Bothalia 40,1 (2010) 71
Specimens exam ined
K W A/.ULU-N A l AL.— 2 S 3 1 (Nkandla): N g o y e Forest Reserve, ± 3 km west o f gauge weir in forest, on northern roadside verge in shade, 440 m, grow n on to (low ering in Everton, ( -D C ), 20 -0 5 -2 0 0 9 , R. Edwards / (PRE), fruiting, 2 4 -0 5 -2 0 0 9 , R. E dw ards 2 (PRE).
A C K N O W LED G EM E N TS
Mr D. Styles is thanked for helpful discussions regarding the identity o f the discovery; M rs H. Snym an, SANBI. for preparing the map; and the s ta rt'o f the Mary Gunn Library, SANBI, for facilitating access to litera ture. This note is dedicated to the late M r Ian G arland who for many years recognized the uniqueness o f N goye Forest and surrounds, and actively supported its botani cal exploration.
REFERENCES
BURROWS. J.E. & BUR RO W S, S.E. 2001. New distribution records o f southern African Pteridophyta. B othalia 31: 2 0 5 —207. DRUMMOND, R.B. & M APAURE, I. 1994. List o f flow ering plants
and ferns. Appendix 1. In J. Tiniberlake & P. Shaw, Chirinda F or est—a visitor ’s guide. Forestry C om m ission, Harare, Zimbabw e. GOVAERTS, R.. RUHSAM , M„ A N D E R S S O N , L„ ROBBRECHT, E.. BRIDSON, D„ DAVIS, A., SC H A N ZE R , I. & SO N K E, B. 2009. World checklist o fR u b ia c e a e . The Board o f Trustees o f the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Website: http://apps.kew.org/wcsp (accessed 10-09-2009).
HUNTLEY, B J. 1965. A preliminary account o f the N goye Forest Reserve, Zululand. Journal o f South African Botany 3 1 :1 7 7 -2 0 5 .
KLOPPER, R. & CROUCH, N.R. 2010. New distribution records and noteworthy collections o f pteridophytes in KwaZulu-Natal (Pteridophyta). Bothalia 40: 6 8 -7 0 .
LEISTNER, O.A. 2005. S eed plan ts o f southern tropical Africa: fa m i lies an d genera. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 26. SABONET, Pretoria.
MABBERLEY, D.J. 2008. M a b b e rle y ’s plant-book: a p o rta b le diction a ry o f plants, their classification an d uses, edn 3. Cambridge University Press.
M ULLER, T. 1999. The distribution, classification and conservation o f rainforests in Zimbabwe. In J. Tiniberlake & S. Kativu, African plan ts: biodiversity, taxonom y a n d uses: 2 2 1 -2 3 5 . Royal Botan
ic Gardens, Kew.
RUTHERFORD, M.C., POWRIE, L.W., LOTTER, M.C., VON MALTITZ, G .P , EUSTON-BROW N, D.I.W., MATTHEWS, W.S., D O BSO N, L. & McKENZIE, B. 2006. Afrotemperate, subtropical and azonal forests. In L. Mucina & M.C. Ruther ford, The vegetation o f South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19: 58 4 -6 1 4 .
SW ANEPOEL, D.A. 1953. Butterflies o f South Africa. Maskew Miller, Cape Town.
VAN W YK, A.E. & SMITH, G.F. 2001. Regions offloristicen dem ism in southern Africa. A review with emphasis on succulents. Umdaus Press, Hatfield, Pretoria.
VERDCOURT, B. 1989. Rubiaceae. Flora zam besiaca 5,1: 1-210. WHITE, F. 1983. The vegetation o f Africa: a descriptive mem oir to
accom pany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map o f Africa. Natural Resources Research, XX. UNESCO, Paris.
N.R. CROUCH* and R. EDWARDS**
* Ethnobotany Unit, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 52099, 4007 Berea Road, Durban / School o f Chemistry, Univer sity o f KwaZulu-Natal, 4041 Durban.
* * 1 8 Acutts Drive, 3610 Everton, KwaZulu-Natal. MS. received: 2009-05-26.
PTERID O PH Y TA
NOTES ON SO M E NA TU R A LIZE D FERNS OF THE EASTERN CAPE A N D KWAZULU-NATAL BLECH NACEAE
Doodia caudata
There has been som e confusion as to the exact iden
tity o f the Doodia species (Figure 15A) naturalized in
KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa. Specim ens from Pieter maritzburg collected in the m id-20th century were first
identified as Doodia m edia R.Br. by Prof. E. Schelpe.
