12/16/2023 0 Comments South african buttercup plant![]() ![]() ![]() Most of the habitat loss occurred over the last 70 years (mostly in the 1950s) and population trends appear to be stable for the time being. Currently, the remaining populations occupy an area of 16 km 2 from north of Nieuwoudtville southward to the Klein Kobee (Goldblatt & Manning 2013). elegans naturally occur on nutrient-rich clay soil, which is the most productive agricultural land on the Bokkeveld Plateau, resulting in 77% of its habitat already being lost. The greatest known threats to the species include overgrazing by livestock and the loss and alteration of its habitat due to agricultural disturbances. Sparaxis elegans is classified as Vulnerable in the South African Red List. Fruits are cartilaginous and split soon after drying to release spherical seeds that flaunt a glossy-red colour. This morphological feature is not seen in any other member of the genus.Īccording to Goldblatt and Manning (2013), the end of the flowering period, which ranges from August to September, yields somewhat ‘unremarkable' fruits. The male reproductive parts (or stamens) are very distinct for this species: the purple filaments display anthers that are S-shaped and tightly curled around the style. ![]() Flowers are purple in the centre and have a ring of distinctive yellow and black markings surrounding the throat of its short funnel-shaped tube (Arkive internet reference Goldblatt & Manning 2013 ). The flowers of Sparaxis elegans are predominantly salmon-pink or white, although other colour variants can be found in areas of co-occurrence. The stems bear 3–5 symmetrical flowers, which are arranged along the tips of the stem an inflorescence known as a spike (Goldblatt & Manning 2013). Five to nine lance-like leaves with tapering tips are arranged in a basal fan, where the leaves reach to about half the length of the stem. Stems are simple or in some cases branching from the base. It has a rounded corm as its main underground rootstock, measuring 10–17 mm ( Goldblatt 1992 Goldblatt & Manning 2013 ) in diameter, with a fine fibrous outer coating. Sparaxis elegans is a geophytic perennial plant reaching heights of 100–300 mm. ![]()
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