''Eriospermum zeyheri'' is a species of geophytic plant of the genus ''
Eriospermum
''Eriospermum'' is a genus of tuberous flowering plants. It contains about 80-100 species, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Name
The name "Eriospermum" is from the Greek ''erion'' for "wool" and ''sperma'' for "seed". In the APG III classificati ...
'', indigenous to
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
.
Description
The leaf is a rounded heart-shape (), and is prostrate, held flat against the ground. Several related species, such as ''
Eriospermum capense
''Eriospermum'' is a genus of tuberous flowering plants. It contains about 80-100 species, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Name
The name "Eriospermum" is from the Greek ''erion'' for "wool" and ''sperma'' for "seed". In the APG III classificati ...
'', ''
Eriospermum breviscapum'' and ''
Eriospermum pubescens
''Eriospermum'' is a genus of tuberous flowering plants. It contains about 80-100 species, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Name
The name "Eriospermum" is from the Greek ''erion'' for "wool" and ''sperma'' for "seed". In the APG III classificati ...
'', have a similar heart-shaped leaf.
However, the leaf of ''E.zeyheri'' is generally a lighter green above, and not a reddish colour below. It is also always pressed flat against the ground.
The irregular-shaped tuber of ''E.zeyheri'' is white-ish inside.
The pale, greenish-cream-coloured, fragrant, star-shaped flowers appear on a tall, thin inflorescence in December to March.
Distribution
This species occurs in
renosterveld
Renosterveld is a term used for one of the major plant communities and vegetation types of the Cape Floristic Region (Cape Floral Kingdom) which is located in southwestern and southeastern South Africa, in southernmost Africa. It is an ecoregion ...
vegetation, in clay soils, across the southern Cape,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
, extending from McGregor as far east as the town of Grahamstown.
Distribution
/ref>
References
zeyheri
Renosterveld
{{Asparagaceae-stub