the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra including new species, biological notes, and a new infrageneric classification
Author
Manning, John C.
Author
Goldblatt, Peter
text
Adansonia
2001
3
23
1
59
108
journal article
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5180119
1639-4798
5180119
29.
Romulea minutiflora
Klatt
Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle
15: 339 (1882)
;
M
.
P
.
de
Vos
,
J
.
S
.
African Bot.
,
Suppl.
9: 146 (1972)
;
Fl.
S
.
Africa
7(2), fasc. 2: 34 (1983). —
Type
:
Drège
538,
South Africa
,
Western Cape
,
Worcester
,
Hex River Mts.
(lecto-,
S
, designated by
M
.
P
.
DE VOS, 1972
)
.
Plants
6-20 cm
high, stem subterranean; corm obliquely flattened with a spathulate basal ridge. Leaves several, basal, narrowly 4-grooved,
0.5- 1.5 mm
diam.; outer bracts with narrow, often brown-speckled membranous margins, inner bracts membranous or submembranous with brown-spotted margins. Flowers pale mauve with yellowish cup, tepals elliptic,
4-9 mm
long; filaments
2-4 mm
long, anthers
1.5-2 mm
long. Fruiting peduncles curved, later erect. Flowering: July-Sep.
This diminutive-flowered species is widespread in the South African winter-rainfall region, extending from the Bokkeveld Mountains in the west to Grahamstown in the east. It is closely allied to
R
.
sinispinosensis
and the two share corms with a promiment, rather spade-shaped basal ridge which is about as high on the corm.
Romulea minutiflora
is distinguished by its very small, pale mauve or pink flowers with tepals up to
9 mm
long whereas those of
R
.
sinispinosensis
are white and the tepals
10-12 mm
long. The inner bracts of
R
.
minutiflora
are also distinctive in having membranous margins with fairly large brown blotches rather than flecks.