Ixia monadelpha D.Delaroche
EN Indigenous Endemic

Morphological description

Plants 200-400 mm high. Corm ± globose, 12-20 mm diam.; tunics of soft, ± papery layers. Stem simple or with 1 or 2 short, spreading branches. Leaves 4 to 7, lanceolate, ± 1/2 as long as stem, mostly 3-12 mm wide, often loosely twisted, decreasing in size above, margins slightly thickened, hyaline when dry. Spike closely 4- to 12-flowered, flexuose; bracts 5-10 mm long, dry, pale below, spotted brown distally, in upper 1/2, outer ± truncate or with conspicuous dark brown, twisted central tooth and 2 smaller lateral lobes, inner with 2 dark brown, twisted cusps. Flowers salver-shaped, grey-blue, purple, violet, or pink (white or grey-yellow), with large, dark green, reddish, brown or purple central mark, unscented; perianth tube cylindric, 10-18 mm long; tepals ± elliptic, subequal, spreading, connate for up to 1.5 mm, 13-20 x 6-11 mm. Filaments 3-6 mm long, united in lower 1/2 or entirely, purple anthers erect, 7-8 mm long; pollen pale grey-blue. Style dividing between base and middle of anthers, branches 2-3 mm long. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

A very striking species, Ixia monadelpha has grey-blue to light purple, turquoise or sometimes pink (exceptionally greyish yellow) flowers with a dark purple to almost black center with a light brown to green halo. The stamens are also darkly colored, with blue to dull grey pollen. The filaments are united for half or more of their length, and the anthers are erect and contiguous. The pale floral bracts are minutely speckled brown or red distally and are distinctive in the somewhat thickened, twisted, blackish cusps, the outer bract with the central cusp more prominent than the laterals. Added to these unusual features are a perianth tube 10-18 mm long and a stem usually bearing two or more branches held at right angles to the main axis and curving upward distally. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2016. Systematics of the southern African genus Ixia (Iridaceae): 5. Synopsis of section Ixia, including five new species. S. African J. Bot. 104: 175-198. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2015.11.011] [Copyright held by the South African Association of Botanists (2016); http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02546299] [CC BY]

Cormous geophyte, 15-40 cm. Leaves sword-shaped. Flowers shades of turquoise to purple, rarely whitish, with blackish centre, tube filiform, filaments united, black; bracts with prominent dark brown cusps. From: Manning, JC; Goldblatt, P. 2012. Iridaceae. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 119-176. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Diagnostic description

A striking species, Ixia monadelpha has grey-blue to light purple or even pink flowers (rarely white to grey-yellow), dark purple, iridescent green to almost black in the centre edged with a light brown to green halo. The stamens are also darkly coloured and even the pollen is blue to grey. The species was named for the united filaments, sometimes for only half their length, unusual in the genus, and even the anthers are erect and contiguous. The pale floral bracts are minutely speckled brown or red distally but are distinctive in the somewhat thickened, twisted, almost black cusps, the outer with the central cusp more prominent than the laterals. Added to these unusual features are a perianth tube 10-18 mm long and a stem usually bearing two or more branches held at right angles to the main axis and curving upward distally. Ixia monadelpha has often been associated with orange-flowered I. curta, which also has united filaments, contiguous anthers and an unusually long perianth tube, and the two have at times been treated as a single species. The two may well be closely related but can be separated not only by flower colour, but I. curta has corm tunics of fine, soft fibres, a markedly thicker perianth tube and the stem is rarely branched. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Habitat

Seasonally wet, sandy gravel flats and lower mountain slopes. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Plants grow on seasonally wet, sandy gravel flats and lower mountain slopes. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2016. Systematics of the southern African genus Ixia (Iridaceae): 5. Synopsis of section Ixia, including five new species. S. African J. Bot. 104: 175-198. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2015.11.011] [Copyright held by the South African Association of Botanists (2016); http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02546299] [CC BY]

