Five new species of Lachenalia ( Hyacinthaceae ) from arid areas of Namibia and South Africa

Five new species of  Lachenalia are described:  L. nutans G.D.Duncan from southwestern Namibia,  L. attenuata W.F.Barker ex G.D Duncan from the Roggeveld Plateau. Little Karoo and southern Cape; L doleritica G.D.Duncan from the Bokkeveld Plateau;  L lactosa G.D.Duncan from the Lowland Fvnbos of the Hermanus District, and  L leipoldtii G D Duncan from the Olifants River Valley and Little Karoo


Diagnostic characters
L. nutans is characterised by a dense, racemose inflor escence of distinctly nodding, oblong-campanulate flowers with the inner tepals as long as.or very slightly longer than the outer tepals.The declinate stamens are very well exserted and the upper part of the peduncle and the lower part of the rachis is slightly to conspicu ously swollen.The plant has a solitary, lanceolate or broadly lanceolate leaf with a dark green upper surface, a glaucous lower surface and a white, deep subterranean clasping base.
L. nutans is related to L anguinea Sweet which occurs in deep red sand from the Richtersveld as far south as the Piketberg District.L. anguinea has similar campanulate white flowers with yellowish green or brownish green gibbosities and well exserted white sta mens.It differs, however, in being a larger plant with much smaller, patent flowers produced on very long pedicels, and its long, arcuate, deeply canaliculate, flac cid leaf.The seeds of L. anguinea also differ from those of L. nutans in having a very small, almost obsolete, ter minal ndged arillode.whereas the seeds of L. nutans have a granulated testa and a distinct decurrent keel.The two species are also separated geographically, L nutans being known only from southwestern Namibia.

Distribution and habitat
Lachenalia nutans is known from two collections made in southwestern Namibia.In August 1929, Dinter collected material of Lachenalia klinghardtiana Dinter at Haalenberg which was deposited at B, K and PRE (Dinter 6666).However, one of the two herbarium sheets of this collection housed at B is in fact not L. klinghard tiana but represents the first collection of Lachenalia nutans.The specimens of the latter species are in a fruit ing stage and the collecting date is given as 31st August 1929, whereas the collecting date given for the other sheet correctly identified as L. klinghardtiana is 30th August.Fifty-seven years later, Mrs N.J.Van Berkel col lected flowering material of L nutans further south at a locality northeast of Schlafkuppe (Figure 4), which is now the type material of the species.Plants grow singly or in groups on sandy gravel flats in full sun.The typi cally deep-seated bulbs probably only grow and flower if there has been sufficient seasonal rainfall.

Diagnostic characters
L. attenuata is characterised by a subspicate or race mose, very lax inflorescence of patent or slightly cemu-ous, oblong or oblong-campanulate flowers with the inner tepals protruding well beyond the outer.The decli nate stamens are included or very slightly exserted, and the plant has a single linear, attenuate, conduplicate leaf with an unmarked upper surface, the lower surface marked with short green bands, and the clasping leaf base marked with brownish purple bands above ground level, and with magenta bands below ground level.
L attenuata is related to L hirta (Thunb.)Thunb.var.hirta which has similar oblong or oblong-campanulate pale blue flowers with greenish yellow inner tepals and included or slightly exserted stamens, and a single linear leaf with brownish purple and magenta bands on the clasping leaf base.L hirta differs in having very long pedicels and a canaliculate leaf with distinct bristles and papillae on the lower surface and margins.The seeds of L hirta differ in having an almost obsolete, terminal aril lode, and a finely netted testa.The distribution ranges of the two species do not overlap, L hirta occurring from

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^ r with darker green, very dark brown or brownish mauve gibbosities, and a central yellowish green or brownish mauve stripe; inner tepals obovate, protruding beyond outer tepals, apices slightly recurved, 9-11 x 4-5 mm, translucent yellowish green with a darker green or very dark brown marking near apex, and brownish green keels, inner lower tepals longer than two upper laterals.Stamens included, declinate; filaments white, 9 mm long; anthers pale maroon prior to anthesis, yellow at anthesis.Ovary ovoid, pale green, 5 x 3 mm; style white, 7 mm long, protruding beyond tepals as ovary enlarges.Capsule unknown.Seed unknown.Flowering time: September to October.Figures 1C; 6.
Etymology: named L doleritica to describe the heavy doleritic clay soil in which this species occurs.

