Haemodoraceae. Tribe Euhaemodoreae.
Wachendorfia, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 673.
Wachendorfia paniculata, Linn. Sp. Plant. 59; Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 2.
This plant is popularly known as “rooi knol,” because of the deep red colour of the tubers when cut, and it is also known as “Spinnekop blom,” as the colour and marking of the perianth resemble that of some spiders. The latter name is also applied to Ferraria undulata (see Plate 66 for an illustration of a species of the genus).
The species was known in England at least as early as 1767, as there is a record of its introduction into Kew Gardens in that year. The dull brown colour of the flowers, which is rare among South African plants, does not make the plant a very ornamental object in gardens, but as the plant is interesting botanically it should have a place in any collection of the native flora.
The family Haemodoraceae contains about 120 species, found principally in Australia, but species are also known in North and South America and in Asia. In South Africa the family is represented by less than 50 species, the largest genus being Sansevieria. The genus Wachendorfia is known by only two species.
Our plate was prepared from plants sent by Mrs. E. Rood, Van Rhynsdorp; they flowered at the Division of Botany in 1922.
Description:—Rhizomes a deep red colour when freshly cut. Leaves 5 to 6 to a plant, 16 to 23 cm. long, 1·2 to 1·8 cm. broad, long-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, narrowed below, sheathing at the base with 3 main nerves, glabrous and with ciliated margins. Peduncle, including the inflorescence, up to 60 cm. long, glandular-pubescent, with about 3 reduced leaves 5 cm. long, and long-acuminate from a broad base. Inflorescence a lax panicle. Bracts 1 to 3 cm. long, long acuminate, membranous, distinctly veined, pilose. Pedicels ·6 to 1 cm. long, pilose with glandular hairs. Outer perianth-lobes 1·7 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad, oblanceolate, obtuse, many-nerved, pilose outside with glandular hairs; inner lobes 1·7 cm. long, 3·5 mm. broad, oblanceolate, obtuse, membranous, nerved, glabrous. Filaments 1·2 cm. long, linear, narrowing above, membranous, with a single vein, glabrous; anthers 2·5 mm. long, oblong. Ovary 2 mm. in diameter, bluntly 3-angled, very densely pilose with glandular hairs; style 1·95 cm. long, linear, glabrous; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2605.)
[Plate 114.]—Fig. 1, perianth segment; 2, stamen and single anther; 3, pistil showing side and top view of ovary.