Pauridia affinis (Schult. & Schult.f.) Snijman & Kocyan (2013: 23)

Snijman, Deirdre A., 2014, A taxonomic revision of the genus Pauridia (Hypoxidaceae) in southern Africa, Phytotaxa 182 (1), pp. 1-114 : 85-87

23. Pauridia affinis (Schult. & Schult.f.) Snijman & Kocyan (2013: 23) . Fig. 37

Bas.:— Hypoxis affinis Schultes & Schultes (1830: 774) . Type (lectotype designated by Snijman & Kocyan 2013: 23):— SOUTH AFRICA. [Cape], Caput bonae spei, 1820, Brehm s.n. (M! [image])

= Hypoxis pusilla Presl (1845: 546) , nom. illeg., non Kunth (1816: 286), non Hooker (1858: 36. t. 130B) ( McNeill et al. 2012: Art. 53.1). Type (lectotype designated by Snijman & Kocyan 2013: 23):— SOUTH AFRICA. [Cape], Caput bona spei, Sieber Fl. capensis. No. 126 (PR! 290808/1709 [image])

= Hypoxis schlechteri Bolus (1893: 2259) ≡ Ianthe schlechteri (Bolus) Williams (1901: 292) ≡ Hypoxis curculigoides var. β schlechteri (Bolus) Baker (1896: 176) ≡ Spiloxene schlechteri (Bolus) Garside (1936: 269) . Type (lectotype designated by Snijman & Kocyan 2013: 23):— SOUTH AFRICA. [Western Cape], prope Kenilworth [QDS: 3318CD], 1892, R. Schlechter 628 (K! No. K000255983 [image])

Plants 5–15(–21) cm tall, often forming clumps. Corm ovoid to turbinate, 7–23 mm diam, covered with several, heavily ribbed, fibrous tunics, cormlets often produced basally, old corms sometimes placed 15 mm below new corm on a scaleless dropper; fibres straight, hard, dark brown, unbranched or rarely with a few fine reticulations near apex, firmly attached to basal rim, basal disc somewhat convex, tips erect, acute; roots spreading irregularly, contractile roots often developing proximally. Cataphylls membranous, 10–20(–50) mm long, whitish, mostly truncate with a short, fleshy tip. Leaves 2–7, shortly sheathing up to 5 mm, suberect to spreading, linear, (21–)30–105(–135) × 1.5–2.0(–3.0) mm, terete to hemiterete, firm, smooth, apex acute, developing a thick, blackish scar when cut. Inflorescences 1 or 2(–5) in flower at a time, 1(2)-flowered, longer to slightly shorter than leaves; scape 10–52(–91) × 1.5–2.0 mm, somewhat compressed adaxially, reddish to reddish green; bracts 1(2), clasping pedicel for up to ¾ of length, narrowly lanceolate, canaliculate, 11–32 × 2–3 mm, reddish, somewhat leathery, apex acute, slightly spreading, smooth or rarely with a few multicellular teeth on midrib. Flowers pedicellate, stellate, golden yellow, backed with reddish brown on outer tepals except proximally, adaxial surface minutely corrugated near base, unscented; pedicel erect or spreading, deflected sideways when fruiting, 20–70 × ca. 1 mm, reddish; tepals narrowly elliptical, 7–16(–20) mm long, outer 3–5 mm wide, mucronate, inner 2.0– 3.5 mm wide. Stamens 6, suberect to spreading, outer slightly shorter than inner, yellow; filaments inserted on ovary rim, outer 1.0– 1.5 mm long, inner 2.0 mm long, shorter than anthers; anthers oblong, 3.5–4.0 × 0.5 mm, latrorse, basal lobes 0.5–1.0 mm long, apex emarginate; pollen yellow. Ovary narrowly obconical, 4–8 × 1.5–2.0 mm, 3- locular, usually reddish; style stout, ca. 1.3 mm long; stigma branches suberect, narrowly oblong-triangular, (1–)2–4 × ca. 1.0– 1.5 mm, shorter than or rarely equalling stamens, yellow, papillose. Capsules often curved upwards, narrowly obconical, 10–12 × 2.5 mm, walls breaking lengthwise close to septa. Seeds ellipsoid, 0.4–0.6 mm diam.; testa rusty to dark brown or occasionally black, colliculate, epidermal cells arranged in ca. 25 close-set, longitudinal rows, anticlinal cell walls more or less isodiametric, outer periclinal cell walls almost entirely hemispherical. Flowering period: (May–)June–September.