Diagnostic characters
L. doleritica is characterised by a many-flowered racemose inflorescence of oblong-campanulate, patent or suberect, yellowish green flowers with the inner tepals protruding beyond the outer.The declinate stamens are included, and the unmarked, ovate leaves are slightly arcuate with the tips resting at ground level, and with dis tinct depressed longitudinal veins on the upper surface.
L doleritica is related to L. neilii W.F.Barker ex G.D.Duncan which has a similar many-flowered inflo rescence of greenish, patent or suberect, oblong-campan ulate flowers and usually unmarked leaves, with distinct depressed longitudinal veins on the upper surface.L. neilii differs in having smaller flowers with shortly exserted stamens, lanceolate, suberect, glaucous leaves, and the bulb produces a ring of bulbils at its base.Deciduous, winter-growing geophyte 120-180 mm high.Bulb subglobose, 15-20 mm diam., white with sev eral layers of dark brown outer tunics.Leaves 2, ovate, 85 x 40 mm, fleshy, slightly arcuate, with leaf tips rest ing at ground level, bright green to yellowish green, upper surface unmarked, with distinct, depressed longi tudinal veins, lower surface unmarked, margins coria ceous, dark maroon; clasping base white below, shading to greenish white above, 30-40 mm long.Inflorescence racemose, erect, many-flowered, 80-110 mm long, with a short sterile tip; peduncle sturdy, erect or suberect, 40-100 mm long, becoming slightly swollen in upper third, pale green and unmarked, or pale green in lower two thirds with tiny pale brown speckles, tinged with dull brownish mauve in upper third; rachis pale green or tinged with dull brownish mauve, slightly swollen in lower third; pedicels suberect, pale green or pale mauvish white, increasing in length towards apex of inflores cence, 2-4 mm long; bracts cup-shaped in lower half of inflorescence, becoming lanceolate above, white, 3-5 x 2-4 mm.Flowers oblong-campanulate, patent or suberect, very pale yellowish green with darker green, very dark brown or brownish mauve markings; perianth tube very pale yellowish green, 2-3 mm long; outer tepals ovate, very pale yellowish green, 8-9 x 4-5 mm.

Distribution and habitat
The first recorded collection of L. doleritica was made by Mrs M.L. Thomas as recently as September 1984 in the Akkerendam Nature Reserve at Calvinia, and as far as I am aware, there are only two other records of this species, one to the west of Calvinia towards Nieuwoudtville, and the other to the east of Calvinia towards Williston (Figure 4).L. doleritica appears to be a rare species confined to heavy doleritic clay soil on the Bokkeveld Plateau, where plants occur singly in open situations in full sun.The apparently very restricted dis tribution range of this species overlaps the wider range of the related L. n eilii.Deciduous, winter-growing geophyte 100-265 mm high.Bulb globose, 8-15 mm diam., white with dark brown outer tunics.Leaves 1 or 2, lorate, 40-200 x 5-18 mm, suberect or slightly arcuate, plain green, usu ally unmarked, occasionally marked with purplish brown spots on upper surface, lower surface tinged with purple or maroon, upper surface with distinct longitudinal veins; clasping base white below, shading to pale maroonish purple above, 10-20 mm long, inflorescence racemose, usually dense, few to many-flowered, 25-80 mm long, with short sterile apex; peduncle erect or suberect, slender or sturdy, pale green with many small to large purplish maroon spots or blotches, 50-130 mm long; rachis pale green with dull purplish blue blotches; pedicels pale green, erect or suberect, 2-4 mm long; bracts purplish maroon and cup-shaped at base of inflorescence, becoming lanceolate and translu cent white above, 1-3 x 1-3 mm.Flowers small to very small, oblong-campanulate, suberect or patent, white and pale blue with dark magenta or greenish brown mark ings, fading to purplish blue; perianth tube very short, pale blue or white, 0.5-1.0mm long; outer tepals ovate, 3-4 x 5 mm, white, or pale blue at base, shading to white above, with dark magenta or greenish brown gibbosities and keels; inner tepals oblong obovate, 5-7 x 3 mm, pro truding well beyond outer segments, canaliculate, trans lucent white or cream with very narrow dark magenta or greenish brown keels.Stamens shortly exserted, decli nate; filaments white, 4-6 mm long.Ovary ovoid, bright green, 2-3 x 2 mm; style white, 4-5 mm long.Capsule ovoid, membranous, 5-6 x 4-5 mm.Seed globose, shiny black, 1 mm long, with a terminal, inflated arillode 0.5 mm long.Flowering time: September to October.Figures 7A, B; 8. Etymology: named L. lactosa to describe the milky white colouring of the flowers.

Diagnostic characters
L. lactosa is characterised by a dense raceme of small or very small, oblong-campanulate, suberect or patent, white and pale blue flowers with shortly exserted, decli nate stamens.The peduncle is usually heavily marked with purplish maroon spots or blotches, and the one or two lorate, suberect or slightly arcuate leaves are plain green, usually unmarked, with depressed longitudinal veins on the upper surface, and tinged with purple or maroon on the lower surface.
L lactosa is related to L. peersii Marloth ex W.F. Barker, which has a similar many-flowered inflorescence of white flowers with greenish brown markings and one or two lorate, unmarked leaves tinged with purple or maroon.L peersii differs, however, in being a larger plant with much larger, urceolate flowers without pale blue bases and with distinctly recurved inner tepals, included, spreading stamens and an unspotted peduncle.The two species have similar globose seeds with a termi nal, inflated arillode.

