Romulea longipes Schltr.

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 : 94

47. Romulea longipes Schltr.

J. Bot. 36: 377 (1898) ; M. P. de Vos , J. S. African Bot., Suppl. 9: 181 (1972); Fl . S. Africa 7(2), fasc. 2: 40 (1983). — Type: Galpin 3023, South Africa, Eastern Cape, Bathurst, Port Alfred (holo-, B; iso-, PRE!) .

Plants 15-50 cm high, stem reaching 4-35 cm above the ground; corm with a crescent-shaped basal ridge of fibril clusters. Leaves 3-5, lowest 2 basal, narrowly 4-grooved, 0.5-1 mm diam.; outer bracts with narrow membranous margins, inner bracts with wide, usually brownish membranous margins. Flowers cream to apricot with small markings around the yellow cup, tepals oblanceolate, 15-30 mm long; filaments 3-8 mm long; anthers 5-7 mm long. Fruiting peduncles erect or somewhat spreading. Flowering: July-Nov.

Restricted to Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Romulea longipes occurs on sandy flats along the coast from Port Elizabeth to East London. It is closely allied to R. fibrosa and is distinguished from it by its cream to greenish or pale apricot flowers whereas those of R. fibrosa are magenta to pink.