Subsequently, Burrows (1990) referred this taxon to Doodia caudata (Cav.) R.Br., and m ore recently it has
been assigned to D oodia squarrosa C olenso (Roux 2001,
2009). The fact that no single identification key to all Doodia species exists has confounded attem pts to verify the identity o f the South African naturalized species. There are separate keys available to the New Zealand
(Parris 1972) and A ustralian (Parris 1998) taxa of D oo
dia. However, D. caudata is an A ustralian entity (Parris
1980, 1998), w hereas D. squarrosa is confined to north
ern New Zealand (Parris 1972). A lthough D. caudata was
initially considered to occur also in New Z ealand (Parris 1972), plants so associated with this nam e were described
subsequently as a New Z ealand endem ic, D oodia mollis
Parris (Parris 1980). A ccordingly, the two available keys
are not definitive in respect o f resolving D. squarrosa and
D. caudata.
There is a high level o f m orphological variation in
most species o f D oodia; accordingly D. caudata and
D. squarrosa are apparently often confused in herbaria. Both have pinnate dim orphic fronds with discrete to confluent sori, and pinnae that are auriculate or stalked to partly adnate in the middle and adnate to decurrent in the upper part o f the frond (Parris 1972, 1998). The fronds o f D. caudata are 5 7 ^ 6 0 mm long with the long est pinnae 2-110 x 1-4 mm (Parris 1998), whereas the fronds o f D. squarrosa are o f similar maximum length, 140 4 5 0 mm long, but with the longest pinnae only 15- 60 x I -2 mm (Parris 1972). Frond and pinnae length are not alw ays useful distinguishing characters especially since they are frequently environmentally influenced.
South African material was compared to the lectotype
o f D oodia squarrosa (Colenso 9/83, frond second from
right, K) and a high resolution image o f the holotype o f D. caudata (L.Nee s.n. MA). It was found to match the m aterial for D. caudata more closely. During subsequent correspondence with Dr B. Parris, she confirmed the
identity o f the South African material as D. caudata, the
Bothalia 40,1 (2010)
FIGURE 15.— A, D oodia caudata, habit; B, Phlebodium aureum, habit. Photographs: N.R. Crouch.
cannot be upheld. It has consequently been placed in synonymy under D. caudata (Parris 1998).
Accordingly, the Doodia species that has escaped
from cultivation in KwaZulu-Natal is D. caudata, the
small rasp fern.
D oodia ca u d a ta (Cav.) R.Br. in Prodromus florae
Novae-Hollandia: 151(1810); Burrows: 338(1990). Type: Nova Hollandia [Australia], L.N ees.n. (MA, holo.).
D. squarrosa sensu Roux: 153 (2001) et sensu Roux: 105 (2009), non Colenso: 382 (1881).
For a complete list o f synonyms see Parris (1998).
Rhizome erect, up to 0.1 m tall, to short- or long-
creeping; rhizome scales brown. Fronds markedly
dimorphic; stipe slender, short, dark towards base and
without tubercules. Fertile lamina generally more erect
and scabrous, longer and broader than sterile ones,
5 7 ^ 6 0 x 5-180 mm, with a long apical segment (l/ - )
V6 -V 9 o f lamina length, 1-pinnate; pinnae more distant and narrower than sterile ones, simple, oblong to linear- lanceolate, margins sharply toothed, more than 2 pairs o f pinnae stalked in basal third o f lamina, stalked to partly adnate to decurrent in middle third, partly adnate
to decurrent in distal third, longest pinnae 2-110 x \ ^ \
mm, rachis and pinna midvein without tubercules. Ster
ile lamina decumbent, 1-pinnate, pinnae simple, oblong, apices rounded, margins toothed. Venation with some anastomoses forming areoles on either side o f costa. Sori in 1 (rarely partial second) row on each side o f costa, 0.8-10 (or more) x 0.8-1.5 mm, often laterally confluent when mature, confluent across costa, nearer to midvein than margin; indusium linear, entire to repand, opening towards the costa (Andrews 1990; Parris 1998).
Doodia caudata is a native o f Australia where it occurs in eastern South Australia, eastern Queensland, New South Wales, southern Victoria, northern Tasmania
and Lord Howe Island (Parris 1998). It has naturalized in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Burrows 1990; Roux 2001, 2009), California (USA), as well as the Azores, Madeira and in Sri Lanka (Burrows 1990; Parris 1998). It can locally be found growing exposed or in deep shade on seasonally moist earthbanks, roadside cuttings and forest margins (Crouch 1994; Roux 2001).
