Audouinia Brongn.

Claßen-Bockhoff, Regine, Oliver, Edward G. H., Hall, Anthony V. & Quint, Marcus, 2019, A new classification of the South African endemic family Bruniaceae based on molecular and morphological data, TAXON 60 (4), pp. 1138-1155 : 1145

2. Audouinia Brongn.

in Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 8: 384, t. 38, fig 1A–G. 1826; PillansinJ. S. African Bot. 13: 126. 1947 p.p.

– Type: Audouinia capitata (L.) Brongn .

= Tittmannia Brongn. in Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 8: 385. 1826, nom. cons. [McNeill & al., ICBN: 407. 2006] pro Tittmannia Rchb. ( Scrophulariaceae ), syn. nov.; PillansinJ. S. African Bot. 13: 127. 1947

– Type: T. lateriflora Brongn. (= T. laxa (Thunb.) C. Presl ).

Growth form: ericoid erect shrubs, densely branched, rod-like lignotubers present in A. capitata . Leaves: sessile, imbricate, appressed, linear; stipules present (not observed in A. laxa ); amphistomatic ( A. hispida hypostomatic), stomata surrounded by cuticular rim. Flowers: shortly petiolate, terminal on bracteate short-shoots, arranged in spike-like clusters at top of vegetative branches that continue to grow after flowering; small and white (in A. laevis with pink lower half “claw”) with 6–8 subtending bracts, or ( A. capitata ) larger and vivid red with 6–16 bracts. Petals: unguiculate or ovate, with minute bulges ( A. capitata ) or 2 thick ridges forming a “V” on the adaxial side. Scent: lacking or ( A. laxa ) aminoid. Stamens: included or shortly exserted; anthers linear to linear-oblong, thecae parallel, only free in basal part. Pollen: 3-colporate. Ovary: in A. capitata half-inferior and mainly 3-locular (also 4- and 5-locular), in remaining species almost completely inferior and 2-locular (rarely 3-locular in A. laevis ), with 2 ovules per locule. Styles: 2 or 3 ( A. capitata ), united. Fruit: usually 1-seeded, dry, indehiscent, crowned by persistent floral leaves (except A. capitata ). 2 n = 22 ( A. capitata ). Habitat: relatively well-drained soils, thriving in partial shade of vegetation in low to medium altitudes (–340 m) ( A. capitata ) or between rocks in higher altitudes (> 900 m), thus provided with moisture from oncoming clouds (remaining species). Flowering times: May– June ( A. esterhuyseniae ), July–August ( A. capitata ), or September–October (remaining species). Species: 5 spp.; scattered in fynbos vegetation in south-western region of Western Cape.