arranged. Cladodes linear-acuminate, + 5—15

mm long, somewhat arcuate. Flowers solitary on

pedicels + 5—11 mm long, articulated below

truncate base of flower; tepals broadly linear,

reflexed in upper half, + 5 mm long, white to

pale pink. Stamens with filaments bearing 2 basal

spurs; anthers orange red. Ovary oblong-ovoid,

tapered into a persistent style, dark green; locules

with 2—4 ovules. Berry oblong-ovoid, attenuate

below, apiculate, + 12 mm long, whitish, semi- —

transparent, 3—9-seeded.

Recorded from southern Namibia to Namaqualand, the

Cape Peninsula and east as far as Riversdale; in fynbos or

coastal scrub, usually on rocky outcrops. Flowering May to

September. Map 51. :

Vouchers: Bos 168; Compton 14640; Hall 3640; Merxmiiller

& Giess 32218; Oliver 3430; Taylor 8621.

Map 51.—Mpyrsiphyllum declinatum

10. Myrsiphyllum scandens (Zhunb.)

Oberm. in Bothalia 15: 86 (1984). Syntypes: Cape

of Good Hope, without precise locality, Thun-

berg s.n. (UPS, 8461, 8462; BOL! PRE! photos).

Asparagus scandens Thunb. : 66 (1794); Roem. & Schult.:

325 (1829); Saund.: t. 21 (1869); Bak.: 622 (1875); Bak.: 268

(1896); Salter: 174 (1950); Jessop: 78 (1966).

A. pectinatus Del.: t. 407 (1813). Type: ‘l’Orangerie du

jardin la Malmaison’, t. 407 (iconotype).

Asparagopsis scandens (Thunb.) Kunth: 78 (1850).

Herbaceous perennial, scandent, up to 2 m tall,

probably evergreen. Rhizome small, covered by

fusiform roots 20—40 mm long, tapering towards

root tips. Stems twining, wiry. Phylloclades ar-

ranged close together on one plane on both sides

of branchlets, the whole resembling the frond of

a fern, ternate on alternating sides, one cladode

somewhat longer than other two, shallowly S-

shaped, apiculate, l-nerved, + 8—17 mm (Figure

15.10). Scale leaves minute, forming fringed,

white, membranous tufts at nodes. Flowers

pendulous, 1—3 at a node, on pedicels up to +

10 mm long, articulated below attenuate pericladi-

um. Jepals spreading, + 4 mm long, white. Sta-

mens attenuate towards apex; anthers green or

yellow. Ovary globose with 3 or 4 ovules in each

locule; style erect, short, with 3 spreading stig-

mas. Berry globose, + 8 mm in diameter, orange

or red, l- or 2-seeded.

A Cape endemic. Recorded from the west coast at St Helena

Bay to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards as far as Tsitsi-

kamma. Also inland as far as Worcester; a shade-loving plant,

| frequent in wooded areas, needing moisture all the year round,

apparently evergreen. Flowering August to October. Map 52.

Myrsiphyllum scandens and the next species, M. ramosis-

simum, have perianths similar to those of Protasparagus but

agree in all other respects with Myrsiphyllum. They are

considered more primitive.

Vouchers: Ecklon & Zeyher s.n.; Friis, Norlindh &

Weimarck 540; Marloth 4517; Mauve & Hugo 232; Werder-

mann & Oberdieck 355.

ll. Myrsiphyllum ramosissimum (Bak. )

Oberm. in Bothalia 15: 87 (1984). Type: eastern

Cape, Pirie Forest near King Williamstown,

»| Flanagan 2235 (PRE, neo.!).

_ Asparagus ramosissimum Bak.: 6 (1874); Bak.: 622 (1875);

Bak.: 268 (1896).

Map 52.—Myrsiphyllum scandens

A. scandens Thunb. var. deflexus Bak.: 622 (1875); Bak.:

268 (1896). Type: Somerset East, Boschberg, MacOwan 1771

(BOL; SAM).

Scandent, 1—2 m tall, evergreen perennial.

Rhizome creeping, woody, scaly, + 20 mm in

diameter, producing fusiform root tubers ter-

minating in long thin roots. Stems green, angled,

ridges minutely papillate. Branches and branch-

lets spreading. Phylloclades usually 3-nate, linear,

flat above, keeled below, 8-12 X 0,7 mm,

apiculate, margin minutely papillate (Figure

15.11). Flowers solitary, similar to those of

Protasparagus; stalk filiform, + 10 mm, articu-

lated in lower half, pendulous. Tepals spreading,

oblong-attenuate, + 3—4 mm, outer with a small

callosity at base, white. Stamens with linear-

acuminate filaments, anthers yellow or red,

apiculate. Ovary ovoid, attenuated into a short

style, stigmas with short, spreading, ciliate lobes;

ovules + 6 in each locule. Berry red or orange,

1—3-seeded.

