View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Literature review<br />
ground and have a subterranean stem (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). R. rosea<br />
has 3 to 6 leaves which are all basal.<br />
R. rosea is common and many varieties and forms are found (DE VOS, 1972). It<br />
occurs in a variety <strong>of</strong> habitats which include stony clay flats and slopes (MANNING &<br />
GOLDBLATT, 2001). It is found throughout the Cape region from the Bokkeveld<br />
range to Port Elizabeth.<br />
This species is a known invasive in other parts <strong>of</strong> the world, including Australia, New<br />
Zealand and USA (EDDY & SMITH, 1975; CROSSMAN et al., 2008; VAN KLEUNEN<br />
et al., 2008; FLEMING et al., 2009). Here it is regarded as a weed and numerous<br />
strategies can be found to eradicate this species due to its moderate toxicity to sheep<br />
and goats (EDDY & SMITH, 1975; SIMMONDS et al., 2000). MANNING &<br />
GOLDBLATT (2001) places this species in the subgenus Spatalanthus.<br />
2.2.13 Romulea sabulosa<br />
The flowers are currant or glossy red and rarely pink with black blotches at the edge<br />
<strong>of</strong> the creamy or greyish green cup (DE VOS, 1983; MANNING & GOLDBLATT,<br />
2001). The flowers are unscented with tepals that are obovate-cuneate. The fruiting<br />
peduncles are suberect (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). The outer bracts are<br />
usually keeled above with narrow, usually brown, membranous margins. The inner<br />
bracts are 2-keeled and usually also have brown membranous margins (MANNING &<br />
GOLDBLATT, 2001). The plants flower in July to September during which they may<br />
have 1 to 4 flowers (DE VOS, 1972; MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). Plants are<br />
120 to 400 mm in length with a subterranean stem (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 1997;<br />
MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). The plant has 3 to 5 filiform leaves, all <strong>of</strong> which<br />
are basal (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001).<br />
R. sabulosa is a local endemic that grows in renosterveld on clay and in the<br />
Bokkeveld Escarpment west <strong>of</strong> Nieuwoudtville on sandy soil (MANNING &<br />
GOLDBLATT, 1997; MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). MANNING & GOLDBLATT<br />
(2001) places R. sabulosa in the subgenus Spatalanthus.<br />
21