Gethyllis

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Gethyllis
Gethyllis ciliaris, illustration from Robert Jacob Gordon: The Man and his Travels at the Cape - Patrick Cullinan, 1743–1795.  The larger figure with the berry and the smaller figure with the single flower.

Gethyllis ciliaris ,
illustration from Robert Jacob Gordon: The Man and his Travels at the Cape - Patrick Cullinan , 1743–1795.
The larger figure with the berry and the smaller figure with the single flower.

Systematics
Monocots
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)
Subfamily : Amaryllidoideae
Tribe : Haemantheae
Genre : Gethyllis
Scientific name
Gethyllis
L.

The plant genus gethyllis belongs to the subfamily Amaryllidoideae within the family of the Amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae). The approximately 32 to 35 species are native to southern Africa .

description

Appearance and leaves

The Gethyllis species grow as perennial herbaceous plants that reach heights of 3 to 30 centimeters, depending on the species. They have long fleshy roots . They form onions as survival organs to survive long periods of drought; they do not protrude from the ground. They often form stocks. Often the bulbs have a noticeable upper end and there are often one or a few leaf sheaths around the leaves at the base of the leaves. In some species, for example Gethyllis britteniana , these leaf sheaths have a beautiful reddish speckle or for example in Gethyllis verticillata they are frayed. In these geophytes , the leaves are dried up during the flowering period in the dry season . Fresh leaves only sprout again after the flowering period and are often present at the same time as the fruits.

The few to several only basal leaves are sessile. The simple leaf blades are often spirally twisted, linear to belt-shaped or elliptical and parallel-veined. The leaf surfaces are often downy with hairy simple, T-shaped or medifix trichomes . The leaf margin is smooth.

Inflorescences and flowers

The short inflorescence stem is below the surface of the earth. The flowers stand individually in a greatly reduced inflorescence just above the ground. In knospigen state envelops a spatha consisting of two fused, membranous support sheets is formed, the inflorescence. The stiff to lax flower stalks are as long or significantly longer than the flower envelope. The flowers are arranged hanging close together or are widely spread in the inflorescence. The flower stalks are short during anthesis and elongate until the fruit is ripe.

The flowering time of all Gethyllis species is in the South African summer. The inflorescence can only be kept for a relatively short time (two to three days) and the flowers bloom in one stand at the same time. The mostly hermaphroditic flowers are complete, or only not in the area of ​​the stylus, radial symmetry and threefold. In some species, when the bulbs are still small, the flowers are purely male, but when the bulbs are large, hermaphrodite flowers are formed; so this probably depends on the resources of the onions. The six similarly shaped bracts are fused into a long, slender, fleshy, cylindrical tube. The free areas of the bracts are shorter than the flower tube, narrow to broadly lanceolate and spread out. The colors of the bracts range from pink to cream to white, often with dark pink stripes. There are either six (for example in Gethyllis verticillata ) or, as an exception, within the family of the Amaryllidaceae 12, 18 up to 60 stamens ; they usually do not protrude beyond the flower envelope. The relatively short stamens inserted into the flower tube are free to one another or over part of their length. The basifix, bright yellow anthers are linear and roll back during their development. Three fruit leaves are a dreikammerigen under constant ovary grown, which is surrounded by the spathe and is in the "onion neck" and is underground. Each ovary chamber contains many ovules . The thin, short to long stylus, depending on the species, is upright or curved to the side and ends with a small cephalic to broadly trilobed stigma. The flowers, which are often strong and sweet-smelling, contain no nectar. There are no observations on the pollinators.

Fruits and seeds

The relatively large (finger-length), club-shaped to cylindrical, relatively thin-walled berries turn yellowish to white when ripe, often with red spots and open into irregular parts; they contain many seeds. The berries are edible and aromatic. They contain either many, small or a few large seeds. The almost spherical seeds are hard and more or less fleshy and cream-colored to reddish. The embryo is green. The fruits ripen slowly and are then lifted above the ground by the elongated fruit stalk around September.

Sets of chromosomes

The basic chromosome number is x = 6.