D istribution and habitat
Material of L. lactosa was first collected by Miss W.F. Barker in October 1933 near Kleinmond, where most of the records of this species have been made, and it has since been collected on the Houw Hoek Pass, as well as at Bot River and beyond Baardscheerdersbos, which is the most easterly record (Figure 9).It is a fairly rare species with a restricted distribution, occurring in Lowland Fynbos on flats and gentle slopes in full sun.Plants occur singly, and unless in flower are extremely difficult to detect in their natural habitat, due to their rel atively small size compared to the surrounding fynbos vegetation.As with the related L. peersii, which occurs in the same area, veld fires would most probably benefit the flowering performance of L. lactosa, resulting in more robust specimens more easily noticeable in their habitat.Unfortunately, the populations of this species in the Kleinmond area are now under real threat due to housing development.Deciduous, winter-growing geophyte 100-280 mm high.Bulb subglobose, 10-15 mm diam., white with dark brown outer tunics.Leaf solitary, lanceolate, canalicu late, pale green or yellowish green, suberect or slightly arcuate, 30-95 x 3-12 mm, upper surface unmarked or with few purplish magenta spots or blotches, lower sur face marked with purplish magenta spots or blotches in lower third, margin coriaceous and undulate; clasping base tight, white in lower half with magenta spots or blotches, yellowish green in upper half with purplish magenta spots or blotches.Inflorescence subspicate, many-flowered, erect or suberect, dense, 35-130 mm long, with a short or long sterile apex up to 20 mm long; peduncle slender or sturdy, erect or suberect, yellowish green, lightly to densely marked with purplish magenta spots or blotches, slightly to conspicuously swollen in upper half, 45-60 mm long; rachis pale brownish mauve, slightly swollen in lower third; pedicels white or pale green, very short, 1-2 mm long; bracts ovate in lower third, becoming lanceolate above, white, 2-3 x 1-2 mm.Flowers oblong-campanulate, suberect, patent or slight ly cernuous, pale creamy white or pale greenish yellow and white, sometimes fading to purplish maroon on herbarium sheets, with greenish brown or pinkish brown markings; perianth tube pale blue, 1-2 mm long; outer tepals ovate, pale greenish yellow, 4-5 x 2-3 mm, with greenish brown or pinkish brown gibbosities; inner tepals obovate, 6-7 x 2-3 mm, translucent white with greenish yellow keels and recurved tips.

Diagnostic characters
L. leipoldtii is characterised by a dense, subspicate inflorescence of patent or slightly cernuous, oblong-cam panulate, pale creamy white or pale greenish yellow and white flowers with greenish brown or pinkish brown gib bosities.The declinate stamens are well exserted, and the lower surface of the solitary, lanceolate, canaliculate leaf is marked with purplish magenta spots or blotches.The tightly clasping leaf base is white in the lower half and Flowering time: Julv to August.Figures 1A; 2 & 3. Etymology: named L. nutans to describe the distinctly nodding flowers.
yellowish green in the upper half, with purplish magenta spots or blotches.The leaf margin is thickened, and slightly to distinctly undulate.The specimens recorded from the Olifants River Valley, Piekenierskloof and Bidouw only have a slightly swollen peduncle and rachis, whereas those from Ceres, Karoopoort and Little Karoo have a conspicuously swollen peduncle and rachis.L. leipoldtii is closely related to L. physocaulos W.F.Barkerwhich has a similar dense subspicate inflor escence, oblong-campanulate flowers, well-exserted, declinate stamens and usually a distinctly swollen peduncle and rachis.It differs from L. leipoldtii in hav ing a subterranean, very loosely clasping leaf base, a lin ear, conduplicate, glaucous leaf without markings or thickened margin, and pale magenta inner tepals and fil aments.The two species have similar very small, globose seeds with a short, terminal inflated arillode.Distribution and habitat Material of L. leipoldtii was collected for the first time by C.L. Zeyher in 1931 on the farm Brakfontein in the Olifants River Valley (Gunn & Codd 1981) and it has sub sequently been recorded from Piekenierskloof and Bidouw Valley, and to the southeast near Ceres and FIGURE 10.-Lachenalia leipoldtii, drawn from Salter 3608, repro duced from the original watercolour by Miss W.F. Barker.exserted, declinate; filaments white, 9-10 mm long.Ovary ovoid, pale green, 2 x 3 mm; style white, protrud ing beyond stamens, 9-10 mm long.Capsule ovoid, membranous, 5 x 4 mm.Seed globose, 1 mm long, matt black, with terminal inflated arillode 0.8 mm long.Flowering time: August to September.Figures 10 & 11.Etymology: named L. leipoldtii after Dr C. Louis Leipoldt, celebrated South African naturalist, physician and poet, who collected this species at Piekenierskloof in 1931, and whose fondness for lachenalias from the Clanwilliam-Citrusdal area is reflected in his famous Afrikaans poem 'Oktobermaand'.