Hypoxis parvula var. parvula, var. parvula

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 : 79-80

H. parvula var. parvula

= Hypoxis brevifolia Baker (1896: 183) .

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. KwaZulu-Natal: Liddesdale, Wood 3940 (holotype NH! [image]; isotype K! [image]).

Diagnostic characters and relationships:—The variety is morphologically most similar to H. limicola from which it can be distinguished by having tepals that are (7–) 8–10 mm long (not 2–6 mm long), an inconspicuous (not conspicuously swollen) articulation between scape and pedicel, and a single 1–4 mm long bract (not one or two 5–7 mm long bract(s)) when present. It also resembles H. uniflorata in its habit, thin leaves, long slender inflorescences, and delicate flowers. It can, however, be easily distinguished from H. uniflorata in having lanceolate (not linear) leaves, filiform (not subulate) anther filaments, and a spherical (not pyramidal) stigma.

Distribution and habitat:— Hypoxis parvula var. parvula occurs in South Africa and Lesotho. In South Africa, it is found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State provinces (and rarely in the Mpumalanga province). It is widespread in the Drakensberg mountains, where it grows in masses on the summit and slopes of the mountains, usually with Rhodohypoxis . Hypoxis parvula var. parvula is found in rock crevices or moist areas among short grass in full sun. The variety prefers high altitude areas of 1900–2200 m.a.s.l.

Additional specimens examined:— SOUTH AFRICA. KwaZulu-Natal: Underberg distr., Upper Tributaries of Mkomazi River (QDS: 2929CB), 4 December1982, Hilliard & Burtt 15864 ( NU) ; Underberg distr., Bushman’s Nek, Thamathu Pass (QDS: 2929CC), 4 February 1976, Hilliard & Burtt 8912 ( NU) ; Natal, Underberg distr. , upper tributaries S. of Mkomazi R. (QDS: 2929CB), 4 December 1982, Hilliard & Burtt 15864 ( NU) ; Cathedral peak forest research station (QDS: 2829CC), 7 November 1951, Killick 1539 ( CPF) ; Liddesdale (QDS: 2930CA), 17 February 1888, Wood 3940 ( NH) ; Underberg distr., Garden Castle (QDS: 2929CA), 4 November 1977, Hilliard & Burtt 10395 ( NU) ; Kamberg “Game Pass” (QDS: 2929BC), December 1947, Gordon-Gray 66 ( NU) ; Mpendhle distr., Mulangane ridge (QDS: 2929BC), 1 December 1983, Hilliard & Burtt 16976 ( NU) ; Underberg distr., Cobham Nature Reserve (QDS: 2929CB:), 20 November 1976, Hilliard & Burtt 9288 ( NU) ; Underberg distr., Bushman’s Nek (QDS: 2929CC), 21 November 1973, Hilliard & Burtt 7400 ( NU) ; Underberg (QDS: 2929BC), 7 March 1970, Clarke 16 ( PRE) ; Giants Castle Game Reserve (QDS: 2929AB), 10 November 1966, Trauseld 683 ( NU) ; Mooi River District (QDS: 2929BC), 10 January 1990, Balkwill & Balkwill 5194 (J); Dundee, Culvers Weenen (QDS: 2829DD), February 1924, Rogers 28312 ( NGB) ; Polela district, Marwaqa (QDS: 2929DD), 23 December 1975, Rennie 678 ( NU) ; Weenen County, Natal (QDS: 2830CC), December 1890, Woods 22265 ( NBG) ; Kokstad, Ensekeni ( Insikeni ) (QDS: 3029AB), 3 December 1912, Haygarth 12077 ( NH) . Free State: Sentinel Peak , start of trail (QDS: 2828DC), 6 January 1999, Singh 465 ( NH) ; Sentinel car park (QDS: 2828DB), 14 January 1982, Jacob 4865 ( NBG) . Mpumalanga: Mount Sheba Nature Reserve (QDS: 2430DC), November 1980, Kerfoot 8204 (J) .

LESOTHO. Qacha’s Nek District: Sehlabathebe National Park (QDS: 2929CC), 18 January 1977, Hoener 1772 ( PRE) .