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Literature review<br />

flattened upper sides which are curved to the fruit. The fruiting peduncles <strong>of</strong> R.<br />

sabulosa, on the other hand, are commonly more slender and rounded in section and<br />

remain suberect in fruit. The peduncles <strong>of</strong> the latter species also remain suberect<br />

during fruiting. Apart from these morphological differences R. sabulosa is also<br />

restricted to light sandy clay soils near Nieuwoudtville whereas R. monadelpha is<br />

found on heavy, dolerite clay in several localities along the Bokkeveld and Roggeveld<br />

escarpments (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). MANNING & GOLDBLATT (2001)<br />

places this species in the subgenus Spatalanthus.<br />

2.2.11 Romulea pearsonii<br />

The flowers are lemon-yellow with elliptic tepals and the fruiting peduncles are<br />

suberect (DE VOS, 1983; MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). Both the outer and the<br />

inner bracts are green. The outer bracts are firm and closely veined with narrow<br />

brown streaked membranous margins and an apex (DE VOS, 1983; MANNING &<br />

GOLDBLATT, 2001). The inner bracts have broad brown streaked membranous<br />

margins (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). The plant flowers in August to<br />

September with 1 to 3 flowers (DE VOS, 1972; MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001).<br />

Plants <strong>of</strong> this species have a height <strong>of</strong> 100 to 250 mm (DE VOS, 1983; MANNING &<br />

GOLDBLATT, 2001). The stem is completely subterranean or reaches 30 mm above<br />

ground (DE VOS, 1983; MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). The plant has 3 to 4<br />

filiform leaves <strong>of</strong> which 2 are basal (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001).<br />

R. pearsonii is restricted to higher elevations in central Namaqualand (MANNING &<br />

GOLDBLATT, 2001). Here it occurs from Grootvlei and the main Kamiesberg range<br />

and grows in sandy and granitic slopes and flats (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001).<br />

MANNING & GOLDBLATT (2001) places this species in the subgenus Romulea.<br />

2.2.12 Romulea rosea<br />

The flowers are pink to magenta or white with a purplish zone around the yellow cup<br />

and are occasionally scented. The tepals are elliptic to oblanceolate and 4 to 6 mm<br />

long. The outer bracts have narrow membranous margins whereas the inner bracts<br />

have wide brownish membranous margins (MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). R.<br />

rosea flowers from July to October and the plants have several flowers (DE VOS,<br />

1972; MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001). These plants reach 150 to 600 mm from the<br />

20

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