Mystery Massonia

Rhoda and Cameron McMaster africanbulbs@haznet.co.za
Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:09:48 PDT
In commenting on the Mystery Massonia offered by Rogan Roth for comment
I would suggest that it is a species that has yet to be described.  I have observed it for some years in gravel beds on rock slabs in the high Drakensberg and this year was lucky to see it in full flower in January on the ridge above Tiffindell Ski Resort at an altitude of 3000m.  The fact that it flowers in mid-summer (the only Massonia to do so)  places it apart from Massonia jasminiflora which flowers in mid winter in all its known habitats and populations,  all of which are at  lower altitudes in the Eastern Cape.  In Elsa Pooleys field guide " Mountain Flowers" this plant is listed as Massonia echinata on page 56, but echinata occurs in much more arid areas primarily in the winter rainfall zone, so I dont think this identity is correct either. I will be interested to hear further opinions.

Cameron McMaster
African Bulbs
PO Box 26, Napier 7270
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