Gerbera aurantiaca Sch.Bip.
EN Indigenous Endemic

Morphological description

Roots 1-3.5 mm wide, thong-like; rootstock stout, often horizontal. Leaves 11-25(-36) cm long, 1.5-6.5(-8.5) cm wide. Petiole 0-6 cm long, 2-6 mm wide, up to 10 mm at the base. Blade elliptic, gradually tapering towards the base, decurrent in a narrow wing on the petiole, sometimes almost to its base; apex acute to broadly so; margin entire or obscurely remotely denticulate, densely tomentose-hairy. Upper surface dark or fresh green, more or less hairy with short hairs, usually almost velvety to the touch; lower surface more dull, when young long whitish villose-tomentose, the tomentum then becoming thin with woolly hairs, glabrous when mature; lateral veins scarcely raised. Scapes seemingly always solitary, 14-41.5 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, not narrowing above. Involucral bracts 6-18 mm long, 1-3 mm wide, long tapering. Heads campanulate, 14-20 mm long, 24-35 mm wide. 30-40 outer ray florets, rather crowded, long and prominent, usually blood-red (crimson), but varying from orange through scarlet or crimson to dark red, below more dull or coppery; tube 5-6 mm long, about 1 mm wide, lower limb 14-28 mm long, 1.5-7 mm wide, upper limb about 2 mm long, style up to 3.5 mm long. Tube of inner ray florets 5-7 mm long, lower limb 1.5-3 mm long, upper limb 1-2 mm long; both inner ray florets and disc florets pinkish or reddish, anthers of the disc florets black (or yellow?). Achenes not known in detail, possibly sometimes only subrostrate, otherwise more or less beaked, about 7-8 mm long with the beaked part constituting about 2 mm. Pappus violet-purple, sometimes whitish at the very base. From: Hansen, HV. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Gerbera (Compositae, Mutisieae) sections Gerbera, Parva, Piloselloides (in Africa), and Lasiopus. Opera Bot. 78: 5-36. [All rights reserved]

Acaulescent perennial herb. Leaves entire, or obscurely and remotely denticulate, blade decurrent on petiole, lower surface woolly to woolly-tomentose when immature. Scapes not widened below head. Rays biseriate, prominent. Flowers with red or orange rays, disc pinkish, reddish or black. From: Retief, E; Herman, PPJ. 1997. Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: Keys and diagnostic characters. Strelitzia 6: 1-681. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Diagnostic description

The species is recognized by the large flowerheads with the crowded, usually deep blood-red, long ray florets and the commonly black disc. Furthermore the entire leaves and the short, winged petiole separate it from G. jamesonii. It is less easily distinguished from the taxon described by S. Moore as G. speciosa. This taxon has rather large heads, sometimes as large as in G. aurantiaca, and the tomentum of the upper leaf surface (as well as rarely also the lower one) typically resembles that of G. aurantiaca; besides, the pappus is often more or less violet-purple. However, the ray florets are smaller and more narrow than in G. aurantiaca, and they are not typically blood-red. Furthermore G. speciosa is restricted to Transvaal, and it is best explained as one of several forms of G. viridifolia (see under that species). According to Hilliard G. aurantiaca hybridizes with G. kraussii Schultz-Bip. (i.e. G. ambigua (Cass.) Schultz-Bip. according to the present work). The hybrid shows every gradation in leaf shape and indumentum between the two parents and has larger heads than either of them. The rays are very variable in colour: Pink, yellow, orange, red, white tinged pink or creamy white; the disc also varies in colour and often seems to be whitish, while the pappus varies from violet-prurple over whitish to more or less whitish-tawny. Two varieties of G. aurantiaca established by Dümmer, var. wyliei (type specimen: Medley-Wood 10150 (K, lectotype, NH, isolectotype)) and var. alba (type specimen: Medley-Wood 10151 (K, lectotype, BOL, L, NH, isolectotypes)), are considered by Hilliard as representatives of this hybrid. It is not always easy to separate the hybrid form from the true G. aurantiaca on the herbarium sheets. The hybrid shows much affinity to that species, having prominent rays and large heads, the heads generally being slightly larger than in the true G. aurantiaca, but by no means always. The lower leaf surface varies from woolly or cobwebby to dense, persistently whitish to lemon tomentose (as in G. ambigua). The rays may reach 40 mm in length, the achenes 10 mm on the few specimens studied. From: Hansen, HV. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Gerbera (Compositae, Mutisieae) sections Gerbera, Parva, Piloselloides (in Africa), and Lasiopus. Opera Bot. 78: 5-36. [All rights reserved]

Habitat

Found from about 800 to 2000 m a.s.l. in large, but separated colonies. Grows in grassland, in grass among outcrops and rocks, on hillsides, in woods, and along roads. From: Hansen, HV. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Gerbera (Compositae, Mutisieae) sections Gerbera, Parva, Piloselloides (in Africa), and Lasiopus. Opera Bot. 78: 5-36. [All rights reserved]

