Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora, B. L. Burtt

Niemann, Hendrik J., Coetzer, Dewald J. & Glennon, Kelsey L., 2023, Hypoxis limicola and H. uniflorata (Hypoxidaceae) deserve species rank: multiple new lines of evidence, Phytotaxa 619 (1), pp. 63-85 : 80

H. parvula var. albiflora B.L.Burtt in Hilliard & Burtt (1988: 190).

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. KwaZulu-Natal: Richmond district, escarpment above Byrne valley (QDS: 2930CD), 13 November 1975, Hilliard & Burtt 5589 (holotype E! [image]; isotype NU! [image]) .

Diagnostic characters and relationships:— Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora is separated from H. parvula var. parvula by its tepal colour being white (not yellow). This character also easily distinguishes it from the closely related H. limicola . This variety is morphologically most similar to H. membranacea from which it can be distinguished by having yellow (not white) anther filaments and usually only one flower per inflorescence (not two or three flowers).

Distribution and habitat:— Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora is a South African endemic and appears to be plentiful in the midlands and uplands of the KwaZulu-Natal province. Hilliard & Burtt (1988) recorded that the variety is widespread in southern and western KwaZulu-Natal along foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains from Kokstad through to the Karkloof range. The variety forms large colonies in damp areas on mountain ridge grasslands of high altitudes, 1500–1850 m.a.s.l. When growing with H. parvula var. parvula , it is usually found at slightly lower (about 20 m) altitudes, and they seldom overlap. The proximity of the most southern populations near Kokstad (KwaZulu-Natal) to the Eastern Cape provincial border suggests that it is feasible that H. parvula var. albiflora may cross over into the Eastern Cape in this area, but this needs to be verified.

Additional specimens examined:— SOUTH AFRICA. KwaZulu-Natal: Richmond district, escarpment above Byrne valley (QDS: 2930CD), 13 September 1975, Williams 5589 ( NH) ; Fort Nottingham (QDS: 2929BD), 22 November 1996, Greene 886 ( NH) ; Springfontein ( Blauw river ) (QDS: 3029AD), November 1902, Thode 5293 ( NH) ; Sani Pass (QDS: 2929CB), 6 December 1997, von Fintel 646 ( NH) ; Karkloof (QDS: 2930AD), 26 September 1945, Acocks 11833 ( NH) ; Fort Nottingham (QDS: 2929BD), 18 November 1988, Edwards 341a ( NU) ; Escort District (QDS: 2929BC), 27 November 1982, Balkwill & Manning 330 ( NU) ; Underberg district (QDS: 2929CB), 17 December 1958, Werdermann & Oberdick 1435 ( PRE) ; Howick (QDS: 2930AC), November 1939, Thomas 17 ( NBG) ; Victoria Country Club (QDS: 2930AD), 18 October 1997, Kennedy 505 ( NU) ; Richmond district, Game Valley Estate (QDS: 2930CD), 11 October 1998, Maclean 150 ( NU) ; Greytown (QDS: 2930BA), 14 September 2002, Potgieter 769 ( NU) ; Greytown (QDS: 2930BA), 1 December 2001, Potgieter 609 ( NU) ; Marwaqa Sisonke District (QDS: 2929DE), 15 November 1989, Rennie 1816 ( CFP) ; Swartkop (QDS: 2930CA), October 1944, Fisher 724 ( NH) ; Ngele, Kwa Shwili (QDS: 3029DA), 17 December 1989, Abbott 4764 ( NH) ; Ngele Mountain, Kwa-Shwili (QDS: 3029DA), 23 November 1994, Abbott 6592 ( NH) ; Ngele Mountain (QDS: 3029DA), 10 November 1990, Abbott 5429 ( NH) ; Umgeni Poort (QDS: 2930CA), 3 November 1964, Moll 1362 ( NU) ; Le Sueur’s Dam (QDS: 2929BD), 23 November 1992, Greene 426 ( NH) ; Mondi’s Linwood Estate (QDS: 2929DB), 29 November 2013, Styles 4638 ( NH) ; New Hanover district (QDS: 2930BD), 15 October 1989, Balkwill & Balkwill 4998 (J) .