An attempt has been made to trace the original source o f the Doodia material imported into South Africa. Since the South African material most closely resembles the
form described as D. media var. moorei which was col
lected from the Richmond River north o f Sydney in New South Wales, the most likely source would be what is today known as the Royal Botanic Garden o f New South Wales, Australia (B.S. Parris pers. comm.). Reports o f the Natal Botanic Gardens in Durban from a century ago, reveal that its Curator, J.M. Wood was regularly exchanging plant material with the Botanic Gardens in Sydney, and from the accession register o f ‘Overseas and Tropical African specimens ex Wood Herbarium. Vol. F it is apparent that J.H. Maiden o f the Sydney Gardens
provided Wood with plants o f D. caudata for cultivation.
A voucher (J.M. Wood 5766 NH) at the KwaZulu-Natal
Herbarium indicates that this species was first grown in the Natal Botanic Gardens (Durban Botanic Gardens) prior to the mid-1890s. Notably, this particular speci
men was correctly named D. caudata and has not been
subject to re-determinations, likely due to its placement in the cultivated section o f the NH collection. As Wood also exchanged live material with the Pietermaritzburg Botanic Garden at that time, plants from the Durban facility may have been transferred to the Pietermaritz burg Garden, from where they escaped.
Although Doodia caudata is locally common across
Bothalia 4 0 ,1 (2010) 73
FIGURE 16.— Distribution in FSA region o f D o o d ia ca u d a ta , • ; and Phlebodium aureum, A .
besides Howiek (Crouch 1994)— this since its docu mented escape from cultivation over h a lf a century ago. It was som ew hat surprising then to encounter this taxon growing in a rem ote site near the Transkei coast under different clim atic conditions, indicating that it may now be an em erging weed. This record extends the previous distribution range southw ards som e 1 70 km (Figure 16).
Specimens exam ined
KWAZULU-NATAL.— 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Sunnyside, Pie termaritzburg, (-C B ). 0 1 -0 3 -1 9 5 3 , A. D oh se L. L indahl 102 (NH); Maritzburg District, 4000 ft [1 200 m], (—C B ), 16-08-1956, /IC S 10 (NU); FemclitTe Nature R eserve, Pietermaritzburg, 1 000 m, (-C'B), 23-02-1992, N.R. Crouch 561 (N U ); FemclitTe Nature Reserve, earth bank adjacent to parking area, 1 000 m, (-C B ), 30-0 4 -2 0 0 7 , N.R. Crouch //5 i( P R E ) ; KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, grow ing alongside path on banks, in indigenous forest section on far side o f river in garden, (-C B ), 0 3 -0 9 -2 0 0 8 , N.R. Crouch 1172 (PRE); oppo site 11 Tanner Rd. Wembley, Pietermaritzburg, colon y on earth bank, (-C B ). 06-01-2008, N.R. Crouch 1145 (N H ). 2931 (Stanger): Natal Botanic Garden, in cultivation, (-C C ), J M. H ood 5 766 (N H ).
EASTERN CAPE.— 3130 (Port Edward): Lukabeni stream junc tion with Mtentu River. 30 m upstream o f high tide mark, small colony growing on earthbank in coastal forest, 4 m, ( -A A ), 04 -0 1 -2 0 0 8 , N.R. Crouch 1143 (NH).
POLYPODIACEAE
Phlebodium aureum
Phlebodium aureum (L.) J.Sm. (Figure 15B) is com monly cultivated in South A frica and has escaped from cultivation in the vicinity o f Durban, K w aZulu-Natal and Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape (B urrow s 1990). It has also been reported to have becom e naturalized in Zim ba bwe (Roux 2009). This fern species was docum ented in cultivation in the D urban Botanic G ardens in 1941 (C. Kent 16 NH), and to have started escaping in the im m edi
ate vicinity o f the gardens by 1968 (R.G. Strey 8071 NH).
It has more recently been collected in Kloof som e 25 km distant, and has been sighted and photographed growing on a decaying log in rem nant indigenous riverine scrub, at Inanda to the north o f the m etropol (I igure 16).
