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