Watsonia (genus)

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Watsonia
Watsonia tabularis in its natural habitat: Table Mountain, Cape Town.

Watsonia tabularis
in its natural habitat: Table Mountain , Cape Town .

Systematics
Monocots
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Iris family (Iridaceae)
Subfamily : Crocoideae
Tribe : Watsonieae
Genre : Watsonia
Scientific name
Watsonia
Mill.

Watsonia is a plant genus in the family of the Iridaceae (Iridaceae). The 52 to 54 species are all common in South Africa, with a few alsooccurringin Swaziland and Lesotho . Some species are invasive plants in some warm countries around the world.

description

Illustration by Watsonia marginata from Botanical Magazine ... London, 37, 1813, plate 1530
Flower of Watsonia borbonica subsp. borbonica

Appearance and leaves

Watsonia species are perennial herbaceous plants that form clumps and tubers. The stem is simple or branched. The long leaves have a flat, lanceolate to linear leaf blade.

Generative characteristics

They form upright, multi-flowered, spiked inflorescences . The bracts are green and often tinged with red. The relatively short-lived, rarely fragrant, hermaphrodite flowers are threefold and mostly zygomorphic . The six more or less identical bloom bracts are fused into a tube, spread out in the upper area or almost upright and above all orange, red or pink, rarely white. The stylus is divided into three thin branches from about half of its length.

The spherical to mostly elongated capsule fruits contain a few to many seeds. The light brown, wrinkled seeds have one or two wings.

The basic chromosome number is x = 9.

Systematics and distribution

The genus Watsonia was established in 1758 by Philip Miller in Figures of Plants in the Gardeners Dictionary , 2, p. 184. The type species is Watsonia meriana (L.) Mill. The genus name Watsonia honors the British botanist Sir William Watson . Synonyms for Watsonia Mill. Are: Callanthus Rchb. , Lomenia Pourr. , Lemonia Pers. , Warneria Mill. Ex L. , Neuberia Eckl. , Meriana Trew .

The genus Watsonia belongs to the tribe Watsonieae in the subfamily Crocoideae (Syn .: Ixioideae) within the family Iridaceae .

Watsonia species are all common in South Africa, with a few also occurring in Swaziland and Lesotho .

Watsonia aletroides
Watsonia angusta
Watsonia borbonica as an invasive plant in Hawaii
Inflorescence of Watsonia borbonica subsp. borbonica
Watsonia coccinea
Watsonia densiflora
Inflorescence of Watsonia densiflora in the habitat
Watsonia humilis
Watsonia marginata
Flowers of Watsonia meriana
Bulbs on the inflorescence of Watsonia meriana
Horst from Watsonia pillansii
Watsonia stenosiphon

There are 52 to 54 species of Watsonia :

