Maerua juncea subsp juncea [family CAPPARACEAE]

Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Maerua juncea subsp juncea [family CAPPARACEAE]
Common names
Maerua juncea Pax in Bot. Jahrb. 14 : 302 (1891); Gilg & Ben. in Bot. Jahrb. 53 : 240 (1915). M. nervosa (Hochst.) Oliv. var. flagellaris Oliv. in F.T.A. 1 : 84 (1868); Gibbs in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 37 : 429 (1906); Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 536 (1916). Syntypes: Malawi, Shire River, near Lingone, Kirk s.n. (K!; PRE, photo.); Papinbejii, shore of Lake Nyasa, Kirk s.n. (K!; PRE, photo.). M. angustifolia Schinz in Verh. Bot. Ver. Brandenb. 29 : 48 (1888), nom. illeg. non A. Rich. (1830). Type : S.W. Africa, Uukuambi & Otjizondjupa, Schinz s.n. (not traced). M. guerichii Pax in Bot. Jahrb. 19 : 135 (1894); in obs. I.e. 14 : 303 (1892). Type: S.W. Africa, Erongo, Gurich 30 (B, holo.!; PRE, photo.). M. ramo-sissima Gilg in Bot. Jahrb. 33 : 227 (1903), nom. nov. for M. angustifolia Schinz. M. maschonica Gilg in Bot. Jahrb. 53 : 240 (1915), pro parte quoad specim. Engler 3157. M. flagellaris (Oliv.) Gilg &
Habitat
As the epithet juncea indicates, this plant is rush-like in appearance, presumably in its deciduous state. It is also said to resemble "broom" (De Winter 3674). The plant is eagerly eaten by stock and the fruit are stated to be edible (Le Roux 228). The common name of the plant in South West Africa is "schlangenbusch". In the Kaokoveld it is known as "orweti" or "oweti" by the Otjihimba. According to a note on Seydel 958, the stems can attain a diameter of "up to a hand's breadth" i.e. 10-13 cm. This seems to be thicker than is normal for the subspecies.
Use
(a) subsp. juncea Wild in F.Z. 1 : 218 (1960); Elffers et al. in F.T.E.A. Cappari-daceae : 35 (1964); Roessler in F.S.W.A. 47 : 15(1966), pro parte.
Maerua juncea subsp juncea [family CAPPARACEAE]
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