Wet, sandy flats and lower slopes. From: Manning, JC; Goldblatt, P. 2012. Iridaceae. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 119-176. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Distribution

Restricted to a narrow stretch of the Western Cape Atlantic Coast between Darling and Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Ixia monadelpha is restricted a narrow stretch of the Western Cape coast between Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula and Darling, a distance of some 85 km. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2016. Systematics of the southern African genus Ixia (Iridaceae): 5. Synopsis of section Ixia, including five new species. S. African J. Bot. 104: 175-198. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2015.11.011] [Copyright held by the South African Association of Botanists (2016); http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02546299] [CC BY]

Darling to Cape Peninsula. From: Manning, JC; Goldblatt, P. 2012. Iridaceae. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 119-176. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Flowering time

September to November

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

Residence status

Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature

FSA

SA

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

WC

EC

NC

FS

GA

KZN

LP

MP

NW

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

https://seis-sanbi.azureedge.net/anura/default/asset.do?preview=105917

Names and Sources

Accepted name
Ixia monadelpha D.Delaroche

Published in: Descr. Pl. Aliq. Nov.: 22 (1766)

Nomenclature note: orth.var. 'monadelphia' sensu Burm.f.

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector (G: Herb. Burman, L: Herb. A. van Royen, syn.)

Synonym(s)

Morphixia monadelpha (D.Delaroche) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 384 (1882)


Ixia cartilaginea Lam.

Published in: Encycl. [J. Lamarck & al.] 3(1): 340 (1789)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector (P: Herb. Lamarck, holo.)


Ixia columnaris Salisb.

Published in: Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 36 (1796)

Type: unknown


Ixia columnaris Salisb. var. grandiflora Andrews

Published in: Bot. Repos. 4: t. 250 (1802)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Andrews, Bot. Repos. 4: t. 250 (1802)


Ixia columnaris Salisb. var. latifolia Andrews

Published in: Bot. Repos. 3: t. 213 (1802)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Bot. Repos. 3: t. 213 (1802)


Ixia columnaris Salisb. var. purpurea Andrews

Published in: Bot. Repos. 3: t. 203 (1802)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Bot. Repos. 3: t. 203 (1802)


Ixia columnaris Salisb. var. versicolor Andrews

Published in: Bot. Repos.3: t. 211 (1802)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustratin in Bot. Repos. 3: t. 211 (1802)


Galaxia ixiiflora DC.

Published in: Liliac. [Redouté] 1: t. 41 (1803)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Redouté, Liliac. 1: t. 41 (1803)


Galaxia ramosa DC.

Published in: Liliac. [Redouté] 1: sub t. 41 (1803)


Ixia columellaris Ker Gawl.

Published in: Bot. Mag. 17: t. 630 (1803)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Curtis's Bot. Mag. 17: t. 630 (1803)


Ixia variegata Banks ex Ker Gawl.

Published in: Curtis's Bot. Mag. 15: t. 630 (1803)


Ixia columnaris Salisb. var. angustifolia Andrews

Published in: Bot. Repos. 6: t. 392 (1804)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Bot. Repos. 6: t. 392 (1804)


Ixia grandiflora (Andrews) Pers., nom.illegit., non D.Delaroche (1766)

Published in: Syn. Pl. [Persoon] 1: 48 (1805)


Ixia columnaris Salisb. var. rhodolarynx Baker, nom.superfl.

Published in: J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 16: 91 (1877)


Morphixia angustifolia (Andrews) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 384 (1882)


Morphixia columellaris (Ker Gawl.) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 384 (1882)


Morphixia grandiflora (Andrews) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 383 (1882)


Morphixia latifolia (Andrews) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 385 (1882)


Morphixia purpurea (Andrews) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 383 (1882)


Morphixia versicolor (Andrews) Klatt

Published in: Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 385 (1882)


Ixia angustifolia (Andrews) Klatt

Published in: Consp. Fl. Afr. [T.A. Durand & H. Schinz] 5: 182 (1894)


Ixia galaxioides Klatt, nom.superfl.

