Description :

• Compact shrublets with short vegetative growth and prominent, elongated floral branches with persistent inflorescences/infructescences
• Leaves of two markedly different types: (1) on vegetative growth: opposite, ± united at base, digitiform, subterete, up to ± 60 mm long, 5 mm broad, stomata slightly sunken; outer epidermal wall with a thin to moderate crystal layer; (2) hypsophylls or bracts on fertile branches: opposite, leaf pairs fused ± halfway, basal part sheathing stem, free parts ± boat-shaped but not keeled, much shorter than type (1)
• Inflorescence unique
• Flowers solitary per season, but inflorescence at length developing into a wide-spreading perennial cyme by annual addition of one pair of bracteate flowers below each terminal fruit, with hardened remnants of bracts and fruits remaining throughout
• Sepals 4, apiculate; outer ones compressed and keeled, inner ones with brown, membranous margins
• Petals 1-2-seriate, purplish pink
• Stamens and staminodes ± 5-seriate, papillate at base
• Nectary a fairly prominent crenate ring
• Ovary convex on top; placentas parietal; stigmas (6-)8, narrowly subulate
• Fruit a (6-)8-locular capsule, close to Ruschia type but valves with low rims, yet forming a rounded dome, valves erect when open, without wings; expanding keels erect, thick; covering membranes well developed; closing bodies large
• Seeds ± ovoid, ± 1.25 mm long, brown

• Flowering in winter

• Distinguishing characters :
  • Perennials with compact vegetative growth and elongated reproductive parts
  • Inflorescences persistent

Nomenclature:

• Ottosonderia L.Bolus
  • Bolus: 292 (1958)
  • Herre: 246 (1971)
  • Smith et al.: 376 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Species 2, very localised distribution in Namaqualand, with two separate distributions, the one to the north and the other just south of the border between the Northern and Western Cape