Occurrence

The 32 to 35 species are native to southern Africa . Gethyllis species occur mainly (30 species) in semi-arid areas with winter rain areas. Most of the species are elements of vegetation in the Succulent Karoo followed by the Fynbos . Some species are also found in the Great Karoo . Only Gethyllis transkarooica and Gethyllis longistyla thrive in the summer rain area of ​​the Nama-Karoo . Gethyllis species colonize high altitudes from coastal areas ( cape fold belts ) to the high inland plateau. Most often they can be found in open areas that do not have any competition from shrubs and grasses. Few species (for example Gethyllis afra and Gethyllis kaapensis ) thrive in seasonally humid locations.

Systematics and endangerment of the species

The genus name gethyllis was 1753 Linnaeus in Species Plantarum , Vol 1, p 442 first published . Type species is Gethyllis afra L. Synonyms of Gethyllis L. are: Abapus Adans. , Papiria Thunb. , Klingia Schönland . The generic name Gethyllis is derived from the Greek word gethyon , which means onion and means kitchen onion or leek, this refers to the habit and not to the usability in the kitchen.

The genus Gethyllis belongs to the subtribe Gethyllidinae (eponymous genus) from the tribe Haemantheae in the subfamily Amaryllidoideae within the family of Amaryllidaceae . It used to be part of the Liliaceae family.

There are around 32 to 35 species in the Gethyllis :

