Pauridia serrata subsp. albiflora, (Nel) Snijman & Kocyan (2013: 30)

Snijman, Deirdre A., 2014, A taxonomic revision of the genus Pauridia (Hypoxidaceae) in southern Africa, Phytotaxa 182 (1), pp. 1-114 : 70-71

b. subsp. albiflora (Nel) Snijman & Kocyan (2013: 30)

Bas.:— Ianthe serrata var. albiflora Nel (1914b: 293) ≡ Spiloxene serrata var. albiflora (Nel) Garside (1936: 268) . Type (lectotype designated by Snijman & Kocyan 2013: 30):— SOUTH AFRICA. [Northern Cape], Onder-Bokkeveld, Oorlogskloof [QDS: 3119AC], 2400 ft [732 m], R. Schlechter 10945 (B! No. 100165526 [image], isolectotypes, BOL!, K! No. K000255997 [image], PRE!, S! [image], WAG! [image], ZT!)

= Hypoxis alba var. gracilis Baker (1878: 102) . Type (lectotype designated by Snijman & Kocyan 2013: 30):—(illustration in) Loddiges (1825: t. 1074)

Plants 7–25 cm tall. Corm covered by fibrous tunics, sometimes forming cormlets at base; roots spreading down from near corm base. Leaves up to 16, linear, 2.0– 2.5 mm wide. Flower 14–34 mm across, tepals white, backs of outer whorl entirely green and usually outlined with reddish brown, those of inner whorl with a plain green, broad median stripe, anthers and style yellow. Flowering period: (May–)July–September.

Distribution and habitat:—Endemic to the Bokkeveld Plateau, Pauridia serrata subsp. albiflora extends from a few kilometers north of Nieuwoudtville southwards to the Farm De Hoop on the Bokkeveld Plateau, Northern Cape ( Fig. 31A ). Plants occupy heavy clay soils, mostly derived from Dwyka tillite, although occasionally they are also found in localized patches of loam within nutrient-poor, sandstone-derived soils. The plants grow in full sun, most abundantly amongst Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld and less frequently in seasonally damp places amongst Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos. Co-occurring with subsp. albiflora near Nieuwoudtville are white-flowered plants of Arctotis acaulis Linnaeus (1763: 1306) (Asteraceae) , which elsewhere in this widespread species are predominantly orange-flowered.

Diagnostic features:—Like the typical subspecies, Pauridia serrata subp. albiflora has linear, canaliculate leaves that have minute, widely spaced, recurved teeth on the margins, a feature most easily seen in new growth. As the name suggests, subsp. albiflora is easily distinguished by its white, stellate flowers, which are mostly greenbacked.

Additional specimens examined:— SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: 5 miles [8 km] Eof Nieuwoudtville on Oorlogskloof road (QDS: 3119 AC), 24 August 1950, Barker 6539 ( NBG!, PRE!); Klipkoppies, ca. 6 miles [9.6 km] NE of Nieuwoudtville (QDS: 3119 AC), September 1930, L. Bolus s.n. ( BOL 19594!); 7 miles [11.3 km] Sof Nieuwoudtville (QDS: 3119 AC), 14 August 1972, Hall 4218 ( NBG!); near Nieuwoudtville on Loeriesfontein road (QDS: 3119 AC), Lewis 5851 ( NBG!); Menzieskraal, (3119 AC), Markötter in Herb. Uniw. Stellenbosiensis 18368 ( NBG!); Nieuwoudtville, Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve (QDS: 3119 AC), 21 September 2000, Pretorius 521 ( NBG!); Onder Bokkeveld, Oorlogskloof (QDS: 3119 AC), 21 August 1897, Schlechter 10945 ( BOL!, K!, PRE!, WAG!, ZT!); Nieuwoudtville Reserve (QDS: 3119 AC), 25 July 1983, Perry & Snijman 2153 ( NBG!, PRE!); Klipkoppies, 2 miles [3.2 km] Eof Nieuwoudtville (QDS: 3119 AC), without date, Rechinger A-3340 ( M! [digital image]); Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon (QDS: 3119 AC), 7 September 1996, Van Rooyen, Steyn & De Villiers 88 ( NBG!); Bokkeveld, Papkuilsfontein 788, 2 km Sof De Hoop (QDS: 3119 CA), 5 August 2008, Helme 5546 ( NBG!).

Figures

FIGURE 31. Distribution maps for A, Pauridia serrata subsp. albiflora from Northern Cape; B, P. linearis from Western Cape, South Africa.