Published in: Consp. Fl. Afr. [T.A. Durand & H. Schinz] 5: 184 (1894)


Ixia purpurea (Klatt) Klatt, nom.illegit., non Lam (1789), nec Jacq. (1791)

Published in: Consp. Fl. Afr. [T.A. Durand & H. Schinz] 5: 186 (1894)


Classification

KINGDOM Plantae

SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae

SUBFAMILY Crocoideae

TRIBE Ixieae

GENUS Ixia

SPECIES monadelpha

32 results for Ixia monadelpha D.Delaroche

Specimen records

Barcode: NBG0179165-0 Collector(s) & number: De Vos, 2614 | 1985-9-27

South Africa, Western Cape, Oudepost Reserve just S of Darling.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0277448-0 Collector(s) & number: Tyambetyu, O, MSBP 4390 | 2010-12-31

South Africa, Western Cape, Rondebosch Common. Near Milner road, approximately 50 m from pine trees, next to footpath.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0020929-0 Collector(s) & number: MacOwan, P, 2481 | -10-

South Africa, Western Cape, Hout Bay.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0007192-0 Collector(s) & number: Medley-Wood, J, s.n. | 1895-9-19

South Africa, Western Cape, National Botanical Gardens.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0061153-0 Collector(s) & number: Compton, RH, 16578 | 1944-11-30

South Africa, Western Cape, Cape Peninsula. Rondebosch Common.

General notes: Dull blue.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0061296-0 Collector(s) & number: Curator Pretoria Bot. Garden, PRE 21948 | -10-

South Africa, Western Cape, HOTTENTOTS HOLLAND.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0112703-0 Collector(s) & number: Van Breda, PAB, 1053 | 1960-10-22

South Africa, Western Cape, MALMESBURY DIST.; DARLING.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0061298-0 Collector(s) & number: Bolus, HML, 20996 | 1933-12-1

South Africa, Western Cape, CAPE PENINSULA; RONDEBOSCH; CAMP GROUND.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0683581-0 Collector(s) & number: De Vos, MP, 2614 | 1985-9-22

South Africa, Western Cape, DARLING; OUDEPOST RESERVAAT NET SUID VAN DARLING.

General notes: Verskillende kleur met verskillende kolle.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0061152-0 Collector(s) & number: Page, MM, s.n. | 1918-10-

South Africa, Western Cape, Cape Peninsula. Rondebosch, camp ground.

General notes: Fl. October.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0061295-0 Collector(s) & number: Marloth, HWR, 345 | 1884-11-

South Africa, Western Cape, CAMPS BAY.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0020928-0 Collector(s) & number: Pappe, s.n. | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Tulbagh.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0180420-0 Collector(s) & number: Louw, E, s.n. | 1933-9-

South Africa, Western Cape, Malmesbury.

General notes: Sandy soil.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0061151-0 Collector(s) & number: Maguire, B, 446 | 1950-9-23

South Africa, Western Cape, Darling Flower show.

General notes: Pale blue - purplish blue. Centre orange, shading dark blue brown.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0009033-0 Collector(s) & number: Wolley-Dod, AH, 3638 | 1897-11-6

South Africa, Western Cape, Steenberg slopes.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0179167-0 Collector(s) & number: Rehm, SEA, s.n. | 1946-10-3

South Africa, Western Cape, Piquetberg.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0061154-0 Collector(s) & number: Van Breda, PAB, 1053 | 1960-10-22

South Africa, Western Cape, Malmesbury District. Darling.

General notes: In marshy vleis. Flowers vary from white to pale pink with variegated centres.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0180416-0 Collector(s) & number: De Vos, s.n. | 1985-10-27

South Africa, Western Cape, Oudepost Reserve, S of Darling.