Distribution and habitat:— Pauridia affinis is confined to the southwestern Cape lowlands where populations are found in seasonally waterlogged, flat habitats in sand or loam, typically in areas covered by alluvium renosterveld and fynbos. The species extends from around Darling eastwards to the foothills of the Elandskloof Mountains in the north and Hottentots Holland Mountains in the south, reaching the Cape Peninsula in the extreme south of Western Cape ( Fig. 36B ). At times the habitats of P. affinis may become flooded for short periods, but unlike P. aquatica the species is not adapted to standing water for several weeks.

Diagnostic features:—The most important distinguishing features of Pauridia affinis are the corm tunics which consist of rigid, unbranched, dark brown fibres that are firmly attached to a hard, smooth, slightly convex disc below. In addition, the membranous, almost truncate cataphylls contrast markedly with the firm, terete to hemiterete leaves, which when cut develop a thick, dark scar. The scape, pedicels and backs of the outer tepals are characteristically reddened and when ripe the walls of the capsule break away longitudinally. Like many other species in the genus the corm produces contractile roots, but P. affinis is somewhat unusual in also developing droppers that apparently optimize the position of the corms in the soil.

Discussion:— Pauridia affinis has sometimes been confused with P. monticola , a species found on sandstone rock sheets and slopes along the mountain chain between the Bokkeveld Mountains near Nieuwoudtville in the north and near Worcester in the south. Subtle differences, however, separate the two species. Unlike the 1.5–2.0(–3.0) mm wide, terete to hemiterete leaves of P. affinis , those of P. monticola are often broader, 1.5–6.0(–13) mm wide, dorsiventrally flattened and somewhat canaliculate. Apart from occasional plants with twoflowered infloresences in areas near Mamre, Wellington and Theewaterskloof Dam, near Villiersdorp, P. affinis has a predominantly 1-flowered inflorescence and somewhat elongated capsule (10–12 mm long), unlike the consistently 2-flowered inflorescence and shorter capsules (5–10 mm long) in P. monticola .

Confusion between the two species may sometimes arise with collections from the Bokkeveld Mountains, Matsikamma, Gifberg and Elandskloof Mountains near Citrusdal where plants of P. monticola often have inrolled leaves, which superficially appear to be terete like those of P. affinis , but these plants are, nevertheless, distinguishable by consistent differences in capsule size.

