Description :

• The essential difference between Ruttya and Ruspolia , is a 2-lipped corolla in Ruttya with a short broad tube widening gradually to the throat and in Ruspolia a subequally 5-lobed corolla with a narrowly cylindric tube
• Both the wild and artificial hybrids have most of the morphological characters of the Ruspolia parent:
• Subshrubs
• Leaves shortly petiolate
• Inflorescence terminal thyrses; bracts and bracteoles present
• Calyx regular, hairy, sometimes glandular; lobes 5; tube shorter than lobes
• Corolla: subequally 5-lobed corolla with a narrowly cylindric tube
• Androecium : fertile stamens 2; arising in throat of corolla, exserted; filaments linear; anthers monothecous; thecae muticous; staminodes 2
• Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate
• Disc shallowly cupular
• Gynoecium : ovary with 2 ovules in each locule; style filiform, exserted; style branches 2, equal, very short, broader than long
• Capsule club-shaped, stipitate, with inelastic placental bases
• Seeds semi-orbicular, compressed, with somewhat horny margin, smooth on outer surface, rough and convoluted or rugose on inner surface

Nomenclature:

• X Ruttyruspolia A.Meeuse & De Wet
  • Meeuse & De Wet: 439 (1961)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Only from Soutpansberg (Northern Province), X Ruttyruspolia 'Phyllis van Heerden' A.Meeuse & De Wet