Pauridia monticola subsp. monticola, Snijman, Snijman, 2014

Snijman, Deirdre A., 2014, A taxonomic revision of the genus Pauridia (Hypoxidaceae) in southern Africa, Phytotaxa 182 (1), pp. 1-114 : 82-83

a. subsp. monticola

Plants 2.5–14(–20) cm tall. Corm ovoid, 6–15 mm diam., covered with dark brown fibrous tunics; fibres hard, linear proximally, reticulate in distal half, firmly attached to flat or convex basal disc, tips acute, erect to slightly spreading; roots slender arising near corm base, contractile roots often developing proximally. Leaves 3–6, sheathing up to 20 mm, suberect to slightly arched, linear to narrowly lorate, shallowly canaliculate, 40–170 × 1.5–6.0(–13) mm, firm, narrowing to a flattened, thin-textured base, margin often raised, frequently with widely spaced, irregularly-shaped, multicellular teeth towards base, apex subacute, developing a dark, thickened, Ushaped scar when cut or broken. Inflorescences (1)2-flowered, longer than leaves; scape (5–)10–33(–70) × ca. 1.5 mm; bracts 2, clasping pedicels up to ¾ of length, more or less spreading distally, lanceolate, canaliculate, 24–33 ×1.5–3.0 mm, firm, green, margin somewhat membranous, apex slightly carinate, sometimes bearing a few, erect teeth. Flowers yellow, backed with pale green or pale red on outer tepals; pedicels slightly spreading, deflexed sideways when fruiting, 20–90 × 0.8–1.0 mm; tepals lanceolate, 6–10 mm long, outer 2.5–4.0 mm wide, inner 1.5–3.0 mm wide. Stamens suberect to slightly spreading, equal or rarely unequal, yellow; filaments shorter or rarely a little longer than anthers, outer 0.5–2.5 mm long, inner 1.0– 3.5 mm long; anthers oblong, outer 2–5 mm long, inner 3.5–6.0 mm long, basal lobes ca. 0.5 mm long. Ovary narrowly obconical, 3.5–6.0 × 2.0–3.0 mm; style 1.0– 2.5 mm long; stigma branches suberect, oblong, 2.0–4.5 × 0.5 mm, shorter than or rarely equalling stamens. Capsules narrowly obconical, 5–10 × 2.0– 2.5 mm, slightly curved. Seeds ellipsoidal, ca. 0.5 mm diam.; testa rusty brown, colliculate. Flowering period: (June–)July–October(–January).

Distribution and habitat:— subsp. monticola follows the Cape’s western mountain chain from the Bokkeveld Mountains near Nieuwoudtville, southwards to the Limietberge and Slanghoek Mountains between Wellington and Worcester ( Fig. 36A ). Large numbers of individuals are found scattered in shallow soils overlying seasonally wet, sandstone rock sheets or densely concentrated in deeper soils on damp, stony slopes, along stream sides and in marshy places. In the southern parts of the geographic range, where the surrounding fynbos vegetation is frequently dense, plants can be seen in abundance in the first season after fire.

Distinguishing characters:— subsp. monticola is most easily recognized by its characteristically hard, thicktextured leaves, which are shallowly canaliculate to somewhat dorsiventrally flattened and without a keel. The thick-texture of the leaves is also evident in the two inflorescence bracts which clasp the pedicels for about three quarters of their length.

Several herbarium collections of subsp. monticola have often been confused in the past with P. flaccida . The latter, however, has comparatively thin-textured leaves and membranous to papery bracts in which the midvein and subsidiary veins are clearly evident. Whereas the stigma branches of subsp. monticola are narrowly oblong and ca. 0.5 mm wide, these are ca. 2.5 mm wide and sagittate in P. flaccida . Furthermore capsule dehiscence of subsp. monticola is circumscissile and then downwards, closely adjacent to the septa, whereas that of P. flaccida remains strictly circumscissile.

