Ixia viridiflora

PLANTAE / PHANEROGAMAE / ANTHOPHYTA / ASPARAGALES / IRIDACEAE / CROCOIDEAE / IXIEAE / IXIA / VIRIDIFLORA

Ixia viridiflora Lam.

Endangered EN Indigenous Endemic

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Morphological description

Plants 500-950 mm high. Corm ± globose, 10-18 mm diam.; tunics of fine, pale, netted dark fibres. Stem usually with 1 or 2 short, erect branches held close to main stem. Leaves 5 to 7, ± linear, leathery, reaching to between middle of stem and nearly to base of spike, 2-7 mm wide, firm, with 3 or 4 prominent veins. Spike laxly 10- to many-flowered; bracts ± dry, straw-coloured, outer 8-10 mm long, with 1 prominent vein, mostly 1-toothed, inner slightly shorter than outer, 2-veined, 2-toothed. Flowers half nodding, salver-shaped, green, blue-green or grey-blue, usually with prominent, dark purple or reddish to ± black centre (rarely whitish in centre); perianth tube filiform, 6-9 mm long; tepals subequal, ± elliptic, spreading, connate in lower ± 1 mm, (10-)16-25 x (4-)7-11 mm. Filaments (2-)3-4 mm long, parallel, purple (rarely whitish); anthers suberect, (5-)9-13 mm long; pollen yellow. Style dividing opposite base (rarely middle) of filaments, purple (rarely whitish), branches falcate, ± 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]

With its extraordinary green to turquoise, or sometimes grey-blue flowers, almost black in the center, Ixia viridiflora is unmistakeable. Added to the unique flower color is the elongate spike with several large blooms open at the same time and spaced well apart from one another. The particularly long, suberect anthers, mostly 10-13 mm long but occasionally only 5-7 mm long, a style dividing at or shortly above the bases of the filaments, and dark-colored style branches are other important diagnostic features. The elongate spike is unique in the genus. 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, 50-100 cm, stem with several, short, few-flowered branches. Leaves narrow. Flowers in elongate, lax spikes, green to pale blue with dark purple-black centre, tube filiform. 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

This lovely plant, with its extraordinary green to turquoise, or sometimes grey-blue flowers usually with maroon to almost black centre, is unmistakeable. Added to the unique flower colour is an elongate spike with large blooms open at the same time and spaced well apart from one another. The particularly long anthers are mostly 9-13 mm long (occasionally only 5-7 mm long) and always suberect and the style divides at or shortly above the bases of the free filaments. The elongate spike is unique in the genus Small-flowered populations with a pale centre, including the anthers, are recorded from Romans River Farm and from Weltevrede Farm near Botha, along with typical large-flowered, dark-centred populations. These anomalous populations may represent pollination ecotypes. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Habitat

Loamy clay and gravel. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Rocky, mostly clay 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

A rare, relatively narrow endemic of Western Cape, South Africa, extending from near Porterville and the upper Tulbagh Valley south to the southern end of the Paardeberg. From: Goldblatt, P; Manning, JC. 2020. Iridaceae of southern Africa. Strelitzia 42: 1-1159. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

A rare, relatively narrow endemic, Ixia viridiflora has long been believed to be restricted to lower mountain slopes in the Tulbagh Valley and nearby, extending from near Tulbagh to Romans River. There are however, reliable records from near Porterville, some distance to the north (Roux s.n. BOL) and from Slent Farm at the southern end of the Paardeberg (Cowell, Stoll & Tyambetyu MSBP4141 NBG), expanding the range significantly. 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]

Tulbagh to Wolseley. 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 October

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

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

KZN

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

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Names and Sources

Accepted name

Ixia viridiflora Lam.

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

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

Synonym(s)

Ixia spectabilis Salisb.

Published in: Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 35 (1796)

Type: unknown

Ixia maculata L. var. viridis Jacq., nom.nud.

Published in: Pl. Hort. Schoenbr. 1: t. 23 (1797)

Ixia spicata Burm.f. var. viridinigra Andrews

Published in: Bot. Repos. 1: t. 29 (1798)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Bot. Repos. 1: t 29 (1798)

Ixia maculata L. var. viridis Ker Gawl.

Published in: Curtis's Bot. Mag. 16: t. 549 (1802)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Curtis's Bot. Mag. 16: t. 549 (1802)

Ixia maculata L. var. amethystina Ker Gawl.

Published in: Curtis's Bot. Mag. 18: t. 789 (1804)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality or collector, illustration in Curtis's Bot. Mag. 18: t. 789 (1804)

Ixia viridis Thunb.