Recorded from montane areas in the eastern Transvaal,

eastern O.F.S., Natal and eastern Cape to the southern Cape;

in forests, kloofs and riverbank vegetation, in moist shady

places. Flowering in summer. Map 53.

Baker (1874) described this species from a living plant,

collected by Cooper in the Cape and cultivated by Wilson

Saunders in his garden at Reigate. It was evidently not

preserved [Jessop: 80 (1966)].

Vouchers: Compton 28084, 30552; Dahlgren 1851; Devenish

206; Dieterlen 707; Galpin 10173, 14531; Kerfoot, Gooyer &

Eastman 286; Killick 1105; Strey 6292.

ASPARAGACEAE

12. Myrsiphyllum fasciculatum (Thunb.)

Oberm. in Bothalia 15: 87 (1984). Type: Cape,

without precise locality, Masson s.n. (UPS, sub

Thunberg 8447, holo.; BOL; PRE!, photos).

Asparagus fasciculatus Thunb.: 329 (1823); Jessop: 54

(1966).

Asparagopsis consanguinea Kunth: 76 (1850). Asparagus

consanguineus (Kunth) Bak.: 615 (1875); Bak.: 260 (1896).

Type: Cape, without precise locality, Drége s.n. (KIEL, holo.,

PRE, photo.!; K, PRE, photo.!).

Note: on the Kew sheet, N.E. Brown gave Drége’s locali-

ty as ‘between Krom River and Pietersfontein on the Piquet-

berg, under 1 000 ft, July’ Asparagopsis schlechtendalii

Kunth: 90 (1850). Type: Cape, at the Olifants River, Krebs

s.n. (March) (B, holo.?).

Scandent or prostrate, nonspinous (rarely with

some small spines on stem below), much

branched with deciduous cladodes in feathery

fascicles, bearing solitary flowers. Rhizome

woody with numerous swollen roots (Figure

14.4), + 300—600 mm long and + 20 mm in

diameter, smaller in young plants. Stems spine-

less, or with some brittle spines below, glabrous,

reddish brown. Branches widely spaced, laxly

zigzagging, in turn producing numerous short

branchlets bearing the cladode fascicles.

Cladodes unequally long, 15—30-nate, + 5—10

mm long, smooth, apiculate, somewhat curved,

greyish green, deciduous (Figure 15.12). Flowers

apical, solitary or rarely 2- or 3-nate, beside a

cladode fascicle; pedicel + 5 mm long with disc

below perianth. Tepals + 5 mm, broadly linear,

Map 53.—Mpyrsiphyllum ramosissimum

ASPARAGACEAE 81

white with a brown central stripe, forming a tube,

recurved above. Stamens erect, filaments flat,

attenuate above, abruptly narrowed below, form-

ing basal spurs; anthers orange or yellow. Ovary

oblong-ovoid, shortly stipitate, with 6—8 ovules

in each locule, style long, stigmas short,

spreading. Berry several-seeded, + 10 mm in

diameter, pinkish red.

Common in the western strandveld up to Namaqualand and

the southern Karoo as far as Laingsburg. Not recorded from

the Cape Peninsula. The young cladodes appear from March

to April; flowering from May to June; fruits ripen in

September. Map 54.

The fascicles containing numerous cladodes are unusual

for this genus, but the pendulous flower, including the true

pedicel, are typical of Myrsiphyllum. In old plants the root

system develops into a huge mass of long cylindrical roots,

each 0,3—0,6 m long and + 30 mm thick. Marloth (his no. Vouchers: Bolus 13882; Ecklon & Zeyher 1675; Esterhuysen

9049) counted up to 120 ‘finger thick’ roots; Bayer 3287 shows 1805: Leistner 3390; Marloth 9049; Schlechter 7890;

a similar mass (Obermeyer 1984). Thompson & Le Roux 112; Werger 414.

Map 54.—Mpyrsiphyllum fasciculatum

REFERENCES

AITON, W. 1789. Hortus kewensis, edn 1. George Nicol, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1874. In Gardeners’ Chronicle n.s. 2: 6.

BAKER, J.G. 1875. Revision of the genera and species of Asparagaceae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany

14: 594—631.

BAKER, J.G. 1896. Asparagus. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora capensis 6: 256—274. Reeve, London.

DAHLGREN, R.M.T. & CLIFFORD, H.T. 1982. The monocotyledons. Academic Press, London.

DELILE, A.R. 1813. Asparagus pectinatus. In P.J. Redouté, Les Liliacées VII. Paris.

DELILE, A.R. 1816. Medeola asparagoides. In P.J. Redouté, Les Liliacées VIII. Paris.

DINTER, K. 1931. Diagnosen neuer siidwestafrikanischer Pflanzen 39. Repertorium novarum specierum regni vegetabilis

fa) pe

DRUCE, G.C. 1914. Notes on nomenclature. In supplement to Botanical Exchange Club Report for 1913. The Botanical

Society and Exchange Club of the British Isles Report for 1913 3,5: 413—426.

