Sagittanthera mzimvubuensis (Van Jaarsv.) Mart.

Martínez-Azorín, Mario, Crespo, Manuel B., Dold, Anthony P., Wetschnig, Wolfgang, Pinter, Michael, Pfosser, Martin & Jaarsveld, Ernst Van, 2013, Sagittanthera (Hyacinthaceae, Urgineoideae), a new buzz pollinated genus from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, Phytotaxa 98 (2), pp. 43-54 : 51-53

Sagittanthera mzimvubuensis (Van Jaarsv.) Mart. -Azorín, M.B.Crespo, A.P.Dold & Van Jaarsv. comb. nov.

Bas.:— Drimia mzimvubuensis Van Jaarsv. in Aloe 42(4): 83 (2005). Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape Province. Port St. Johns (3129 CB), lower Mzimvubu River , south facing shale cliffs near Lutengela, Van Jaarsveld, Xaba, Harrower & Zwide 58 ( PRE holotype) .

Leaves linear, 47−50 × 0.15−0.3 cm, subterete, minutely ciliate with short translucent hairs on angles; adaxial leaf surface shallowly channelled; abaxial leaf surface 12−14 grooved; pedicels 15−18 mm; bracts ca. 8 mm long, white, the lowermost with a spur ca. 10 mm long, adpressed to the peduncle; flowers 20−30, nodding or subpatent, 22−24 mm diameter, opening at noon, lasting for one day; tepals lanceolate to strap shape, ca. 9 × 3 mm, white with green strip in the centre, green at base; filaments connate into a staminal column ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, with free apices; anthers ca. 3 mm long; ovary ovoid-tapering, ca. 3 × 1.5 mm, 6 grooved; style ca. 4.5 mm, white; capsule ca. 10 × 7.5 mm, trilocular; seeds oblong, flat, ca. 7 × 3 mm ( Fig. 6 ).

Studied material: — SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province. Port St. Johns (3129 CB), lower Mzimvubu River, south facing shale cliffs near Lutengela, Van Jaarsveld, Xaba, Harrower & Zwide 58 ( PRE!).

Observations:—The inflorescence of S. mzimvubuensis is persistent long after the seeds are dispersed, acting as a assimilating organ that includes the flower pedicels. Plants flowering in spring remain functional well into autumn. Unlike the fibrous bulb scales of S. cyanelloides , they are however semi translucent, without the dense slimy threadlike structures. The leaf sap causes the inner softer parts of the skin to itch.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Sagittanthera mzimvubuensis (Van Jaarsv.) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo, A.P.Dold & Van Jaarsv. at the type locality (lower Mzimvubu River, near Lutengela).