Aristea nana
Life
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>
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> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales
> Family: Iridaceae > Genus:
Aristea
Identification
A dwarf species, usually less than 12 cm in
height. Similar in appearance to Aristea pusilla in that they
are both dwarf species and have almost identical flowers. They can
be found growing together. Despite looking similar, Goldblatt et
al. (2005) don't consider them to be closely related. The
differences are as follows (Goldblatt et al. 2005):
| |
Aristea nana |
Aristea pusilla |
| Leaves |
Have a glaucous bloom
Have wider translucent margins |
Pale green leaves
Softer textured |
| Flowering stem |
Almost always unbranched and bears leaves
only at the base. The terminal internode is several times
longer than the rest of the stem and terminates in a single
inflorescence of two, or rarely three, flowers. |
|
| Pedicel of flower |
10-12 mm long |
about 2 mm long |
| Ovary |
Ovoid, 4-6 mm long |
triangular, columnar, 12 mm
long |
| Pollen |
Shed singly. Grains are dizonasulculate,
having two smooth, well-defined apertures at opposite ends
of the grain. |
Shed in tetrads. Monads with
operculate structures |
Distribution and habitat
Distribution extends from Robinson’s Pass in
the Western Cape to Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape. Common in the
Long Kloof and valleys to the north from Avontuur to Joubertina. It
is found on sandy and rocky sandstone slopes in arid, marginal
fynbos.
Phenology
Flowering time: late July to September, rarely
in early October.
References
- Goldblatt, P., Dold, A.P. and Manning, J.C. 2005. Three
cryptic new species of Aristea (Iridaceae) from southern
Africa. Bothalia 35(1): 1-6.
Text by Hamish Robertson |