DYER, R.A. 1943. Asparagus ovatus. The Flowering Plants of Africa 29: t. 1146.

DYER, R.A. 1954. Liliaceae. Bothalia 6: 440—445.

DYER, R.A. 1976. The genera of southern African flowering plants 2. Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria.

ENGLER, A. 1889. Plantae Marlothianae. Liliaceae. Botanische Jahrbiicher 10: 2—3.

FARR, E.R., LEUSINK, J.A. & STAFLEU, FA. 1979. Index nominum genericorum (plantarum). Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema,

Utrecht.

HOOKER, J.D. 1866. Myrsiphyllum asparagoides. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 3rd series, 22: t. 5584.

JACQUIN, N.J. 1797. Plantarum rariorum horti caesarei schoenbrunnensis descriptiones et icones, Vol. 1. Wappler, Vienna.

JESSOP, J. 1966. The genus Asparagus in southern Africa. Bothalia 9: 31—96.

KUNTH, C.S. 1850. Enumeratio plantarum 5. Cotta, Stuttgart & Tubingen.

LAMARCK, J.B.A.P.M. DE. 1783. Encyclopédie méthodique 1. Mme veuve Agasse, Paris.

~LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum, edn 1. Salvii, Stockholm.

LINNAEUS, C. 1771. Mantissa plantarum altera. Salvii, Stockholm.

LINNAEUS, C. VON (filius). 1781. Supplementum plantarum. Impensis Orphanotrophei, Brunswick.

MACBRIDE, J.F. 1918. In Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Havard University 56: 17.

MARLOTH, R. 1915. The flora of South Africa, with synoptical tables of the genera of the higher plants 4. Darter, Cape Town.

MILLER, P. 1768. The gardener’s dictionary, edn 6. London. |

OBERMEYER, A.A. 1984. Revision of the genus Myrsiphyllum Willd. Bothalia 15: 77-88.

ROEMER, J.J. & SCHULTES, J.A. 1829. Caroli a Linné equitis Systema vegetabilium 7,1. Cotta, Stuttgart.

SALISBURY, R.A. 1866. The genera of plants. Van Voorst, London.

SALTER, T.M. 1940. Plantae novae Africanae XV. Journal of South African Botany 6: 165— 175.

82 4 ASPARAGACEAE

SALTER, T.M. 1950. Asparagus. In R.S. Adamson & T.M. Salter, Flora of the’'Cape Peninsula: 172 —176. Juta, Johannesburg.

SAUNDERS, W.W. 1869. Refugium botanicum. Van Voorst, London.

SCHINZ, H. 1896. Die Pflanzenwelt Deutsch-Siidwestafrikas. Bulletin de |’Herbier Boissier Sér. 1,4, App. II: 1-57.

SOLCH, A. 1960. Beitrdge zu einer Flora Stidwest-Afrikas. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1794. Prodromus plantarum capensium 1. Edman, Uppsala.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1823. Flora capensis, ed. Schultes. Edman, Uppsala. |

TILLI, M.A. 1723. Catalogus plantarum Horti Pisani. Typis Regiae Celsitudinis, apud Tartinium et Franchium, Florentiae.

WIGHT, W.F. 1909. In Century Dictionary I: 845.

WILLDENOW, C.L. 1808. In Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin Magazin 2: 25.

LUZURIAGACEAE 83

LUZURIAGACEAE

Slender forest climbers with much branched woody stems from rhizomes with swollen roots. Leaves

alternate, sessile, parallel-veined with slight reticulate venation; stipules and similar structures ab-

sent. Flowers small, in few-flowered, lax, axillary cymes. Jepals 3 + 3, forming a short broad tube

with lobes equal, spreading. Stamens 3 + 3, arising from lower half of perianth tube, extending

to the mouth; filaments free, terete; anthers introrse, versatile. Ovary 3-locular, attenuate at base;

ovules axile, few; style trigonous; stigma apical, obtuse, tripartite. Fruit a berry with a short basal

stipe; seeds 3-15.

Genera 4 or 5 with 7 or 9 species; southern South America, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand.

BEHNIA

by A.A. OBERMEYER*

(Literature references on p. 84)

Behnia Didr. in Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk naturhistorisk Forening 1 Kj6benhavn 1854:

1147

182 (1855); Bak.: 561 (1875); Bak.: 274 (1896); Hutch.: 627 (1959); Dyer: 944 (1976).

Dictyopsis Harv.: t. 5638 (1867); Harv.: 406 (1868).

Brehnia Bak. (in error for Behnia): 561 (1875).

Description as for the family.

A monotypic genus.

Behnia reticulata (Thunb. ) Didr. in Viden-

skabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk naturhistorisk

Forening 1 KjObenhavn 1854: 182 (1855); Bak.:

2/4 (1896); Krause: 380 (1930).

