Geissorhiza namaquensis W. F. Barker
Creators: name: Goldblatt, P.
name: Manning, J. C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Asparagales
Iridaceae
Geissorhiza
Geissorhiza namaquensis

description: 1. G. namaquensis W.F. Barker in Fl. Pl. S. Afr. 18: t. 688 (1938).
Type: South Africa, Northern Cape, Springbok (2917):‘Namaqualand, Klipfontein’, (–BA), flowered ex hort. Kirstenbosch, Jul. 1931, Phillips s.n. (BOL [BOL22163], holo.!).
Plants mostly 160–300 mm high. Corm ± globose, 8–15 mm diam., slightly asymmetric with one side obliquely flattened below; tunics dark brown, imbricate, notched below into ± regular segments, drawn into points above. Stem suberect or inclined, flexed at base of spike, puberulous, sometimes only below, simple or 1(2)-branched. Leaves 3(4), lower 2 basal, ± as long as stem, 2–5 mm wide, third leaf cauline, shorter, sheathing below, fourth leaf, if present, shortest and scale-like, blades narrowly lanceolate with margins raised and narrowly winged, main vein also raised, margins and edges of main and sometimes secondary veins ciliate. Spike inclined, flexuose, mostly 3- to 7-flowered; bracts green, becoming dry, membranous and pale brown distally, outer mostly 8–12 mm long, inner smaller. Flowers actinomorphic, salver-shaped, blue to bluish mauve with white throat, perianth tube green outside; perianth tube cylindric, widening near throat, (7–) 8–11 mm long, shortly exceeding bracts; tepals elliptic, 14–18 × 3–6 mm. Filaments erect, equal, 5–6 mm long; anthers (4.5–)5.0–7.0 mm long, pale yellow or white; pollen pale yellow or white. Style dividing opposite middle to upper third of anthers, often tilted downward, branches ± 2 mm long. Capsules broadly ovoid, (5–) 6 mm long. Seeds not known. Flowering time: mid August to late September.
Distribution and ecology: a Northern Cape endemic, recorded from the escarpment west of Kamieskroon, the Spektakel Mtns west of Springbok, and near Steinkopf; in rocky ground, on sandstone and shale substrates.
Diagnosis: G. namaquensis is recognized by the moderate-sized, blue to bluish mauve flowers with perianth tube 7–11 mm long and tepals 14–18 × 3–6 mm, and puberulous leaves with raised, narrowly winged margins and main and secondary veins, all ciliate on the edges (Table 1). The stamens of G. namaquensis are relatively long, with filaments 5–6 mm long and anthers 4.5–7.0 mm long. The new G. namaquamontana has notably smaller flowers, with a slightly shorter perianth tube 6–7 mm long, tepals (6–)8–10 × 1.5–2.0 mm, filaments 4–5 mm long, and anthers 2–3 mm long. G. kamiesmontana, restricted to the Kamiesberg, has dark violet flowers with a longer perianth tube, 18–25 mm long, and tepals 16–20 × ± 3 mm (Table 1).
Additional specimens seen
South Africa. NORTHERN CAPE. 2917 (Springbok): Steinkopf, stony hillside, (–BA), 24 Aug 1959, Lewis 5494 (NBG); Steinkopf, 900 m, (–BA), Aug 1925, Marloth 6782 (B, BOL, NBG, PRE); Kosies NW of Steinkopf, (–BA), Van Berkel 399 (MO); west of Springbok on slopes at eastern end of Spektakel Pass, among rocks, (–DA), 11 Sep 1993, Goldblatt & Manning 9705 (NBG, PRE); 28 Sep 1974, Goldblatt 2803 (K, MO, NBG, PRE); 15.25 miles W by S of Springbok, renosterveld, S aspect, (–CA), 24 Sep 1957, Acocks 19580 (K, M, NBG, PRE). Without precise locality: near Port Nolloth, ex hort. 28 Aug 1991, Williamson 3722 (NBG). 3017 (Hondeklipbaai): Skilpad Flower Reserve, Namaqualand broken veld, (–BB), 24 Aug 1993, C.J. Grobler 57 (PRE).
description: Published as part of Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J. C., 2017, A review of the Geissorhiza namaquensis (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) group with the new species G. namaquamontana from Northern Cape, South Africa *, pp. 299-301 in South African Journal of Botany 111 on page 300, DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2017.03.041, http://zenodo.org/record/10496412