Description :

• Compact, tufted, dwarf perennials with fleshy or tuberous rootstock
• Leaves 4-6 on a branch, 2 of a pair ± dissimilar, flattish on upper surface and distinctly to indistinctly keeled on lower surface, pointed from a rather broad base, rarely cylindrical, trigonous to triquetrous; surface rough, with prominent white or blackish green spots or elevations above tannin idioblasts
• Flowers solitary, bibracteate, subsessile to shortly pedicelled; opening at midday, closing by evening
• Sepals 5(6 or 7) ± equal, fused at base to form a short hypanthium on which petals and stamens arise
• Petals 3- or 4-seriate, obtuse or emarginate, bright yellow to yellowish orange
• Stamens papillate below; placentas parietal; stigmas 7-10, slender, papillate
• Nectary positioned at upper rim of hypanthium
• Ovary bowl-shaped on top; placentas parietal; stigmas 7-10, linear
• Fruit a 7-10-locular capsule, close to Titanopsis type but with a rather rounded top and base, also browner and firmer than typical form; valves with wings reaching above halfway up; expanding keels contiguous in basal section, then diverging widely, shortly aristate, almost reaching apex of valve; covering membranes present; closing bodies 0
• Seeds ± pear-shaped, minutely muricate, dark brown

• Flowering in spring and summer

• Distinguishing characters :
  • Compact perennials, forming rosette
  • Leaves dotted
  • Flowers yellow

Nomenclature:

• Rabiea N.E.Br.
  • Brown: 92 (1927)
  • Bolus: 369 (1958)
  • Herre: 262 (1971)
  • Smith et al.: 226 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Species 6, occurs from the central Eastern Cape through the central parts of the Free State, an outlier in the distribution has been recorded from the E Northern Cape