Ruscus reticulatus Thunb.: 13 (1794); Thunb.: 161 (1811);

Thunb.: 38 (1823); Willd.: 876 (1825); Kunth: 276 (1850).

Type: South Africa, without locality, Thunberg (UPS holo.,

but not on microfiche). Dictyopsis thunbergii Harv.: t. 5638

(1867). Hylonome reticulata (Thunb.) Bak.: 561 (1875).

Tall, glabrous, shiny, slender, evergreen forest

climber. Rhizome compact, with numerous thick

roots. Stems thin. Leaves alternate, ovate-

acuminate, + 70 < 30 mm but variable in size,

apiculate, closely reticulate-veined, shiny, thin.

Flowers in axils of upper leaves in loose, few-

to many-flowered, axillary cymes, small, cream

or green; peduncle and pedicels wiry. Perianth

+ 7 mm long, forming a short, broad tube con-

tracted into a short stipe below, where attached

to the short pedicel; lobes short, spreading.

Stamens 6, just reaching mouth of tube, fused

halfway to the tube below; filaments terete;

* Pinelands Place, Lonsdale Road, 7405 Pinelands; formerly

of the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.

~ anthers introrse, versatile. Ovary ovoid, 3-locular,

ovules few, axile. Fruit a berry, green to light

yellow or whitish (drying black), + 10 mm in

diameter; seeds more or less globose, hard,

black, + 8 mm in diameter. Figure 16.

Endemic; in forests from the southern and eastern Cape

‘to Natal, Swaziland, Transvaal and Zimbabwe. Map 55.

Map 55.—Behnia reticulata

84 | : LUZURIAGACEAE

FIGURE 16.—Behnia reticulata: 1, flowering branch, x 0,67; 2, flower, x 2; 3, fruit, x 0,67 (1 and 2 after Flanagan

271, 3 after Van der Schijff 4548). Artist: G. Condy.

Vouchers: Acocks 8999; Archibald 3648; Dahlstrand Obermeyer sub TRV 30390; Pegler 777; Strey 8770;

1850; Devenish 891; Ecklon & Zeyher s.n.; Edwards 2689; — Van der Schijff 4548; Venter & Vorster Ill; Ward 2969.

Flanagan 271; Forbes 684; Galpin 517: Junod 4171;

REFERENCES

BAKER, J.G. 1875. Revision of the genera and species of Asparagaceae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany

14: 508-632.

BAKER, J.G. 1896. Asparagus. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora capensis 6: 256—274. Reeve, London.

DIDRICHSEN, D.F. 1855. In Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk naturhistorisk Forening i Kj6benhavn 1854: 182.

DYER, R.A. 1976. The genera of southern African flowering plants 2. Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria.

HARVEY, W.H. 1867. Dictyopsis thunbergii. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 93: t. 5638.

HARVEY, W.H. 1868. The genera of South African plants, 2nd edn. Juta, Cape Town.

HUTCHINSON, J. 1959. The families of flowering plants, 2nd edn. Clarendon, Oxford.

KRAUSE, K. 1930. Luzuriagoideae. Die Natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien, edn 2, 15a: 378-381.

KUNTH, C.S. 1850. Enumeratio plantarum 5. Cotta, Stuttgart & Tubingen.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1794. Prodromus plantarum capensium 1. Edman, Uppsala.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1811. Flora capensis, edn 1, Vol. 1,2. Edman, Uppsala.

THUNBERG, C.P. 1823. Flora capensis, ed. Schultes. Edman, Uppsala.

WILLDENOW, C.L. 1825. Caroli a Linné Species plantarum 4,2. Berlin.

SMILACACEAE 85

SMILACACEAE

Scandent, glabrous, dioecious shrubs (rarely erect) with many tough, perennial prickly stems

from a compact rhizome with numerous roots. Leaves alternate, on short petioles, with a pair of

spiral tendrils near base of petiole (an extension of the leaf sheath); blade with 3—5 strong nerves

and reticulate venation between main veins, firm. Flowers regular, hypogynous, unisexual, small,

in axillary umbels or terminal compound inflorescences. Tepals 3 + 3, free, petaloid. Male flowers

with 6(—15) free stamens; anthers basifixed, the locules confluent, appearing unilocular; ovary 0.

Female flowers with 6 filiform staminodes; ovary 3-locular, with 1 or 2 axile ovules; style 0 or

short; stigmas 3. Fruit a berry with 1—3 globose or semiglobose seeds.

Genera 4 with about 375 species; throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the World and in a few temperate areas.

SMILAX

by A.A. OBERMEYER*

(Literature references on p. 86)

1151

Smilax L., Species plantarum edn 1: 1028 (1753); Kunth: 160 (1850); A. DC.: 45 (1878); Bak.: 162,

t. 106 (1878); Bak.: 256 (1896); Bak.: 423 (1898); Krause: 382 (1930); Hutch.: 618 (1959); Dyer:

944 (1976). Type species: S. foliolus L.