Additional specimens examined:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Versveld Nature Reserve, Darling (QDS: 3318AD), 4 June 1971, Axelson 436 (NBG!); Mamre Road (QDS: 3318BC), 14 August 1946, Compton 18156 (NBG!); Riverlands Nature Reserve (QDS: 3318BC), 18 July 2008, Koopman s.n. (NBG 216611!); ibidem, 28 September 2005, Snijman 2029 (NBG!); Melkbosch Road (QDS: 3318CB), 31 August 1942, W.F. Barker 1780 (NBG!); 3 miles [4.8 km] from Durbanville on the Langeberg road to Kraaifontein (QDS: 3318CC), 20 July 1963, H.C. Taylor 4934 (NBG!, PRE!); Rondebosch Common (QDS: 3318CD), 30 June 1941, W.F. Barker 1446 (NBG!), Milnerton (QDS: 3318CD), 29 June 1942, W.F. Barker 1775 (NBG!); Camps Bay (QDS: 3318CD), 5 July 1943, W.F. Barker 2426 (NBG!); Kenilworth, near Cape Town (QDS: 3318CD), August 1894, H. Bolus 7955 (NBG!, PRE!); stony slopes above Camps Bay (QDS: 3318CD), 14 June 1946, Esterhuysen 12842 (BOL!); Rondebosch Common (QDS: 3318CD), 8 June 1950, Heginbotham 146 (NBG!); prope Rondebosch (QDS: 3318CD), June 1884, Marloth 133 (PRE!); Kenilworth Race Course (QDS: 3318CD), 21 June 1903, Pearson 156 (NBG!); Kloof quarry, Cape Peninsula (QDS: 3318CD), August 1938, Penfold 48 (NBG!); Rondebosch Common (QDS: 3318CD), 18 June 1949, M. Steyn 93 (NBG!); Camps Bay (QDS: 3318CD), 29 June 1949, M. Steyn 191 (NBG!); flats, 3 miles [4.8 km] Eof Claremont (QDS: 3318CD), 25 August 1912, Pillans 1949 (BOL!); Kenilworth Race Course (QDS: 3318CD), 28 June 1938, Salter 7365 (BOL!); Rondebosch Common (QDS: 3318CD), 5 June 1967, Thompson 297 (NBG!); Signal Hill, Cape Town (QDS: 3318CD), August 1932, M. van Dyk in herb. Uniw. Stell. 16936 (NBG!); Kenilworth Race Course (QDS: 3318CD), 1 July 1941, Walgate 266 (NBG!); W slope of Orange Kloof (QDS: 3318CD), 4 June 1897, Wolley-Dod 2745 (BOL!); Eslope of Orange Kloof (QDS: 3318CD), 25 August 1897, Wolley-Dod 2800 (BOL!); Nof Bottelfontein, Sof Kalabaskraal (QDS: 3318DA), 19 July 2002, Low 7447 (NBG!); Kalabaskraal (QDS: 3318DA), 27 July 1971, Strauss 109 (NBG!); Kalabaskraal (QDS: 3318DA), 8 June 1965, Thompson 104 (NBG!); Kalabaskraal, Farm Uitspan (QDS: 3318DA), 12 August 1969, Thompson 740 (NBG!); Paarl Div., 6.2 km WNW of Windmill (QDS: 3318DB), 26 August 1970, Acocks 24326 (PRE!); Paardeberg, Modderkloof Farm (QDS: 3318DB), 15 June 1966, W.F. Barker 10384 (NBG!); Paarlberg (QDS: 3318DB), 14 September 1974, Burgers B1 (NBG!); Stellenbosch Engineering land (QDS: 3318DB), 11 June 1981, Hugo 2605 (NBG!); Paardeberg on Farm Modderkloof (QDS: 3318DB), 17 June 1981, Hugo 2607 (NBG!); Kuil's River (QDS: 3318DC), May 1931, Bosman s.n. sub NBG 1131/28 (BOL!); Uitvlugt, Cape Flats (QDS: 3318DC), date unknown, Guthrie 57 (BOL!); Tygerberg (QDS: 3318DC), 11 August 1926, Levyns 2029 (BOL!); Nof Frankdale Road, Vissershok (QDS: 3318DC), 18 June 2002, Low 7430 (NBG!); ca. 3 miles [4.8 km] from Durbanville (QDS: 3318DC), 20 July 1963, H.C. Taylor 4934 (NBG!, PRE!); Phesantekraal, beyond Durbanville (QDS: 3318DC), 13 August 1952, Van Niekerk 155 (BOL!); Stellenbosch, Duthie Reservaat (QDS: 3318DD), 14 June 1963, Bos 41 (NBG!); Stellenbosch (QDS: 3318DD), June 1960, Cheadle 804 (PRE!); ibidem, July 1897, De Jongh in Herb Galpin 4735 (PRE!), June 1917, Duthie 497 (BOL!); Elsenberg (QDS: 3318DD), 18 September 1926, Grant 2510 (BOL!); Paarl, Klapmutskop (QDS: 3318DD), 17 August 2002, Helme 2529 (NBG!); ibidem, 16 June 1938, Middlemost s.n. sub 1406/37 ( NBG!) ; Jonkershoek Forest Reserve (QDS: 3318 DD) , 5 July 1963, H.C. Taylor 4904 ( PRE!) ; Stellenbosch