Grassland among rocky outcrops, on hillsides, in woods. From: Retief, E; Herman, PPJ. 1997. Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: Keys and diagnostic characters. Strelitzia 6: 1-681. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Distribution

Endemic in Natal from Hela-Hela near Richmond to the hills above Pietermaritzburg and north to the Greytown and Vryheid areas and Qudeni and Melmoth in Zululand. From: Hansen, HV. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the genus Gerbera (Compositae, Mutisieae) sections Gerbera, Parva, Piloselloides (in Africa), and Lasiopus. Opera Bot. 78: 5-36. [All rights reserved]

Flowering time

August to January

Altitude

800 to 2000 m

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=262209

Names and Sources

Accepted name
Gerbera aurantiaca Sch.Bip.
Synonym(s)

Classification

KINGDOM Plantae

SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae

SUBFAMILY Mutisioideae

GENUS Gerbera

SPECIES aurantiaca

39 results for Gerbera aurantiaca Sch.Bip.

Specimen records

Barcode: NH0084246-0 Collector(s) & number: Strey, RG, 9213 | 1969-11-2

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Mountain top before Hela Hela.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0232416-0 Collector(s) & number: Strey, RG, 9213 | 1969-11-2

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, MOUNTAIN TOP BEFORE HELA HELA

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0143973-0 Collector(s) & number: Mnxati, ES, 403 | 2011-11-9

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Zululand District Municipality Area. Abaqulusi Municipality Area. Tygerskloof Farm. Mondi's Property, Ngome.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0134056-0 Collector(s) & number: Ntuli, NR, 175 | 2000-10-17

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Byrne Valley. Minerva Private Nature Reserve. 2km North West of Minerva House towards Dunbar Estate in the vicinity of tower.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0004986-0 Collector(s) & number: Medley-Wood, J, s.n. | 1891-4-

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, hills beyond Greytown

General notes: Flowers dark red

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0112981-0 Collector(s) & number: Thode, J, s.n. | --

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, kranskop

General notes: Ex victoria College (Stellenbosch) Herbarium

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0800993-0 Collector(s) & number: Thode, J, 3008 | --

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, KRANTZKOP

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0075975-0 Collector(s) & number: Schrire, BD, 1072 | 1982-10-15

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, c. 8km along road to Vryheid from Ngome Forest Station turnoff.

General notes: Rocky grassland slope, moderate to steep and very rocky towards the top. yellow flowered composite. Bases woody. Underslope.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0655307-0 Collector(s) & number: Devenish, NJ, 1859 | 1983-12-25

South Africa, Mpumalanga, 30 KM SW OF PIET RETIEF ON WAKKERSTROOM RD

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0147291-0 Collector(s) & number: Hutchings, AD, 3515 | 1995-10-9

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, SAFCOL House, Ngome Blue Swallow Nesting Site.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0585706-0 Collector(s) & number: Condy, GS, 138 | 2002-11-18

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Umvoti: off Anres/Hermansburg road, by turning to Mondi depot on Mondi Ground.

General notes: Gentle slope. Biotic effect: undisturbed, rich flora. Scarlet flower, black centre. Many of the flowers eaten by insects. Many plants already in seed. Good population. Drawn for FPA, Vol. 59.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0086755-0 Collector(s) & number: MacDevette, K, 1079 | 1986-9-10

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Swartkop

General notes: Below repeaters. Rare herb growing in grassland. Voucher specimen. Flowers red. 0.1m high.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0018459-0 Collector(s) & number: Wylie, J, s.n. | 1928-11-2

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Near Greytown

General notes: Altitude: c. 3-4000ft. Flowers scarlet. "Hilton Daisy"

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0613307-0 Collector(s) & number: Du Toit, L(D), 81 | 1980-11-26

South Africa, Mpumalanga, KWA-MANDLANGAMPISI; GROOTHOEK FARM, ON TOP OF RIDGE BEFORE ROAD DESCENDS INTO THE VALLEY

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0021619-0 Collector(s) & number: Wylie, J, s.n. | 1931-10-

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Greytown.

General notes: Collected: Oct-Nov 1931. Flowers green

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0140669-0 Collector(s) & number: Dibakwane, D, 6032 | 2014-11-11

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Gardens, at the mother stock beds, opposite the potting shed.

General notes: Associated species: Tulbaghia viollaceae, Carpobrotus edulis, Portulacaria affra, Aloe barberiae, Zantedeschia aethiopica.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0107443-0 Collector(s) & number: Thode, J, 2893 | 1911-10-

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Krantzkop (Pot Spruit) N.P.