  • Watsonia aletroides (Burm. F.) Ker Gawl. : It thrives in the fynbos from Bot River to Knysna and Uniondale in the Western Cape . At least half of the known sites have disappeared through fields. It was rated “Near Threatened” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia amabilis Goldblatt : It thrives in the fynbos from Paarl to Sir Lowry's Pass in the Western Cape. Agriculture was believed to be extinct. But there are still stocks in some locations that are very isolated from one another. These remaining stocks are also endangered by bush fires and invasive plants . It is rated “Critically Endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia amatolae Goldblatt : This endemic is known from five collections from the Amathole Mountains and from Katberg and Gaika's Kop to Hogsback and Dohne Peak from the Eastern Cape . The stocks are considered stable. It was rated “Rare” = “rare, but not endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia angusta Ker Gawl. : It is common in the South African provinces of Western, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal . The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia bachmannii L.Bolus : The rare species is only known from ten localities at altitudes of 50 to 500 meters from Umtamvuna to Mkweni River in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Their stocks are often very small, sometimes just one copy. The causes of the ongoing decline in stocks are varied. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
  • Watsonia bella N.E.Br. ex Goldblatt : It occurs in Swaziland and Mpumalanga . It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia borbonica (Pourr.) : There are two subspecies:
    • Watsonia borbonica subsp. ardernei (Sander) Goldblatt (Syn .: Watsonia ardernei J.W. Mathews & L.Bolus , Watsonia obrienii (NEBr.) Tubergen ): There are only six known sites from Paarl to Rawsonville in the Western Cape. There are three mountainous sites that are relatively safe but are affected by invasive plant species. The populations of the three locations in the lowlands are decreasing in the Breede River Valley due to the expansion of vineyards, and invasive plant species are a problem in the Stellenbosch region . They thrive in the fynbos at low to medium altitudes on rocky slopes over sandstone . It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
    • Watsonia borbonica (Pourr.) Goldblatt subsp. borbonica (Syn .: Tritonia cooperi Baker , Tritonia quinquenervata R.C. Foster , Watsonia cooperi (Baker) L.Bolus , Watsonia pyramidata (Andrews) Stapf ): It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia canaliculata Goldblatt : This endemic thrives in the Mistbelt Grassland in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and is known from fewer than five localities. The stocks are continuously decreasing due to afforestation and invasive plant species. It was rated “endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia coccinea Herb. ex Baker : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia confusa Goldblatt : It occurs in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia densiflora Baker : It occurs in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia distans L.Bolus : This endemic occurred from Franschhoek to Villiersdorp in the Western Cape. It thrives in mountain swamps. Only one of the previous nine sites remains. The reasons for habitat loss are varied. The last site was found in 1997 in the summit area of Stettynsberg with fewer than 250 fully grown specimens. In 2007 it was rated as “endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia dubia Eckl. ex Klatt : This endemic occurs only in northern Swartland in the Western Cape. Of its original range between Citrusdal and Wellington , over 80% has been lost to agriculture in the last 120 years. There are only three locations left in the lowlands with fewer than 250 fully grown specimens. It thrives on granite and clay slopes in the Renosterveld . About 100 specimens areprotectedin the Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve and Voëlvlei Provincial Nature Reserve. The rest of the specimens are on private farmland near Wolseley and their populations are steadily decreasing. In 2007 it was rated as “endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia elsiae Goldblatt : It is only known from three localities from Uniondale to Joubertina in the Eastern and Western Cape. It thrives on dry fynbos slopes. Their populations are affected in a number of ways, but they are still considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
  • Watsonia emiliae L.Bolus : This endemic thrives in the fynbos on stony sandstone slopes at higher altitudes in Swartberg and the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape. It only blooms after bush fires. Only two sites are known, both of which are protected, so the stocks are considered stable. It was rated “Rare” = “rare, but not endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia fergusoniae L.Bolus : This endemic is known from fewer than ten localities only from the Agulhas plain to the Gourits River in the Western Cape. It thrives in the fynbos. The populations are decreasing due to habitat loss due to agriculture and invasive plant species . It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
  • Watsonia fourcadei J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus : It is common in the South African provinces of the Western and Eastern Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia galpinii L.Bolus : It is common in the South African provinces of the Western and Eastern Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia gladioloides Schltr. : It is common in the South African provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia humilis Mill .: This species used to be common in the Western Cape in the Breede River Valley from Tulbagh to Worcester and in the lowlands from Malmesbury to Franschhoek and Gordon's Bay. There are only two isolated sites left: Gordon's Bay (with fewer than 50 flowering specimens) and over 80 km away, a second site was rediscovered in 2012 in the Breede River Valley near Wolseley. It thrives in the fynbos in seasonally moist loamy and clayey alluvial plains. The two stocks are continuously decreasing due to a variety of factors. In 2013 it was rated “Critically Endangered” on the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia hysterantha J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus : This endemic occurs only from Saldanha to Langebaan in the Western Cape. It thrives in the fynbos on granite outcrops in the coastal area. All eight known sites are endangered by urbanization and industry. The stocks are considered stable. It was rated “Near Threatened” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia inclinata Goldblatt : This endemic occurs only from the Umtamvuna River to the Mkweni River in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Old herbarium evidence shows that one should look for this species near Kokstad. It thrives in the coastal belt of the Indian Ocean and in the savannah in low, open and often stony grasslands above the Msikaba sandstone formation. The five sites at most are endangered by agriculture, especially overgrazing. Nevertheless, stocks are considered stable. The site in Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is protected. In 2007 it was classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
  • Watsonia knysnana L.Bolus : It is widespread in the South African provinces of the Western and Eastern Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia laccata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. (Syn .: Watsonia albertiniensis P.E.Glover , Watsonia brevifolia Ker Gawl. , Watsonia caledonica Baker , Watsonia muirii E.Phillips ): It occurs in South Africa's Eastern Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia latifolia N.E.Br. ex Oberm. : It is common in Swaziland, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia lepida N.E.Br. : It is common in Lesotho , Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia marginata (L. f.) Ker Gawl. : It is common in the South African provinces of the Western and Northern Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia marlothii L.Bolus : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia meriana (L.) Mill . : There are two varieties:
    • Watsonia meriana var. Bulbillifera (JWMathews & L.Bolus) DACooke (Syn .: Watsonia bulbillifera J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus ): It occurs in the South African province of Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
    • Watsonia meriana (L.) Mill. Var. Meriana (Syn .: Watsonia leipoldtii L.Bolus , Watsonia vivipara J.W. Mathews & L.Bolus ): It is widespread in the South African provinces of Western and Northern Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia minima Goldblatt : This endemic is only known from one site in the Riviersonderend Mountains in the Western Cape. It thrives on swampy slopes with mountain fynbos. There is a potential threat from invasive plant species . This area was afforested with foreign pine trees. Watsonia species are somewhat tolerant of invasive plants and the population recaptures the habitat as soon as the invasive plants are removed. The stock is considered stable. In 2007 it was classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
  • Watsonia mtamvunae gold leaf : This rare endemic occurs only in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve on the border between Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It thrives on the coastal belt of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt in the Pondoland coastal grassland above the Msikaba sandstone formation. There are still three to six locations known. There used to be more sites outside of the nature reserve, but these were lost through agriculture and forestry. The specimens are isolated on the remaining locations. The remaining stocks areendangeredby water loss due to rubber plantations , although they are in a protected area. Nevertheless, the stocks are considered stable. In 2008 it was classified in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa as "vulnerable" = "endangered".
  • Watsonia occulta L.Bolus : It occurs in Mpumalanga . The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia paucifolia gold leaf : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia pillansii L.Bolus (Syn .: Watsonia archbelliae L.Bolus , Watsonia beatricis J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus , Watsonia masoniae L.Bolus , Watsonia priorii L.Bolus , Watsonia socium J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus ): She is in KwaZulu -Natal, Eastern and Western Cape common. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia pondoensis gold leaf : This endemic is only known from two localities in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve and Port Grosvenor in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It thrives in the coastal belt of the Indian Ocean in the Pondoland coastal grassland above the Msikaba sandstone formation in permanently standing water, this is a rare habitat. One site is in a nature reserve and the other is only known from herbarium specimens from 1956. The Pondoland is endangered by overgrazing, arable farming and bush fires. The Pondoland south of the Umtamvuna River is a botanically little explored area, so there could be even more locations. In 2008 it was rated “endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia pulchra N.E.Br. ex Goldblatt : It iswidespreadfrom western Swaziland to Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia rogersii L.Bolus : It occurs from Hottentots Holland and Kogelberg, eastwards to Hermanus and the Riviersonderend mountains near Villiersdorp in the Western Cape. It thrives in the fynbos in the lower slope area or in plains at the foot of the mountains in stony sand or clay. About ten locations are known, but it is assumed that there are more locations. Four sites are protected, but they are continuously decreasing in the others. It was rated “Near Threatened” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia rourkei Goldblatt : This endemic is only known from one site in the Kamiesberg in Namaqualand in the North Cape. It thrives in seasonal watercourses in the montane Renosterveld at an altitude of about 600 meters. This location has not been driven and the population is considered stable. In 2006 it was rated “Critically Endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia schlechteri L.Bolus (Syn .: Watsonia schinzii L.Bolus ): It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia spectabilis Schinz : It occurs in the Northern and Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia stenosiphon L.Bolus : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia stokoei L.Bolus : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia strictiflora Ker Gawl. : This endemic occurs only from Klapmuts to Joostenberg and Paarl in the Western Cape. Only two widely isolated sites are known. It thrives in fynbos on clay plains. 98% of the original area has been lost to vineyards, wheat fields and urbanization in the last 200 years. There are only two more isolated sites left. The quality of the habitat is declining due to urbanization and invasive plant species, which is why the populations are continuously decreasing. In 2006 it was rated “Critically Endangered” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia strubeniae L.Bolus (Syn .: Watsonia alpina G.J.Lewis , Watsonia transvaalensis var. Drakensbergensis L.Bolus ): It occurs in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia tabularis J.W. Mathews & L.Bolus : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia transvaalensis Baker : It occurs in Limpopo. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia vanderspuyiae L.Bolus : It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia versfeldii J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus : It occurs in Piketberg and the Porterville Mountains in the Western Cape. It thrives in the fynbos on open, stony slopes and plateaus. It is known from fewer than 15 localities. Some populations of the Piketberg suffer from habitat loss on Protea cultivation areas and orchards. Overall, the stocks are considered to be decreasing. It was rated “Near Threatened” in the Red List of Endangered Plant Species in South Africa.
  • Watsonia vittata J.W. Mathews & L.Bolus : Little is known about this species. The herbarium evidence had led to the assumption that it would become Watsonia wilmaniae .
  • Watsonia watsonioides (Baker) Oberm. (Syn .: Tritonia watsonioides Baker , Watsonia flavida L. Bolus ): It occurs in Mpumalanga. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia wilmaniae J.W. Mathews & L.Bolus (Syn .: Watsonia desmidtii L.Bolus , Watsonia starkeae L.Bolus ): It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia wilmsii L.Bolus : It occurs in Mpumalanga. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.
  • Watsonia wordsworthiana J.W.Mathews & L.Bolus : It is only known from the type material. Try to find it again at the type locality Wolseley in the Western Cape. The type material shows characteristics between Watsonia meriana and Watsonia borbonica and it could be a hybrid of these two species.
  • Watsonia zeyheri L.Bolus (Syn .: Watsonia comptonii L.Bolus , Watsonia elimensis L.Bolus ): It occurs in the Western Cape. The stocks are considered stable. It is classified in the Red List of Endangered Species in South Africa as “least concern” = “not endangered”.

swell

  • Peter Goldblatt : Watsonia. , P. 401 - the same text online as the printed work , In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.): Flora of North America North of Mexico. Volume 26: Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales , Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2002. ISBN 0-19-515208-5 (section description)
  • Peter Goldblatt: The Genus Watsonia: A Systematic Monograph: IX. In: Annals of Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens , Volume 19, National Botanic Gardens, Cape, South Africa, 1989, pp. 1-148.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Watsonia. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ 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 ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd Species list for Watsonia in the Red List of South African Plants

Web links

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