The golden polypody or golden serpent fern is so named because o f the golden scales on its creeping rhi zome. Its arching to pendent fronds are deeply lobed (N aum an 1993) and very similar to those o f Microsorum scolopendria (Burm .f.) Copel. It is distinguished from this indigenous fern by the venation o f the lamina (fewer included veinlets), its very dense tomentum o f golden scales clothing the rhizome, the close spacing o f the pinnatifid segm ents and the sori which are not sunken into the lamina (Schelpe & Anthony 1986). It has been reported to grow epiphytically in moist evergreen river
ine forests and forest margins (Roux 2001, as Polypo
dium aureum L.), and is also found in Durban growing as a lithophyte in more exposed situations, and on build ing ledges in a m anner rem iniscent o f Pteris vittata L.
Phlebodium aureum is native to Central America from Florida and Georgia in the USA, through Mexico to Brazil in South America and the West Indies (Burrows 1990; Nauman 1993; Roux 2001). Plants are report edly intolerant o f heavy frosts which would account
for limited naturalization o f f ! aureum along the warm
eastern seaboard. Additionally, although usually ever green, plants may be briefly deciduous during periods o f drought stress, so allowing them to invade relatively dry areas such as man-made structures. Although it is recog nized as a garden escape, no herbarium specimens docu m enting it as a truly naturalized species could be traced for South Africa; this report with associated voucher cor rects this insufficiency.
P h leb o d iu m a u re u m (L.) J.Sm. in Journal o f Bot
any 4: 59 (1842). Polypodium aureum L.: 1087 (1753).
Type: Herb. Linn. No. 1251.10 (LINN, lecto.), desig
nated by Proctor (1977: 334).
Rhizom e creeping, ± 8—15(—30) mm diam., densely scaled; rhizome scales reddish to golden, long attenuate,
10-20 mm. Fronds bright green or glaucous, arching to
pendent, 0.3-1.3 m; stipe 150-500 mm, smooth, with a few scales near base; lamina deeply pinnatifid, 300-800
x 100-500 mm, glabrous, terminal segment conform;
pinnae up to 35, lanceolate to elliptic, or linear-lanceo- late to linear, 60-200 x 10^40 mm, margins entire, occa
sionally undulate. Sori in a single line on each side o f
costae, occasionally a 2nd row present, terminal or at a plexus o f included veinlets; exindusiate (Nauman 1993).
Specim ens exam ined
KWAZULU-NATAL.— 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Krantzkloof N a ture Reserve, Kloof, at eastern end o f reserve, immediately above The Splash, growing as a lithophyte adjacent to Molweni River in full sun, 218 m, (-D D ), 28-04-2009, N.R. Crouch 1243 (PRE); Kloof, opposite M aytime Centre on ledge o f pedestrian bridge across the M13 highway on eastbound carriageway, 450 m, (-D D ), 27-04-2009, N.R. Crouch 1244 (PRE). 2931 (Stanger): Durban Botanic Gardens, (-C C ), 06-1941, C. Kent 16 (NH); Natal Herbarium garden, epiphyte on Raphia, (-C C ), 03-03-1968, Strey 8071 (NH).
W OODS I ACEAE
Diplazium esculentum
Bothalia 40,1 (2010)
is commonly cultivated and/or harvested for its young fronds which are used as a vegetable (Kato 1993; Mertz 1999; Roux 2001). It has become naturalized in South Africa and Zimbabwe (Roux 2009), as well as in Flor ida, Louisiana and Hawaii (USA) (Kato 1993; Smith sonian Institution 2009) and Australia (Jones 1998). It grows mostly in disturbed areas, exposed or in partial shade but always in wet sites such as streambanks (Roux 2001), where it forms large clonal colonies due to pro lific root budding. Sporing in South Africa is evidently rare; close examination o f large colonies at Kirstenbosch (Cape Town), Pietermaritzburg and Durban surrounds over several years has revealed only three plants bear
ing sori. Diplazium esculentum has an erect rhizome that
can become rather trunk-like (up to 1 m tall) in older plants, for which feature it is grown as an ornamental. It is distinguished by its broad, arcuate 2-pinnate fronds o f up to 2 m long, with veins that unite along the costae below the sinuses. The scales on the stipe bases and rhi zomes have black margins and forked teeth (Hoshizaki & Moran 2001; Olsen & Olsen 2007).