General notes: Altitude: ca. 4000' Grassy stoney places. Heads bright carmine, not orange-coloured as suggested by name. Locally known as Hilton Daisy.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0125608-0 Collector(s) & number: Von Fintel, M, 164 | 1996-9-14

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Natal, Esihlengeni, Tygerskloof.

General notes: Well drained open grassland, rocky, red/brown soil. Full sun, Eastern aspect, 30 degree slope, undisturbed, autumn burn. Growing in small colonies. Leaves oval, lightish green. Rays bright yellow, disc lighter yellow with centre dark brown. Fairly common. 45cm.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0123888-0 Collector(s) & number: Ngwenya, AM, 1810 | 1999-10-11

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Greytown. Merthley Lake. Municipality site, a proposed Nature Reserve site.

General notes: Erect herb. Flowers: ray florets red on the upper surface and yellow on the lower surface. Disk florets reddish brown. Plant height: c.20cm. Common. Common name: Hilton Daisy. Rocky grassland. Soil. Well drained. Full sun. Aspect: North West. Slope: moderate. Recently burnt.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0861288-0 Collector(s) & number: Burrows, JE, 9513 | 2006-10-1

South Africa, Mpumalanga, Farm Doornkloof, at the 28km peg (from Carolina) between Carolina and Badplaas.

General notes: Biotic effect: burnt annually. Litholgy: schist. Occurrence: locally frequent. In burnt grassland (KaNgwane Montane Grassland [GM16] in gravelly soils on stony hillside, E & NE aspect, on biotite schists. Plants single or often forming small clones of 3-8 well-spaced crowns, therefore rhizomatous. Estimated population size: 200-250 plants over an area of ca. one hectare. Heads held stiffly erect at anthesis, bending at right angles to the peduncles only well after anthesis. Conf: Retief,E.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0232410-0 Collector(s) & number: Wylie, JM, TRV 33804 | 1931-10-

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, GREYTOWN

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0763207-0 Collector(s) & number: Krynauw, S, 2001 | 1999-12-2

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Farm: Pivaanspoort 56.

General notes: Montane Grassland. Leaves dull dark green, paler below. Ray florets purple, disc florets dark.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0134285-0 Collector(s) & number: Mazibuko, MG, 139 | 2007-10-19

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Along the road to Sweet Freedom Cottage c. 2km away.

General notes: Biome: grassland. Vegetation type: rocky grassland. Habitat: hill slope. Substrate: rocky soil. Moisture regime: well-drained. Soil type: humus. Life form: herb. Plant features: herb with red flowers.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0121225-0 Collector(s) & number: Williams, R, 1349 | 1996-9-30

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Vryheid, 3km from Vryheid on the Vryheid-Louwsburg bypass road on land between the cemetery and the road.

General notes: Grassland. Full sun, level, roadside. in clumps. Lilac flowers. Horticultural potential. Common.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0084247-0 Collector(s) & number: Hilliard, OM, 4877 | 1969-10-20

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal; Pietermaritzburg, Railway property off Uplands drive.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0148330-0 Collector(s) & number: Parbhoo, S, 299 | 2017-11-22

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, KZN, Creighton, towards Ixopo, right turn off R612- towards Mahehle, alongside SAPPI forest.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0232414-0 Collector(s) & number: Acocks, JPH, 11792 | 1945-9-22

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, ZULULAND; ENTONJANENI DIST.; NR. KATAZO P.O.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0008796-0 Collector(s) & number: Davis, GW, 85 | 1900-11-5

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Qudeni Forest

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NH0036678-0 Collector(s) & number: Acocks, JPH, 11792 | 1945-9-22

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Entonjaneni District near Katazo P.O. Ngongoni Veld

General notes: Altitude: c. 3800ft Rays scalet. Occasional

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Observation records

Date: 11/8/2017 11:56:00 AM

KwaZulu-Natal

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM

Mpumalanga

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 8/22/2006 12:00:00 AM

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM

Mpumalanga

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM

Mpumalanga, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 11/6/2018 9:52:00 AM

KwaZulu-Natal

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/19/2021 4:09:41 PM

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 11/23/2021 6:01:00 AM

Mpumalanga, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 11/1/2019 10:22:00 AM

KwaZulu-Natal

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM

Mpumalanga, 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:

1997

SERIES

Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: Keys and diagnostic characters Retief, E; Herman, PPJ

Strelitzia 6: 1-681

National Botanical Institute, Pretoria

1985

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

A taxonomic revision of the genus Gerbera (Compositae, Mutisieae) sections Gerbera, Parva, Piloselloides (in Africa), and Lasiopus Hansen, HV

Opera Botanica a Societate Botanica Lundensi 78: 5-36

No results found for Gerbera aurantiaca Sch.Bip.

Status

Status and criteria

EN

Assessor(s)

Plantae Coordinator

Part(s) of plant used Use(s) Reference

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