Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Common names
E. simplicifolius Salisb.: 211 (1796). Type: based on that of E. racemosus. E. spicatus Burm. ex DC: 147 (1838). Type: Western Cape, between Knysnadrif and Gowkamma-station, Burchell 5605 (G-DC, holo.; GRA!, WIND, photo.!).
Information
Many-stemmed, slender, erect shrubs, 1.2-2.0 m high. Old stems displaying anomaÂlous secondary growth, brown-grey; young shoots grey, internodes either short, densely leafy or relatively long with leaves scattered; brachyblasts short-lived. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, sessile on cushion-like thickÂenings on stem, linear to narrowly lanceolate or obtuse-triangular, 3-30 x 0.5-1.5(-2.0) mm, entire, succulent, permanently grey-felty, adaxially flattened, concave towards base, abaxially convex, apex acute. Capitula het-erogamous disciform, racemose or paniculate, 2.5-4.8 mm long, sessile to distinctly pedunÂculate; peduncles 0-15 mm long, felty. In-volucral bracts 4, 3 x 2 mm, central part herbaceous, green, red-purple towards memÂbranous margin, abaxially felty, 2 slightly keeled, 2 laterally flattened, margins enveÂloped by the two keeled bracts. Paleae: those of marginal florets connate into cylindrical sheath, basally slightly globose, apices and abaxially long-lanate, hairs septate; those of disc florets lanceolate to linear, 1.5-2.0 mm long, apices fringed, abaxially lanate, someÂtimes absent in central florets. Marginal female florets 1-3; corolla white to pink, ob-ovate, constricted around style; narrowed part very short. Style almost totally exposed, cylinÂdrical, forked; style branches flattened, linear, up to 1 mm long, apices acute. Ovary (and cypsela) ovoid-oblong, abaxially densely lanate, slightly flattened, 3x2 mm. Seed ovoid, laterally compressed, 1.5-2.3 mm long. Disc florets 4-21, functionally male with sterÂile ovary; corolla ± 3 mm long, widening dis-tally, glandular abaxially, yellow-green to yelÂlow with purple-red margins, rarely entirely purple-red. Style cylindrical, unbranched, apex broad, with sweeping hairs. Stamens 5, exsert-ed at maturity. Receptacle after anthesis with dense, white, long-hairy indumentum between involucral bracts and connate marginal paleae. Chromosome number: 2n = 36.
Habitat
After E. africanus, E. racemosus is the oldÂest known species of Eriocephalus. Although it is relatively easy to distinguish E. racemosus from related taxa, a few herbarium specimens have been incorrectly identified as E. africanus. These misidentifications can be ascribed to a description and associated illustration of E. racemosus by Gaertner (1791), based on material of E. africanus, which were accepted by Lamarck (1796) and Jacquin (1796). Obvious differences in capitulum structure together with differences in leaf shape, have led to the recognition of two varieties. This division is supported by chromosome morphology.
Use
20. Eriocephalus racemosus L., Species plantarum, edn 1: 1311 (1753); L.: 26 (1760); Burm.f.: 25 (1768); Murray: 795 (1784); Lam.: 387 (1786); J.F.Gmel.: 1277 (1792); Thunb.: 168 (1800); Willd.: 2385 (1803); Pers.: 497 (1807); W.T.Aiton: 180 (1813); Thunb.: 724 (1823); Spreng.: 621 (1826); G.Don: 364 (1830); DC: 147 (1838); Loudon: 742 (1855); Harv.: 203 (1865); Adamson & T.M.Salter: 801 (1950). Type: Cape Province, precise locality unknown, collector unknown (LINN 1040.3, holo., microfiche!).