3. Thamnea Sol. ex Brongn.

in Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 8: 386, t. 38. 1826, nom. cons. (McNeill & al., ICBN: 405. 2006) pro Thamnia P. Browne (Flacourtiaceae); Pillans in J. S. African Bot. 13: 143. 1947

– Type: Thamnea uniflora (L.) Sol. ex Brongn .

= Pseudobaeckea Nied. in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 2a: 136. 1891 p.p. quoad P. teres Dümmer.

Growth form: ericoid dwarf shrubs, prostrate, often in rock crevices; lignotubers present. Leaves: ± imbricate, sessile, slightly appressed; stipules minute (not seen in T. teres); hypostomatic (epistomatic in T. teres), stomata not surrounded by cuticular rim (except T. teres). Flowers: solitary, sessile (except T. hirtella), on bracteate short shoots with 8–12 bracts ( T. teres) or at top of leafy shoots subtended by uppermost involucre-like leaves (remaining species). Petals: free, unguiculate, recurved, white, usuallywithpinklowerhalf (“claw”) or with red stains in lower half ( T. teres), pale pink ( T. ustulata) or completely pink ( T. massoniana), with 2 separate, rather narrow, parallel ridges not fused at base. Scent: occasionally present and sweet ( T. massoniana, T. diosmoides). Stamens: included or shortly exserted; anthers linear or linear-oblong, thecae parallel, free only in basal part. Pollen: 3-colporate, except T. ustulata and T. hirtella with 4 or 5 pollen colpi, tectum granular. Ovary: inferior (up to half-inferior in T. teres), 1- or 2-locular with 2–8 ovules per locule, topped by a ring-shaped nectary (not in T. thesioides, T. massoniana, and T. gracilis). Styles: 1 or 2, ± shortly exserted, united (free in T. teres). Fruit: 1-seeded, dry, indehiscent. Habitat: on well-drained soils at high altitudes (>1000 m) with moisture-bearing clouds ( T. teres). Flowering time: December–February ( T. massoniana), April–July ( T. hirtella), October–November ( T. teres), or September–November (remaining species). Species: 9 spp.; restricted tomountainslopesinsouth-westernpartof Western Cape.