Description as for the family.

Smilax anceps Willd., Species plantarum 4: .

782 (1806); A. DC.: 169 (1878); Coode: 2 (1978).

Type: Mauritius, W Heyne (B-W 18393, holo.).

Smilax kraussiana Meisn., in Krauss: 312 (1845); Kunth:

242 (1850); Bak.: 162, t. 106 (1875); A. DC.: 171 (1878); Bak.:

256 (1896); Bak.: 423 (1898): Wood: t. 339 (1906). Type:

Natal, Drége 4503 (LUC, holo.). Fide Cowley: 2 (1989).

S. mossambicensis Garcke: 518 (1862-1864). Type:

Mozambique, Peters (B, holo.).

Scandent, dioecious, glabrous, spiny suffru-

tices. Rhizome large with age; roots numerous,

swollen. Stems tough, with scattered, small,

sharp, exserted prickles. Leaves alternate, usually

in one plane with a pair of spirally coiled tendrils

near the base (an extension of the leaf sheath);

petiole short; blade firm, flat, broadly oblong,

~+ 60-100 x 30—60 mm, obtuse to acute,

apiculate, net-veined, with two strong lateral

nerves on each side of midrib. Inflorescence an

axillary globose umbel, many-flowered; pedun-

cle + 30 mm long. Flowers with pedicels + 5

mm long, which become discoid at apex and

* Pinelands Place, Lonsdale Road, 7405 Pinelands; former-

ly of the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria

base with age; basal bracts minute. Male flowers

with 6 broadly linear, recurved tepals, + 5 mm

long, fused into a short broad cup below. Stamens

6, placed on base of perianth; anthers basifixed,

erect, filiform, in line with filament. Female

flowers with perianth similar to that of male

flowers. Staminodia 3, filiform, short. Ovary

ovoid; styles 3, recurved; ovule solitary in each

Map 56.—Smilax anceps

86 | SMILACACEAE

FiGuRE 17.—Smilax anceps: 1, flowering branch, x 0,67; 2, male flower, x 2,6; 3, female flower, x 2,6; 4, in-

fructescence, X 0,67 [1 and 4 after Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk (1962), 2 and 3 after Wood (1906)]. Artist: G. Condy.

locule. Berry globose, + 5 mm in diameter, 2- names, amongst others sarsaparilla which can be obtained

or 3-seeded; seeds somewhat kidney-shaped, in crystalline form from an alcoholic extract of the root,

flattened. Fi gure 17 soluble in water. It is used in medicine and in what is known

; as a soft drink in America. 7

Vines; fairly common in wooded areas of the eastern Cape

to tropical (mainly eastern) Africa. Map 56. Vouchers: Bolus 10333; Elan Puttick 241; Flanagan 2619;

The dried roots of Smilax officinalis H.B.K. contain, besides Fourie 292; Hemm 70A; Killick 607; Kluge 6; Moll 2300;

gum and starch, a peculiar substance known under several Venter 807; Ward 3047.

REFERENCES

BAKER, J.G. 1875. Monocotyledones Petaloideae. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 29: 151—163, t. 106.

BAKER, J.G. 1896. Smilax. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora capensis 6: 256. Reeve, London.

BAKER, J.G. 1898. Smilax. In W.T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora of tropical Africa 7: 423—425. Reeve, London.

COODE, M.J.E. 1978. Smilax. In J. Bosser, Th. Cadet, H.R. Julien & W. Marais (eds), Flore des Mascareignes 183: 2—3.

M.S.I.R.I., O.R.S.T.O.M. & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

COWLEY, E.J. 1989. Smilacaceae. In R.M. Polhill (ed.), Flora of tropical east Africa: 2. Balkema, Rotterdam.

DE CANDOLLE, A.L.P.P. 1878. Smilaceae. In A.L.P.P. de Candolle & A.C.P. de Candolle, Monographiae phanerogamarum

1: 39—217. Paris.

DYER, R.A. 1976. The genera of southern African flowering plants 2. Agricultural and Technical Services, Pretoria.

GARCKE, A. 1861—64. Coronariae. In W.C.H. Peters, Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique, Part 6, Botanik:

518—521. Reimer, Berlin.

HUTCHINSON, J. 1959. The families of flowering plants II: Monocotyledons, edn 2. Clarendon, Oxford.

KRAUSE, K. 1930. Smilacoideae. Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien, edn 2, 15a: 381—386.

KRAUSS, F. 1845. Flora No. 28: 312. Regensburg.

KUNTH, C.S. 1850. Enumeratio plantarum 5. Cotta, Stuttgart & Tubingen.

LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum, edn 1. Salvii, Stockholm.

WATT, J.M. & BREYER-BRANDWIJK, M.G. 1962. Medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa, edn

2. Livingstone, Edinburgh & London.

WILLDENOW, C.L. 1806. Species plantarum. Berlin.