General notes: Brown-orange. Scarce.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0095051-0 Collector(s) & number: Grant, A, 3424 | 1927-9-26

South Africa, Western Cape, MALMESBURY

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: SAM0020927-0 Collector(s) & number: Pappe, s.n. | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Green Point.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0090919-0 Collector(s) & number: Barker, WF, 10787 | 1970-10-19

South Africa, Western Cape, Cape town. Darling. Oudepos Farm. In private Wild Flower Reserve.

General notes: In sandy soil on flats. Flowers blue or pink or whitish or mauve with dark centre. (some to N.B.G.)

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0179166-0 Collector(s) & number: Zeyher, 1601 | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Rietvalley.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Observation records

Date: 11/26/2017 10:44:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 9/14/2011 12:14:00 PM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/24/2021 10:01:00 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/24/2021 12:33:00 PM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/24/2021 8:33:01 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/21/2021 10:52:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/13/2021 11:07:00 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/29/2021 10:56:11 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 11/12/2021 10:52:55 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 11/15/2021 10:46:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Plant occurence records per dataset

Plant occurence records per year

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

2020

SERIES

Iridaceae of southern Africa Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC

Strelitzia 42: 1-1159

South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria

2012

SERIES CHAPTER

Iridaceae Manning, JC; Goldblatt, P

In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 119-176

South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria

1999

FLORA

Ixia De Vos, MP

Flora of Southern Africa 7(2),13-87

1962

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

South African iridaceae: the genus Ixia Lewis, GJ

Journal of South African Botany 28: 45-195

1928

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

Ixia monadelpha D.Delaroche Phillips, EP; Letty, CL

Flowering Plants of South Africa 8: , t.317

No results found for Ixia monadelpha D.Delaroche

Status

Status and criteria

EN

Assessor(s)

Plantae Coordinator

Bibliography

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Belton LE, Ball N, Waterman JM, Bateman PW. 2007. Do Cape ground squirrels (<i>Xerus inauris</i>) discriminate between olfactory cues in the faeces of predators versus non-predators?. African Zoology. 42:135–138

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Bennett AF, Huey RB, John-Alder H, Nagy KA. 1984. The parasol tail and thermoregulatory behavior of the Cape ground squirrel <i>Xerus inauris</i>. Physiological Zoology. 57:57–62

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Edwards S, Waterman JM. 2011. Vigilance and grouping in the southern African ground squirrel (<i>Xerus inauris</i>).. African Journal of Ecology. 49:286–291

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Ewacha MV, Kaapehi C, Waterman JM, Roth JD. 2016. Cape ground squirrels as ecosystem engineers: modifying habitat for plants, small mammals and beetles in Namib Desert grasslands.. African Journal of Ecology. 54:68–75

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Fick LG, Kucio TA, Fuller A, Matthee A, Mitchell D. 2009. The relative roles of the parasol-like tail and burrow shuttling in thermoregulation of free-ranging Cape ground squirrels, <i>Xerus inauris</i>. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology. 152:334–340

ELECTRONIC SOURCE
Griffin M, Coetzee N. 2008. <i>Xerus inauris</i>. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Herron MD, Waterman JM, Parkinson CL. 2005. Phylogeny and historical biogeography of African ground squirrels: the role of climate change in the evolution of <i>Xerus</i>. Molecular Ecology. 14:2773–2788

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Hillegass MA, Waterman JM, Roth JD. 2008. The influence of sex and sociality on parasite loads in an African ground squirrel. Behavioral Ecology. 19:1006–1011

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Hillegass MA, Waterman JM, Roth JD. 2010. Parasite removal increases reproductive success in a social African ground squirrel.. Behavioral Ecology. 21:696–700

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Jackson TP, Waterman JM, Bennett NC. 2007. Pituitary luteinizing hormone responses to single doses of exogenous GnRH in female social Cape ground squirrels exhibiting low reproductive skew.. Journal of Zoology. 273:8–13

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