Romulea pearsonii M.P. de Vos

Manning, John C. & Goldblatt, Peter, 2001, the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra including new species, biological notes, and a new infrageneric classification, Adansonia (3) 23 (1), pp. 59-108 : 82

19. Romulea pearsonii M.P. de Vos

J. S. African Bot., Suppl. 9: 113 (1972); Fl. S. Africa 7(2), fasc. 2: 29 (1983). — Type: Pearson sub Sladen Expedition 6550, South Africa, Northern Cape, Kamiesberg , Khomsoap Ravine (holo-, BOL!; iso-, K) .

Plants mostly to 10 cm, stem usually subterranean or reaching 3 cm above ground; corm with a crescent-shaped basal ridge. Leaves 3-5, the lower 2 basal, filiform, narrowly 4-grooved; outer bracts firm and closely veined with brownstreaked membranous margins and apex, inner bracts with broad brown-streaked membranous margins. Flowers yellow, tepals elliptic, 25-40 mm long; filaments 6-8 mm long, anthers 7-10 mm long. Fruiting peduncles suberect. Flowering: Aug.-Sep.

Romulea pearsonii is restricted to higher elevations in central Namaqualand from Grootvlei and the main Kamiesberg Range and grows in sandy, granitic slopes and flats. It is closely allied to Romulea neglecta and shares the same specialized outer and inner bracts but is distinguished by its yellow flowers.