Until recently, invasion by Diplazium esculentum
was known only from several sites in the greater Durban region, where it seems to have escaped from gardens and established along watercourses. Once colonies are estab lished, erosive flooding events disperse root buds and plantlets which establish downstream. More recently, the vegetable fern has been found naturalized both in Pieter maritzburg and in Zululand (Figure 18), indicating that its is an emerging alien invader. Urgent attention should be directed towards its eradication.
D iplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. in Journal fur
die Botanik 1801,2: 312 (1803). Hemionitis esculenta
Retz.: 38 (1791). Type: ‘Habitat in India o rien tali\ J.G. K onigs.n. (LD, holo.).
For a complete list o f synonyms see Roux (2009).
Rhizome erect, often forming a slender black trunk 0 .3 ( - l) m tall; scaled at apex, rhizome scales ± 10 mm
FIGURE 17.— D iplazium esculen tum, habit. Photograph: N.R. Crouch.
long, dark brown, margins finely toothed, apex long- acuminate; forms clonal colonies by vegetative increase
from root buds. Fronds 1-2 x 0.5-1 m, erect to arching;
stipe black and scaly at base, paler above; lamina 2- to 3-pinnate, 0.5-1.5 x 0.5-1 m, dark green; pinnules vari able in size, ± 50-80 x 15-25 mm, subsessile, margins very shallowly lobed, lobes toothed, basal lobes longer than the rest, glabrous abaxially; veins simple or forked, lowest 3-5 pairs o f adjacent vein groups anastom os
ing. Sori spreading along most veins; indusium thin,
dark brown, margins becoming uneven with age (Jones 1998).
Specimens examined
KWAZULU-NATAL.— 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, naturalized in sandbank in seasonally flooded river running through the garden, highly disturbed site, (-C B ), 03-09-2008, N.R. Crouch 1173 (PRE); Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Kloof, colony growing in semi-shade to full sun immediately above The Splash on the lower Molweni River, 215 m, (-D D ), 28-04-2009, N.R. Crouch 1242 (PRE); Pinetown, Sarnia, along banks o f Umbilo River, plants form large stands on streambank, (-D D ), 24-06-2001, J.P. Roux 3137 (NBG); Durban, on banks o f Umhlatuzana River as it passes next to Old Mill, adjacent to Coedmore Road, Yellowwood Park, 40 m, (-D D ), 12-05-2009, N.R. Crouch 1245 (NH, PRE). 2831 (Nkandla): footslope o f Ongoye Mountains, rocky area among home steads, (-D C ), 2006, N.F. Magagula 1 (ZULU).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank Dr Barbara Parris o f the Fern Research Foundation, New Zealand, for valuable dis cussions and input regarding the identity o f Doodia in South Africa; Keeper o f the Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for granting access to the type specimen o f D. squarrosa; Ms Olwen Grace, Kew, for facilita tion; the Curators o f NBG, NH, NU and PRE for use o f specimens; Ms H. Snyman and Ms E. Fouche o f PRE for producing the distribution maps. Dr Stefan Siebert is thanked for providing specimen data for the Zululand
Bothalia 40,1 (2010) 75
FIGURE 18.— Distribution in FSA region o f D iplaziu m escu len tu m ,
REFERENCES
ANDREWS. S.B. 1990. Ferns o f Q ueensland. Q ueensland Department o f Primary Industries, Brisbane.
BROWN. R. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae-H ollandia. Johnson, London. BURROWS, J.E. 1990. Southern African fe rn s a n d fe r n allies.
Frand-sen, Sandton.
BURROWS, J.E. & BUR RO W S, S. 2001. N ew distribution records o f southern African Pteridophyta. B othalia 31: 2 0 5 —207.
COLENSO, W. 1881. On som e new and undescribed New Zealand fems. Transactions a n d P roceedin gs o f the N ew Z ea la n d Insti tute 1 3 :3 7 6 -3 8 4 .
CROUCH, N. 1994. The fe rn s o f Ferncliffe. A ram bler's gu ide. Share-Net, Howick.
HOSHIZAKI, B.J. & M ORAN. R.C. 2001. Fern g r o w e r s manual. revised and expanded edn. Timber Press, Oregon.
JONES, D.L.. 1998. Athyriaccae. In A.E. Orchard, F lora o f A ustralia: ferns, gvm nosperm s a n d a llie d g rou ps 48: 4 1 8 -4 2 9 . Australian
Biological Resources Study/C'SIRO, M elbourne.