Published in: Fl. Cap. 1: 242 (1811)

Type: South Africa, Western Cape, ‘Roode Sand,’ Thunberg s.n. (S, UPS, syn.)

Ixia pulchra Salisb., nom.nov. pro I. maculata var. viridis Ker Gawl. (1802)

Published in: Trans. Hort. Soc. London 1: 320 (1812)

Ixia cana Eckl.

Published in: Topogr. Verz. Pflanzensamml. Ecklon: 26 (1827)

Type: South Africa, without precise locality, cultivated in Cape Town, Ecklon s.n. (S, lecto.) Lectotype designated by Nordenstam, Journal of South African Botany 38: 285 (1972).

Ixia prasina Sol. ex Baker

Published in: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 16: 92 (1877)

Ixia viridiflora Lam. var. cana (Eckl.) Baker

Published in: Handbk. Irid.: 164 (1892)

Ixia viridiflora Lam. var. minor M.P.de Vos

Published in: Fl. S. Africa 7(2:1): 45 (1999)

Type: South Africa, Western Cape Province, Wolseley, Mostertshoek, Mostert sub De Vos 2722 (NBG [as STE], holo.)

Common name	Language	Reference/barcode	Published as
groenkalossie	Afrikaans	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.

Classification

KINGDOM Plantae

SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae

PHYLUM Anthophyta

ORDER Asparagales

FAMILY Iridaceae

SUBFAMILY Crocoideae

TRIBE Ixieae

GENUS Ixia

SPECIES viridiflora

21 results for Ixia viridiflora Lam.

Records
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Year

1830 (1)

1985 (1)

1989 (1)

2006 (1)

2007 (1)

2012 (1)

2014 (1)

2018 (1)

2019 (1)

2020 (2)

2021 (3)

2022 (4)

NULL (2)

Province

western cape (6)

western cape, south africa (14)

Specimen records

Barcode: PRE0061216-0 Collector(s) & number: MacOwan, P, PRE 36360 | -10-

South Africa, Western Cape, TULBAGH

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0178990-0 Collector(s) & number: De Vos, 2609 | 1985-9-22

South Africa, Western Cape, Romansrivier, Wolseley.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0061221-0 Collector(s) & number: Flanagan, HG, 2213 | 1893-9-

South Africa, Western Cape, MALMESBURY.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0061218-0 Collector(s) & number: Ecklon, CF, PRE 22403 | 1830-9-

South Africa, Western Cape, Clanwilliam Division; On the Olifants River and at Villa Brakfontein. [Locality is probably incorrect]

General notes: Ex Berlin Herbarium 11936. [Locality is probably incorrect]

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0206887-0 Collector(s) & number: Snijman, DA, 2099 | 2006-9-18

South Africa, Western Cape, Near Wolseley, Farm Romans River, above farm dam below Mostertshoek Twins.

General notes: Fynbos biome. Recently burnt renosterveld. Moderate, mountain slope. Moist/damp, clay soil. Shale. Full sun. Recently burned. Geophyte. Flowers turquoise, with a dark blue centre. Localised.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0277489-0 Collector(s) & number: Nicholson, G, 972 | 2012-10-16

South Africa, Western Cape, Paardeberg, between Wellington & Malmesbury. Skyhouse, High slant, next to drive way. 33.61936' S; 18.82272' E.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0207335-0 Collector(s) & number: Manning, JC, 3053 | --

South Africa, Western Cape, Wolseley, Romansrivier Farm.

General notes: Fynbos biome. Hill slope. Moist/damp, gravel, stony soil. Shale. Full sun. Recently burned. Local in renosterveld on alluvium.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG1481797-0 Collector(s) & number: Manning, JC, 3699 | 2018-10-13

South Africa, Western Cape, Wellington. Bo-Hermon. Bosplaas, behind farm house.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG1540707-0 Collector(s) & number: Manning, JC, 3761 | 2019-10-11

South Africa, Western Cape, Botha. Weltevrede. Foot of Waaihoek Mountains.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0248468-0 Collector(s) & number: Ebrahim, I, CR2675 | 2007-10-2

South Africa, Western Cape, Romansrivier. SE of the dam, next to the farm road going up to the mountain (L.H.S). [ 32.282100 S 19.133600 E llres 50 m by collector]

General notes: Alt. 364 m. Fynbos. Renosterveld. Hill slope. Loamy, rocky soil. Sandstone. Recently burned site. Flowers creamy-white.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0180436-0 Collector(s) & number: De Vos, MP, 2716 | 1989-10-1

South Africa, Western Cape, Foothills. Mostertshoek near Wolseley.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record