Hesperantha sect. Hesperantha

Goldblatt, P., Manning, J. C. & van Wyk, P. C. V., 2015, New species, combinations and range extensions in Hesperantha Ker Gawl. (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) from western South Africa *, South African Journal of Botany 98, pp. 114-121 : 118-119

3.4. Key to species of Hesperantha sect. Hesperantha [adapted from Goldblatt (2003)]

Corms triangular to bell-shaped in outline, with a horizontal or oblique flat base; outer floral bract margins free to the base (sect. Hesperantha )

1a Plants acaulescent or almost so with aerial part of stem enclosed by leaf sheaths: 2a Flowers white with purple marking at bases of outer tepals… Hesperantha luticola Goldblatt 2b Flowers deep pink to red-purple… Hesperantha latifolia (Klatt) M.P.de Vos

1b Plants with conspicuous aerial stem: 3a Style dividing at or below middle of perianth tube; style branches and sometimes anthers partly or completely included in perianth tube: 4a Flowers 20–25 mm diam. with tepals 10–12 mm long; stamens and style branches fully included in perianth tube… Hesperantha cedarmontana Goldblatt 4b Flowers ± 18 mm diam. with tepals 9–10 mm long; anthers exserted but style branches reaching only to mouth of tube… Hesperantha saldanhae Goldblatt 3b Style dividing at or just below mouth of perianth tube; anthers and style branches fully exserted and filaments usually at least partly exserted from perianth tube: 5a Flowers small, erect or inclined on straight spike; perianth tube slightly curved, 4–6 mm long; tepals 4–7 mm long; leaves either plane and sometimes with crisped margins, or terete to ovoid in cross section and hollow; seeds with sharp angles (minute wings) and seed coat with whitish spongy cells… Hesperantha spicata (Burm.f.) N.E.Br. 5b Flowers small to large, upright on straight or flexuose spike; perianth tube straight, (5–) 7–14 mm long; tepals 6–18 mm long; leaves plane with straight margins; seeds globose or sides lightly flattened by pressure, seed coat dark brown: 6a Corm base usually with prominent radiating spines or teeth on margins; flowers diurnal, closing in late afternoon; perianth pink to red-purple (rarely yellow, in one morph of H. pauci fl ora): 7a Perianth tube 6–11 mm long; tepals 18–25 mm long, at least twice as long as tube; plants of Namaqualand and Bokkeveld Mtns in South Africa … H. pauci fl ora G.J. Lewis 7b Perianth tube 20–25 mm long; tepals ± 10 mm long, ±half as long as tube; plants of SW Namibia … Hesperantha longistyla Goldblatt & J.C. Manning 6b Corm base with small teeth on margins or scarcely serrated and usually without prominent spines; flowers diurnal or crepuscular, opening in late afternoon or after sunset; perianth white, cream or yellow: 8a Plants without cauline leaves; perianth tube 12–16 mm long; tepals 6–10 mm long, always shorter than tube; flowers pale, watery yellow… Hesperantha suf fl ava Goldblatt 8b Plants with 1 or 2 sub-basal or cauline, largely sheathing leaves; perianth tube 5–14 mm long; tepals (9–) 12–18 mm long, usually longer than tube; flowers white, cream or yellow: 9a Plants with 2 basal foliage leaves: 10a Basal leaves usually prostrate, semi-succulent, 4–5 mm wide; filaments <1 mm long; style branches ascending, ± 2.5 mm long… Hesperantha laxifolia Goldblatt & J.C. Manning 10b Basal leaves ± falcate, 2–6 mm wide, not noticeably succulent; filaments ± 3 mm long; style branches spreading, ± 12 mm long… H. eremophila Goldblatt & J.C. Manning

9b Plants with 3 or more basal foliage leaves: 11a Tepals uniformly white on both sides, ascending and cupped when fully open; perianth tube 12–14 mm long, ± as long as tepals; leaves falcate to trailing… Hesperantha dolomitica Goldblatt & J.C. Manning 11b Outer or all tepals flushed red to brown on reverse, spreading horizontally when fully open; perianth tube 4–12 mm long, shorter than tepals; leaves suberect to falcate: 12a Leaves narrow, 1–2 mm wide; perianth tube 10–12 mm; plants of shallow soils on sandstone pavement… Hesperantha lithicola Goldblatt & J.C. Manning 12b Leaves broader, 4–8 mm wide; perianth tube 4–9 mm long; plants of deeper sandy or clay soils… H. falcata (L.f.) Ker Gawl.