KATO. M. 1993. D iplazium . Dryopteridaceae. In Flora o f North Am eri ca Editorial Committee, Flora o f N orth A m erica north o f M exico 2: 253. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
LIN N A E U S, C. 1953. Species plantarum 2. Salvii, Stockholm. MERTZ, O. 1999. Cultivation potential o f two edible fem s, Diplazium
esculentum and Stenochlaena palustris. Tropical Agriculture 76: 1 0-16.
N A U M A N , C.E. 1993. Phlebodium , Polypodiaceae. In Flora o f North America Editorial Committee, Flora o f North Am erica north o f M exico 2: 323, 324. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
O LSEN, S. & OLSEN, S. 2007. Encyclopaedia o f garden fern s. Timber Press, Oregon.
PARRIS, B.S. 1972. The genus D oodia R.Br. (Blechnaceae: Filicales) in N ew Zealand. N ew Z ealand Journal o f Botany 10: 5 8 5 -604. PARRIS, B.S. 1980. Further notes on D o o d ia , Grammitis and Blechnum
(Filicales). N ew Z ealand Journal o f Botany 18: 145-147. PARRIS, B.S. 1998. Blechnaceae: D oodia. In A.E. Orchard, Flora o f
Australia: ferns, gvm nosperm s an d a llied groups 48: 385—393. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.
PROCTOR, G.R. 1977. F lora o f the L esser Antilles: L eew ard and Windward Islands 2, Pteridophyta: 1—414. Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
RF'TZIUS, A..I. 1791. O bservationes botanicae 6: 1—67. Crusium, Leip zig.
R O UX, J.P. 2001. C onspectus o f southern African P teridophyta. South ern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 13. SAB-ON ET, Pretoria.
R O UX, J.P. 2009. Synopsis o f the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta o f Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. SCHELPE, E.A.C.L.E. & ANTHONY, N.C. 1986. Pteridophyta. In
O.A. Leistner, Flora o f southern Africa. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.
SM ITH, J. 1842. An arrangement and definition o f the genera o f fems with observations on the affinities o f each genus. Journal o f B otany 4: 3 8 -7 0 .
SM ITH SO N IA N INSTITUTION. 2009. Flora o f the H awaiian Islands. Website:
http://botany.si.edu/pacificislandbiodiversity/hawaiianflora (accessed April 2009).
SWARTZ, O. 1803. Observationes botanicae genera et species filicum illustrantes. Journal f u r d ie Botanik 1801,2: 273-309.
N.R. CROUCH** and R.R. KLOPPER** * Ethnobotany Unit, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 52099, Berea Road, 4007 Durban / School o f Chemistry, Univer sity o f KwaZulu-Natal, 4041 Durban.
** B iosystem atics Research and Biodiversity Collections Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X 101, 0001 Pretoria.
M S. received: 2009-06-03.
H Y A CIN TH A CEA E
DRIMIA CO O PE R 1 IN K W AZULU-NATAL, A N D THE ETHNOM EDICINAL TRADE
Drimia cooperi (B aker) Baker is currently regarded as being restricted to the Eastern C ape Province (Jessop 1977; M anning & G oldblatt 2006). W ithin this province, Jessop (1977) recorded it from only the Stutterheim and Butterworth D istricts, but m ore recent collections (Bester 1529 NH) extend its know n range northw ards to Maclear (Figure 19).
Following the appearance o f bulbs of an unknow n member o f the H yacinthaceae in late 2004 in the War wick Triangle m edicinal m arket in D urban, plants pur chased were grown on to flow ering and subsequently
identified as D. cooperi. This collection of m arket-
traded material (N.R. Crouch 1038 NH) was sold under
the isZulu name um ahlokoloza, and noted by the trader
to have been harvested in the Eastern Cape, although further details on the locality were not forthcom ing.
The bulbs o f this species are distinguished from other H yacinthaceae in trade on the basis o f a combination o f characters: their medium size (± 50 mm diameter), flesh-pink to salm on-orange colour, and loosely arranged scales (Figure 20A). The bulb scales are not thickly suc culent and brittle, but rather o f a tough fibrous yet semi- succulent nature. Am ong other Hyacinthaceae in trade in Kw aZulu-N atal, the fibrous character o f the bulb best approxim ates that o f Drimia altissima (L.f.) Ker Gawl., although the tough scales are tightly packed in this latter
species. Notably, the vernacular name umahlokoloza is
also applied in Durban to D. altissima (N.R. Crouch 792
NH). We have since observed D. cooperi in the Warwick