Variation:—Plants vary greatly in size depending on their local habitat. Those exposed to full sun on rock sheets seldom reach more than 70 mm high, whereas in more shady places on rocky slopes plants may reach up to 200 mm tall. Leaf size in subsp. monticola is particularly variable. Plants growing in open habitats produce narrowly linear leaves, as small as 30 × 1.5 mm, whereas in seepages in deep shade, often on moss-covered rock ledges, the leaves may reach 130 × 6 mm. An atypically large specimen collected at Elandskloof, east of Citrusdal has lanceolate leaves reaching 18 mm broad (Barker 3120, NBG!). Floral morphology is relatively uniform within the subspecies but plants from sandstone pavement on the Matsikamma massif are noteworthy in having stamens of unequal lengths with the filaments almost equalling the anthers in length. In contrast, the filaments remain consistently shorter than the anthers in plants from other parts of the geographic range.

History:—The first collection appears to have been made by E.P. Phillips on the Gifberg south of Vanrhynsdorp, while participating in the Percy Sladen Memorial Expedition to Namaqualand in September 1911.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: Cloudskraal farm, near Nieuwoudtville (QDS: 3119 AC), 7 November 1962, Barker 9801 ( NBG!) . Western Cape: Matsikamma (QDS: 3118 DB), 28 August 2002, J.C. Paterson-Jones s.n. ( NBG!) ; Matsikammaberg, west of Sewefontein (QDS: 3118 DB), 12 July 1974, Thompson 2053 ( NBG!) ; Giftberg, Wof top of pass (QDS: 3118 DC), 11 June 1965, Thompson 107 ( NBG!) ; Giftberg (QDS: 3118 DD), September 1911, E.P. Phillips 7454 ( SAM!) ; Gifberg, Nawelskloof (QDS: 3118 DD), 8 September 2006, Snijman 2093 ( NBG!) ; Gifberg plateau (QDS: 3118 DD), 21 September 1985, P.C. Zietsman & L. Zietsman 1132 ( PRE!) ; Pakhuis Pass, Clanwilliam district (QDS: 3218 BB), 13 September 1947, Barker 4705 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; Pakhuis Pass (QDS: 3218 BB), 2 October 1940, Compton 9800 ( NBG!) ; Pakhuis Peaks, ca. 5 km NW of Kliphuis and 2 km NW of Pulpit Peak (QDS: 3218 BB), 25 October 2008, Helme 5732 ( NBG!) ; Pakhuisberge NE of Pilaarsberg, northern Cederberg , Klimopmekaarrivier Valley on Verkeerde Valley 186 (QDS: 3218 BB), 4 October 2006, Turner 1578 ( NBG!) ; edge of plateau on Kaptein's Kloof Mountain, Piquetberg Division (QDS: 3218 DA), 21 October 1935, Pillans 7858 ( BOL!) ; Piquetberg Division, Levant Mt., Mouton Valley Farm (QDS: 3218 DC), October 1922, Marloth 11510 ( PRE!) ; hills NW of Mouton's Vley, Piquetberg Division (QDS: 3218 DC) , s.d., Pillans 7233 ( BOL!) ; Cederberg Mtns, HeuningVlei (QDS: 3219 AA), 23 September 1942, Esterhuysen 8059 ( BOL!) ; Cedarberg Wilderness area , along track to Heuningvlei (QDS: 3219AA), 6 January 1999, Snijman 1664 ( NBG!) ; Cedarberg, Crystal pool (QDS: 3219 AC) , 22 September 1930, P.E. Barnes s.n. ( BOL 19447!) ; Cedarberg, Middleberg Plateau (QDS: 3219 AC) , September 1927, Levyns 2211 ( BOL!) ; Cedarberg Pass (QDS: 