WOOD, J.M. 1906. Natal plants 4. Bennett & Davis, Durban.

INDEX *

Adenogramma teretifolia (Thunb.) Adams., 68 sect. Thunbergiani Bak., 15, 18

Aletris fragrans L., 3 sect. Umbellati Bak., 15, 19

Aletris guineensis (L.) Jacq., 5 abyssinicus auct. non Hochst. ex A. Rich., 37

Aletris hyacinthoides (L.) L., 5 acocksii Jessop, 57

var. guineensis (L.) L., 5 aethiopicus L., 53

Aloe hyacinthoides L., 5 var. angusticladus Jessop, 56

var. guineensis L., 5 var. natalensis Bak., 56

ASPARAGACEAE, Il | var. ternifolius auct. non Bak., 56

Asparagopsis (Kunth) Kunth, 11 var. ternifolius Bak., 49

aethiopica (L.) Kunth, 54 africanus auct. non Lam., 33

consanguinea Kunth, 80 africanus Lam., 36

decumbens (Jacq.) Kunth, 79 var. concinnus Bak., 61

densiflora Kunth, 49 var. microphyllus Bak., 39

denudatus Kunth, 36 var. pubescens Bak., 39

dregei Kunth, 38 var. wrightii Bak., 37

floribunda Kunth, 47 albus auct. non L., 38

juniperina Kunth, 68 asiaticus auct. non L., 35

krebsiana Kunth, 52 asparagoides auct. non Druce, 77

lamarckii Kunth, 36 asparagoides (L.) Druce, 73

lancea (Thunb.) Kunth, 54 asparagoides (L.) Wight, 73

microrhaphis Kunth, 59 asparagoides sensu Jessop, 73, 75, 76

minutiflora Kunth, 64 aspergillus Jessop, 53, 56

niveniana (Schult.) Kunth, 38 bechuanicus Bak., 33

passerinoides Kunth, 23 _ buchananii Bak., 45

pilosa (Bak.) Oberm., 68 burchellii Bak., 27

retrofracta (L.) Kunth, 39 burkei Bak., 35

scandens (Thunb.) Kunth, 79 capensis auct. non L., 38

schlechtendalii Kunth, 80 capensis L., 23

setacea auct. non Kunth, 59 compactus Salter, 37

setacea Kunth, 58 concinnus (Bak.) Kies, 61

spinescens (Steud.) Kunth, 27 confertus Krause, 51

stipulacea (Lam.) Kunth, 24 conglomeratus Bak., 35, 58

subquadrangularis Kunth, 54 consanguineus (Kunth) Bak., 80

thunbergii Kunth, 38 cooperi Bak., 35

triacanthus (Burm. f.) Kunth, 23 crassicladus Jessop, 57

triacanthus (Roem. & Schult.) Kunth, 25 crispus Lam., 78

zeyheri Kunth, 25 cuscutoides Burch. ex Bak., 68

Asparagus L., ll declinatus auct. non L., 58

sect. Africani Bak., 15 decumbens Jacq., 79

sect. Africani sensu Jessop, 18 densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop, 49