  • Gethyllis afra L .: It occurs in the Western Cape . The stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis barkerae D.Müll.-Doblies : There are two subspecies in the Western Cape:
    • Gethyllis barkerae D.Müll.-Doblies subsp. barkerae
    • Gethyllis barkerae subsp. paucifolia D.Müll.-Doblies : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis britteniana Baker : There are probably three subspecies:
    • Gethyllis britteniana Baker subsp. britteniana : It occurs in the Western Cape and North Cape . The stocks are considered stable. In 2004 it was rated in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as “Least Concern” = “not endangered”.
    • Gethyllis britteniana Baker subsp. bruynsii D.Müll.-Doblies : It is only known from the type material in Springbok in Namaqualand . A full description has not been published either.
    • Gethyllis britteniana subsp. herrei (L.Bolus) D.Müll.-Doblies (Syn .: Gethyllis herrei L.Bolus ): It is only known from the type material from 1930. It may only be found in the Richtersveld area of ​​the Gariep Center in the North Cape. It was found on floors above granite .
  • Gethyllis campanulata L.Bolus (Syn .: Gethyllis multifolia L.Bolus ): It is distributed from the Bokkeveld and Roggeveld Escarpment to De Doorns and Matjiesfontein in the Western and Northern Cape. This species was previously thought to be rare, but it has been found to be relatively widespread. It thrives in the succulent karoo and arid fynbos. The stocks are considered stable. In 2004 it was rated in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as “Least Concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Gethyllis ciliaris (Thunb.) Thunb. : There are two subspecies in the Western Cape:
    • Gethyllis ciliaris (Thunb.) Thunb. subsp. ciliaris (Syn .: Gethyllis undulata Herb. ): It occurs from Clanwilliam to the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. It thrives in the fynbos in sandy soils. 19 sites are known and in the last 70 years around 25% of the sites have been lost to agriculture, urbanization and invasive plant species. The stocks are continuously decreasing.
    • Gethyllis ciliaris subsp. longituba (L.Bolus) D.Müll.-Doblies (Syn .: Gethyllis longituba L.Bolus ): There is no information about this subspecies in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis fimbriatula D.Müll.-Doblies : Only the type locality Matjiesfontein in the Western Cape is known. The type material is not available in South Africa. There is no further evidence for this species. There is no further information than the list by Dieter Müller-Doblies in Willdenowia , Volume 15, 2, 1986, p. 467.
  • Gethyllis grandiflora L.Bolus : This endemic of the northern Namaqualand occurs only from Richtersveld to Komaggas in the North Cape. It thrives in the Succulent Karoo in the Sandveld. Fewer than 100 sites are known, most of which contain fewer than 20 specimens, and only a handful of the sites are slightly larger, but never more than 1000 specimens. Presumably there are less than 10,000 copies in total. The stocks are continuously decreasing through gathering for food (the fruits are very aromatic) and horticulture. In 2008 it was rated "Vulnerable" in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis gregoriana D.Müll.-Doblies : It occurs from Nieuwoudtville to Biedouw Valley in the Western Cape and North Cape. It thrives in the fynbos and in the succulent karoo on arid clay soils or soils that developed over sandstone and plains. It is known from 13 sites, each of which contains very few specimens. This species is not common anywhere, and is rarely seen. So far only one historical site has been lost through a wheat field. In 2007 it was rated “Rare” = “rare but not endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis hallii D.Müll.-Doblies : It occurs only from Bitterfontein to Nuwerus in the North Cape. It thrives on loose granitic sand in low succulent bushlandin the Succulent Karoo. It is only known from two localities and is rarely seen. In 2009 it was rated “Rare” = “rare but not endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis kaapensis D.Müll.-Doblies : This rare endemic only occurs on the Cape Peninsula . Only three populations were known, two of which have been lost to settlement. There are fewer than 250 specimens in the final population in Table Mountain National Park . In 2009 it was rated “Endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis lanuginosa Marloth: The home is the Western Cape and North Cape. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis lata L.Bolus : There are two subspecies:
    • Gethyllis lata L. Bolus subsp. lata : It occurs from Knersvlakte to Nieuwoudtville in the Northern and Western Cape. It thrives in fynbos and in the succulent karoo on clay plains. It is rare and known from fewer than ten localities. The stocks are considered stable. In 2007 it was rated “Rare” = “rare but not endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
    • Gethyllis lata subsp. orbicularis D.Müll.-Doblies : No further information is available about them, except that there is a herbarium from the North Cape.
  • Gethyllis latifolia Masson ex Baker : Only four specimens of this very rare endemic are known at a location in Bitterfontein in the Namaqualand Klipkoppe bushland on soils above granite. In 2007 it was rated “Critically Endangered” on the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis linearis L.Bolus : It occurs in the Western Cape and North Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis longistyla L.Bolus : It occurs only in the Sneeuberg, Agter-Sneeuberg and Nuweveld mountains in the Eastern and Western Cape. There it thrives in the fynbos in the summit area of dolerite chains. In 2009 it was rated “Rare” = “rare but not endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis namaquensis (Schönland) Oberm. : About 100 locations of it are known only in northern Namaqualand and southern Namibia. It is estimated that there are a total of around 10,000 specimens in natural sites. In 2009 it was rated "Vulnerable" in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis pectinata D.Müll.-Doblies : This endemic occurs only from Nieuwoudtville to Calvinia in the North Cape. It thrives in the Succulent Karoo on clay soils under sparse vegetation. Only one site is known. The population is endangered by overgrazing and collecting the onions. In 2009 it was rated "Vulnerable" in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis roggeveldensis D.Müll.-Doblies: Not much more is known about this species than that there are herbarium specimens collected in the North Cape.
  • Gethyllis setosa Marloth : It occurs in the Western Cape and North Cape. Your stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis spiralis (Thunb.) Thunb. (Syn .: Gethyllis unilateralis L.Bolus ): It occurs in the Eastern Cape. Your stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis transkarooica D.Müll.-Doblies : It is widespread in southern Africa in Botswana and in the South African provinces of Free State, North West, North, East and West Cape. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis uteana D.Müll.-Doblies : All that is known about them is that there is a herbarium from the Western Cape.
  • Gethyllis verrucosa Marloth : It is common in the Western Cape and North Cape. Your stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis verticillata R.Br. : It is common in the Western Cape and North Cape. Your stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Gethyllis villosa (Thunb.) Thunb. : It is common in the Western Cape and North Cape. Your stocks are considered stable. It is rated “Least Concern” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.

use

Gethyllis species are rarely used as ornamental plants due to their short flowering time. The aromatic fruits are edible. Fruits and flowers are used in traditional folk medicine. Even today, the fruits of Gethyllis afra are used to make "Kukumakranka Brandy", which is used as a remedy for colic and indigestion.

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Individual evidence

  1. Entry at biodiversitylibrary.org . Retrieved February 18, 2012
  2. ^ Gethyllis at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed February 18, 2012.
  3. a b Gethyllis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  4. a b entry at amaryllidaceae.org . (French, accessed February 14, 2012)
  5. a b Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Gethyllis. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  6. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad DA Snijman, JE Victor, 2004: Species list for Gethyllis in the Red List of South African Plants . Retrieved October 23, 2014

Web links

Commons : Gethyllis  - collection of images, videos and audio files