3219 AC) , 17 August 1982, Viviers 492 ( NBG!) ; Elandskloof, Ceres (QDS: 3219 CA) , 29 September 1944, W.F. Barker 3120 ( NBG!) ; Elandskloof (QDS: 3219 CA) , 2 October 1940, Compton 9666 ( NBG!) ; Middelberg, Elandskloof , SE of Citrusdal (QDS: 3219 CA) , 16 September 1976, Thompson 2941 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; Elandskloof, Ceres division (QDS: 3219 CA) , 25 September 1936, Levyns 5787 ( BOL!) ; Elandskloof, Clanwilliam district (QDS: 3219 CA) , 26 September 1936, Lewis s.n. ( BOL 22083!) ; Waboomsrivier, Ceres , KoueBokkeveld (QDS: 3219 CC) , 5 September 1966, Hanekom 617 ( PRE!) ; Skoongesig, KoueBokkeveld (QDS: 3219 CC) , 11 September 1967, Hanekom 937 ( PRE!) ; Porterville Mtns, Berghof near Ratelrivier (QDS: 3219 CC) , 27 September 1972, Thompson 1446 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; Porterville Mtns, NE end of Zuurvlakte (QDS: 3219 CC) , 28 September 1972, Thompson 1475 ( NBG!) ; Dasklip Pass (QDS: 3219 CC) , 24 October 1970, Tolken 3602 ( NBG!) ; Grasruggens, Olifantsrivierberge, Porterville (QDS: 3219 CC) , 14 September 1982, L. van Zyl 3102 ( NBG!) ; Dal Josephat , near Wellington (QDS: 3318 DB) , 25 August 1926, Grant 2326 ( BOL!) ; NE of De Tronk (QDS: 3319 AA) , 2 January 1981, Low 1251 ( NBG!) ; Kliphuis Vlakte, Skurweberg (QDS: 3319 AA) , 10 September 1989, Snijman 1237 ( NBG!) ; Koue Bokkeveld, ca. 24 miles [38.6 km] from Citrusdal towards Ceres via Prince Alfred's Hamlet (QDS: 3319 AB) , 4 September 1947, Story 3005 ( PRE!) ; Vogel Valley, Tulbagh , (QDS: 3319 AC) , October 1920, Andreae 640 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; Tulbagh (QDS: 3319 AC) , September 1919, L. Bolus s.n. ( BOL 17021!) ; Tulbagh Waterfall (QDS: 3319 AC) , 16 September 1928, Hutchinson 395 ( BOL!, PRE!) ; Tulbagh Division , slopes of Roodesandberg (QDS: 3319 AC) , June 1937, Martin s.n. sub NBG 1900/36 ( BOL!) ; Ceres (QDS: 3319 AD) , 31 August 1921, Marloth 10354 ( NBG!) ; Bainskloof (QDS: 3319 CA) , 14 September 1928, Gillett 165A ( NBG!) ; Slanghoek valley, Farm Ruigtevlei , (QDS: 3319 CA) , 7 September 1998, Goldblatt & Manning 10996 ( NBG!) ; Happy Valley, Stone Mansion , flats on west bank (QDS: 3319 CA) , 21 September 1960, Jessop 287 ( BOL!) ; Bainskloof, Happy Valley (QDS: 3319 CA) , August 1974, Moll 5834 ( BOL!) ; Bainskloof Pass (QDS: 3319 CA) , 17 August 2006, Snijman 2046 ( NBG!) ; Steenboksberg (QDS: 3319 CA) , 29 August 1965, H.C. Taylor 6436 ( NBG!, PRE!) ; Bainskloof, Happy Valley (QDS: 3319 CA) , November 1964, Thompson 17 ( NBG!) ; Bainskloof (QDS: 3319 CA) , 15 August 1966, Thompson 195 ( NBG!) ; Slanghoek, Farm Witelsrivier (QDS: 3319 CA) , 19 August 1980, Walters 2230 ( NBG!) ; Worcester District, Goudini Spa (QDS: 3319 CB) , Snijman 2370 (K!, NBG!, PRE!); Brandvlei Prison site, Worcester (QDS: 3319 CB) , 20 July 1977, Walters 1760 ( NBG!) . Inexact locality: Cederberge, Clanwilliam , 23 August 1973, C.H. Volk s.n. ( M! [image]) .

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.