sect. Asparagopsis Kunth, Il densus Soland. ex Bak., 24

sect. Capenses Bak., 13 denudatus auct. non Kunth, 37

sect. Crispi Jessop, 16 denudatus (Kunth) Bak., 36

sect. Declinati Bak., 14, 15, 16, 18 var. fragilis Bak., 68

sect. Exuviali Jessop, 16 dependens auct. non Thunb., 40

sect. Falcati Bak., 16 7 dependens sensu Ecklon, 40

sect. Myrsiphyllum (Willd.) Bak., 71 dependens Thunb., 36

sect. Racemosi Bak., 16 dinteri Engl. & Krause, 35

sect. Racemosi sensu Jessop, 16, 18 ecklonii Bak., 43

sect. Striati Bak., 19 engleri Krause, 65

en Tee oe a erectus (L.f.) Thunb., 65

* Synonyms are in italics. exuvialis Burch., 16

falcatus L., 45

var. ternifolius sensu Jessop, 16

fasciculatus Thunb., 80

fleckii Schinz, 35

flexuosus Thunb., 79

francisci Krause, 35

glaucus Kies, 23

hereroensis Schinz, 43

intangibilis Dinter, 25

judtii Schinz, 35

juniperinus, 36

juniperoides Engl., 78

klinghardtianus Dinter, 77

krausianus (Kunth) MacBride, 76

krausii Bak., 76

krebsianus (Kunth) Jessop, 52

kuisibensis Dinter, 75

lanceus Thunb., 54

laricinus Burch., 33

lignosus Burm. f., 37

longicladus N.E. Br., 36

lugardii Bak., 35

macowanii Bak., 62

var. zuluensis (N.E. Br.) Jessop, 62

medeoloides (L.f.) Thunb., 75

var. angustifolius (Mill.) Bak., 73

var. falciformis (Kunth) Bak., 75

microphyllus (Bak.) Kies, 39

microrhaphis auct. non (Kunth) Oberm., 61

microrhaphis (Kunth) Bak., 59

minutiflorus (Kunth) Bak., 64

mucronatus Jessop, 38

multiflorus Bak., 39

multituberosus R.A. Dyer, 73

myriocladus Bak., 49

namaensis Schinz, 39

nelsii Schinz, 48

nelsonii Bak., 23

nivenianus Schult., 38

nodosus Soland. ex Bak., 68

obermeyerae Jessop, 53

omahekensis Krause, 25

ovatus Salter, 75

oxyacanthus Bak., 48

patens Krause, 35

pearsonii Kies, 37

pectinatus Del., 79

pilosus Bak., 68

planiusculus Burm. f, 68

plumosus auct. non Bak., 58

plumosus Bak., 58, 59

racemosus auct. non Willd., 54

racemosus Willd., 16, 45

var. decipiens Bak., 54

var. tetragonus auct. non Willd., 52

var. tetragonus (Bresler) Bak., 54

ramosissmum Bak., 79

retrofractus L., 15, 39

rigidus Jessop, 64

rivalis Burch. ex Kies, 35

ruber Burm. f., 38

rubicundus Berg., 38

sarmentosus auct. non L., 49

‘sarmentosus var. comatus Bak., 49

sarmentosus var. densiflorus (Kunth) Bak., 49

sarmentosus var. kunthii Bak., 54

saundersiae Bak., 47

scandens Thunb., 76, 79

var. deflexus Bak., 80

schroederi Eng}., 53

setaceus (Kunth) Jessop, 18, 58, 59

spinescens Steud. ex Roem. & Schult., 27

spinosissimus Kuntze, 25

sprengeri Regel, 49

stellatus Bak., 61;

stipulaceus auct. non Lam., 27

stipulaceus Lam., 24

var. spinescens Steud. ex Roem. & Schult., 27

stipularis?, 43

striatus De Wild., 53

striatus (L.f.) Thunb., 19, 64

var. dregei Bak., 65

var. linearifolius Bak., 65

var. zeyheri Bak., 65

striatus Thunb., 53

suaveolens auct. non Burch., 27

suaveolens Burch., 25

subulatus Thunb., 65 .

