First complete account of the genus Lachenalia published

Brian W Van Wilgen

doi:10.1590/sajs.2014/a0053

Abstract

South Africa is home to 6% of the world's approximately 370 000 plant species, making it the country with the richest temperate flora in the world. This dazzling diversity includes many large genera, and it is not often that a monograph appears that describes an entire, large genus. Lachenalia (also known as Cape hyacinths or viooltjies) is one such large genus. It has 133 known species that are confined to South Africa and (marginally) southern Namibia. These endemic plants have been popular with specialist bulb growers worldwide for over 100 years. The publication in 2012 of a comprehensive account of the genus marks the culmination of the life's work of two 20th-century South African plant taxonomists whose work between 1929 and 2012 has spanned more than eight decades.

Highlights

In 1978, Graham Duncan took up a position at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where he met and was influenced by Barker
Duncan has gained enormous insights from working with this genus for over three decades. He has combined this experience with scientific study, having recently completed a MSc degree that dealt with the cladistics of the genus, and which provided a sound basis for this book
Attention is drawn to the work of others who have shown that differences in basic chromosome numbers result in breeding barriers between sympatric Lachenalia species whose flowering periods overlap

Summary

Introduction

South Africa is home to 6% of the world’s approximately 370 000 plant species, making it the country with the richest temperate flora in the world. First complete account of the genus Lachenalia REVIEW TITLE: First complete account of the genus Lachenalia published First complete account of the genus Lachenalia published.

Results

Conclusion