flats (QDS: 3318 DD) , 23 May 1969, Thompson 729 ( NBG!) ; 3 km Nof Koelenhof (QDS: 3318 DD) , 10 September 1975, Thompson 2621 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; near Groenfontein, Klapmuts (QDS: 3318 DD) , 15 September 1983, L. van Zyl 3508 ( NBG!) ; Wolseley (QDS: 3319 AC) , 24 September 2001, A. de Villiers s.n. ( NBG!) ; Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve (QDS: 3319 AC) , 26 June 1999, E. Parker s.n. ( NBG 202927 !) ; ibidem, 26 August 2000, E. Parker s.n. ( NBG 202929 !) ; Tulbagh, Voelvlei Tortoise Reserve (QDS: 3319 AC) , 10 August 1989, F. Solomon 20 ( NBG!) ; flats between French Hoek Pass and Villiersdorp (QDS: 3319 CC) , 15 September 1933, Garside 4493 ( BOL!) ; foot of Franschhoek Pass, Villiersdorp side (QDS: 3319 CC) , 16 September 1968, Marsh 896 ( PRE!) ; Kommetjie (QDS: 3418 AB) , 2 July 1938, W.F. Barker 462 ( NBG!) , 2 July 1932, Lewis 24 ( SAM!) ; Dieprivier (QDS: 3418 AB) , May 1916, Marloth 7443 ( PRE!) ; Bergvliet Farm, Constantia (QDS: 3418 AB) , 23 May 1916, Purcell s.n. ( SAM 91241!) ; ibidem, 1 August 1918, Purcell s.n. ( SAM 91245!) ; Constantiaberg, prope Houtsbay (QDS: 3418 AB) , 12 June 1892, Schlechter 990 ( PRE!) ; Wynberg (QDS: 3418 AB) , May 1892, Schlechter in Herb Norm. 1384 ( PRE!, SAM!) ; Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (QDS: 3418 AD) , 18 June 2007, Snijman 2110 ( NBG!) ; Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve between Hare's road and Lean Rock (QDS: 3418 AD) , 11 August 1967, H.C. Taylor 7132 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; Sir Lowry's Pass (QDS: 3418 BB) , July 1920, Guthrie s.n. ( BOL 16734!) ; ibidem, July 1920, Guthrie & Page s.n. ( PRE 38227!) ; Somerset West, Helderberg Nature Reserve (QDS: 3418 BB) , 20 July 1993, Runnals 525 ( NBG!) ; Strand, Harmony Reserve (QDS: 3418 BB) , 19 June 2000, Runnalls 1000 ( NBG!) ; flats behind Van der Stel and De Beers Explosive Works (QDS: 3418 BB) , June 1927, C.A. Smith 4204 ( PRE!) ; Sir Lowry's Pass (QDS: 3418 BB) , July 1950, Stokoe s.n. ( SAM 63783!) ; ibidem, 30 July 1955, Stokoe s.n. ( PRE!, SAM 60620!) ; Harmonie (QDS: 3418 BB) , 31 April 1965, Thompson 85 ( NBG!) ; flats near Viljoens Pass (QDS: 3419 AA) , September 1949, Davis s.n. ( PRE!, SAM 63782!) ; flats between French Hoek Pass and Villiersdorp (QDS: 3419 AA) , 15 September 1933, Garside 4493 ( BOL!) ; Theewaterskloof, near Rusbos, Du Toits River (QDS: 3419 AA) , 29 August 1979, Hugo 1849 ( PRE!) ; N sides of Theewaterskloof Dam after descending Franschhoek Pass (QDS: 3419 AA) , 26 August 2007, Snijman 2119 ( NBG!) ; Viljoens Pass (QDS: 3419 AA) , August 1946, Stokoe s.n. ( SAM 60619!) . Inexact localities: In Den Berg flussen ( Bergrivier ), June, Ecklon & Zeyher 4132 ( BOL!) ; [Cape], CBS, Harvey 104 ( K! [image]); Cape Flats , 25 June 1912, E.P. Phillps 1912 ( SAM!) ; Cape Division , August 1912, Rogers 11333 ( ZT!) ; Cape Flats , 13 July 1946, Strey 503 ( PRE!) .

Figures

FIGURE 36. Distribution maps for A, Pauridia monticola subsp. monticola (dots) from Northern and Western Cape; P. monticola subsp. nubigena (triangle) from Northern Cape; B, P. affinis from Western Cape, South Africa.

FIGURE 37. Pauridia affinis. A, whole plant; B, leaf in transverse section; C, stamen in ventral view; D, style and stigma branches; E, ovary in transverse section; F, capsule; G, seed. Scale bar A = 9 mm; B = 1.2 mm; C, D = 3 mm; E = 1.5 mm; F = 7 mm. Scale bar G = 0.5 mm. Drawn by Tracey Nowell from E. Parker s.n. (NBG!).