Berzelia Brongn.

Claßen-Bockhoff, Regine, Oliver, Edward G. H., Hall, Anthony V. & Quint, Marcus, 2019, A new classification of the South African endemic family Bruniaceae based on molecular and morphological data, TAXON 60 (4), pp. 1138-1155 : 1147

5. Berzelia Brongn.

in Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 8: 370, t. 35. 1826; Pillansin J. S. African Bot. 13: 186. 1947 p.p.

– Type: Berzelia lanuginosa (L.) Brongn .

= Brunia Lam., Encycl. 1(2): 474. 1785 p.p. quoad B. albiflora, B. alopecuroides , and B. stokoei .

Growth form: ericoid shrubs or small trees; lignotuber absent or present. Leaves: petiolate, closely set or imbricate, spreading or erect, amphistomatic (except B. alopecuroides ); stipules present. Inflorescences: pincushion-like, determinate headswith an acropetal or divergent flowering sequence, lateral on vegetative branches that continue to grow after flowering, often arranged in large racemose clusters with corymb-like shape; conspicuous red swellings of unknown function often presentat baseof uppermost flowering branches. Flowers: 4- or 5-merous, small, lateral ones subtended by 1 bract and 2 bracteoles. Petals: pale white to yellowish (red in B. stokoei ), with two narrowly associated ridges present on basal half of petal. Scent: occasionally present, yeasty. Stamens: clearly exserted; thecae parallel, anther versatile. Pollen: 3-colporate. Ovary: half-inferiorto ± inferior, 1-locular, 1-ovulate. Style: 1, exserted. Fruit: 1-seeded, dry, indehiscent; B. alopecuroides with red, berry-like infructescences caused by fleshy calyx lobes. Habitat: drytomoistsoils, predominantlysandstone substrates but also extending to limestone ( B. cordifolia ), various altitudes (0–2000m). Flowering time: September–December. Species: 16 spp., common, forming large, dense communities (e.g., B. lanuginosa , B. intermedia , B. abrotanoides ) tocritically rare, concentrated in southwestern region of Western Cape extending eastwards to Grahamstown in Eastern Cape.