ternifolius (Bak.) Hook. f., 49

tetragonus auct. non Bresler, 49

tetragonus Bresler, 54

thunbergianus Schult., 38

triacanthus Burm. f., 23

triacanthus Willd. ex Roem. & Schult., 25

undulatus (L.f.) Thunb., 77

var. rugosus Bak., 68

virgatus Bak., 31

var. capillaris Bak., 31

volubilis Thunb., 76

wildemanii Weim., 53

zuluensis N.E. Br., 62

BEHNIA Didr., 83

reticulata (Thunb.) Didr., 83

Brehnia Bak., 83

Cordyline Planch.; auct. non Comm. ex Juss., 1

reflexa (Lam.) Planch., 1

rumphii Hook., 3

Dictyopsis Harv., 83

thunbergii Harv., 83

DRACAENA L., 1

aletriformis (Haw.) Bos, 3

draco (L.) L., 1

erecta L.f., 65

fragrans (L.) Ker-Gawl., 1

hookeriana K. Koch, 3

latifolia Regel, 3

mannii Bak., 3

medeoloides L.f., 75

nitens Welw. ex Bak., 3

reflexa Lam., 1

var. nitens (Welw. ex Bak.) Bak., 3

rumphii (Hook.) Regel, 3

striata L.f., 64

transvaalensis Bak., 3

undulata L.f., 77

usambarensis Engl., 3

volubilis L.f., 76

DRACAENACEAE, 1

Draco hookeriana (K. Koch) Kuntze, 3

Elide Medik., 75

Hecatris Salisb., 71

asparagoides (L.) Salisb., 73

Hylonome reticulata (Thunb.) Bak., 83

LUZURIAGACEAE, 83 ,

Medeola angustifolia Mill., 73

asparagoides L., 71, 73

MYRSIPHYLLUM Willd., 71

alopecurum Oberm., 78

angustifolium (Mill.) Willd., 73

asparagoides (L.) Willd., 71, 73

declinatum (L.) Oberm., 78

erectum (L.f.) Kunth, 65 —

falciforme Kunth, 75

fasciculatum (Thunb.) Oberm., 80

gramineum Kunth, 76

juniperoides (Engl.) Oberm., 78

kraussianum Kunth, 76

multituberosum (R.A. Dyer) Oberm., 73

ovatum (Salter) Oberm., 75

ramosissimum (Bak.) Oberm., 79

scandens (Thunb.) Oberm., 79

striatum (L.f.) Kunth, 64

undulatum (L.f) Kunth, 77

volubile (Thunb.) Oberm., 76

Pleomele Salisb., 1

fragrans (L.) Salisb., 1

hookeriana (K. Koch) N.E. Br., 3

nitens (Welw. ex Bak.) N.E. Br., 3

usambarensis (Engl.) N.E. Br., 3

PROTASPARAGUS Oberm., II

series Africani (Bak. ) Oberm., 15

series Exuviali Oberm., 16 |

series Globosi Oberm., 18

series Penduli Oberm., 14

series Protasparagus, 16

series Racemosi (Bak.) Oberm., 16

series Retrofracti Oberm., 15

series Suaveolens Oberm., 13

series Sympodioidi Oberm., 19

subg. Protasparagus, 14

subg. Suaveolens Oberm., 13

acocksii Jessop) Oberm., 57

aethiopicus (L.) Oberm., ll, 54

africanus (Lam.) Oberm., 35

aggregatus Oberm., 55

angusticladus (Jessop) Oberm., 56

aspergillus Jessop) Oberm., 56

bayeri Oberm., 21

bechuanicus (Bak.) Oberm., 33

biflorus Oberm., 63

buchananii (Bak.) Oberm., 45

burchellii (Bak.) Oberm., 27

capensis (L.) Oberm., 23

var. capensis, 23

var. litoralis Suess., 24

clareae Oberm., 54

coddii Oberm., 53

compactus (Salter) Oberm., 37

concinnus (Bak.) Oberm. & Immelman, 61

confertus (Krause) Oberm., 51

cooperi (Bak.) Oberm., 33

crassicladus (Jessop) Oberm., 57

densiflorus (Kunth) Oberm., 49

cv. Meyersii, 49

cv. Sprengeri, 49

denudatus (Kunth) Oberm., 36

devenishii Oberm., 41

divaricatus Oberm., 67

edulis Oberm., 41

exsertus Oberm., 29

exuvialis (Burch.) Oberm., 16, 42

forma exuvialis, 43

forma ecklonii (Bak.) Oberm., 43

falcatus (L.) Oberm., 43

filicladus Oberm., 51

flavicaulis Oberm., 29

subsp. flavicaulis, 30

subsp. setulosus Oberm., 30

fouriei Oberm., 62

fractiflexus Oberm., 40

glaucus (Kies) Oberm., 23

graniticus Oberm., 42

intricatus Oberm., 65

krebsianus (Kunth) Oberm., 51

laricinus (Burch.) Oberm., 33

lignosus (Burm. f-) Oberm., 37

longicladus (N.E. Br.) B. Mathew, 36

lynetteae Oberm., 47

macowanii (Bak.) Oberm., 62

mariae Oberm., 24

microrhaphis (Kunth) Oberm., 59 virgatus (Bak.) Oberm., 31

minutiflorus (Kunth) Oberm., 64 Ruscus reticulatus Thunb., 83

mollis Oberm., 32 volubilis Thunb., 76

mucronatus (Jessop) Oberm., 38 SANSEVIERIA Thunb., 5

multiflorus (Bak.) Oberm., 39 aethiopica Thunb., 7

natalensis (Bak.) Oberm., 56 angustiflora Lindb., 5

nelsii (Schinz) Oberm., 48 caespitosa Dinter, 7

nodulosus Oberm., 59 desertii N.E. Br., 8

oliveri Oberm., 30 grandis- Hook. f., 5

oxyacanthus (Bak.) Oberm., 48 var. zuluensis N.E. Br., 5

pearsonii (Kies) Oberm., 37 guineensis (L.) Willd., 5

pendulus Oberm., 14, 32 hyacinthoides (L.) Druce, 5

plumosus (Bak.) Oberm., 59 longiflora Sims, 7

racemosus (Willd.) Oberm., 16, 45 paniculata Schinz, 3

recurvispinus Oberm., 19 pearsonii N.F. Br., 8

retrofractus (L.) Oberm., 15, 39 scabrifolia Dinter, 7

rigidus (Jessop) Oberm., 64 thyrsiflora Petagna, 5

rubicundus (Berg.) Oberm., 38 thyrsiflora (Petagna) Thunb., 5

schroederi (Engl.) Oberm., 53 zeylanica auct. not Willd., 7

sekukuniensis Oberm., 63 Schizobasis cuscutoides (Burch. ex Bak.) Benth., 68

setaceus (Kunth) Oberm., 18, 58 SMILACACEAE, 85

spinescens (Steud. ex Roem. & Schult.) Oberm., 27 SMILAX L., 85

stellatus (Bak.) Oberm., 61 anceps Willd., 85

stipulaceus (Lam.) Oberm., 24 foliolus L., 85

striatus (L.f) Oberm., 19, 64 kraussiana Meisn., 85

suaveolens (Burch.) Oberm., 25 mossambicensis Garcke, 85

subulatus (Thunb.) Oberm., 65 officinalis H.B.K., 86

transvaalensis Oberm., 52 Yucca aletriformis Haw., 3