Xanthorrhoeaceae (Asphodeloideae), 1829

Bester, Stoffel P., Herman, Paul P. J. & Klopper, Ronell R., 2012, National Herbarium Plant Collecting Programme reveals new country and provincial distribution records from South African National Parks (Apocynaceae, Asteraceae & Xanthorrhoeaceae: Asphodeloideae), Phytotaxa 62 (1), pp. 44-56 : 52

Xanthorrhoeaceae (Asphodeloideae)

Range extension record for Bulbine ophiophylla

Bulbine ophiophylla Williamson (2003: 19) was described in 2003, although the type specimen was already collected at Alexander Bay in 1970. This species grows in small clumps or often as single plants. It is characterised by the curled tips of its leaves—the specific epithet also alludes to the tangled and curled leaves that resemble a serpent’s nest. Leaves have a narrow, succulent base and lack the broad, often almost transparent, sheathing base of many other Bulbine species. Bracts have an elongated and drawn out apex, and oblong base with a serrated, white and papery margin. Bulbine ophiophylla is restricted to the low rainfall, sandy coastal plain within the Atlantic fog zone ( Williamson 2003).

A few localities in the vicinity of Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape, South Africa and Oranjemund in Namibia are known. The southernmost locality recorded to date is near Port Nolloth where this taxon was collected in 2004. During August 2006, B. ophiophylla was collected in the Namaqua National Park . Two populations in adjacent quarter degree squared grids were seen, each consisting of several plants growing in full sun in well-drained sand in Namaqualand Strandveld and Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld of the Namaqua Sandveld Bioregion ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006), at elevations ranging from 30 to 152 m. This represents a significant southward extension of the known distribution range of this taxon by ± 150 km ( Figure 8 ) .

Specimens examined: –– SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: Namaqua National Park, Farm Driekop 500, last intersection of Sarrisam road with ‘big’ road before coast ( QDS: 3017 CB), 02 August 2006, R. R . Klopper 304 ( KSAN!, PRE!); Namaqua National Park, Farm Driekop 500, plain ± 2 km south of Bitter River ( QDS: 3017 DA), 02 August 2006, R. R . Klopper 302 ( KSAN!, PRE!) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Known distribution of Bulbine ophiophylla,. New localities, ̝. Specimens housed at PRE and NBG.