Nemesia williamsonii Life
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Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Euasterid I > Order: Lamiales > Family: Scrophulariaceae
> Genus: Nemesia
A short-lived annual that comes up after
winter or early spring showers (Steiner 2006).
Distribution and habitat
Recorded from the northernmost areas on the Northern Cape,
including the Richtersveld National Park, and adjacent areas of southern
Namibia, including the Fish River Canyon Park. Grows typically at the base of
koppies (rock hills) or in drainage lines with sandy quartzitic soils. Also
found growing in black tillite and on brown-yellow dolomite.
Flowering time
June to September.
Pollination
Self-incompatible so a plant is not able to provide fertile
seeds by self-fertilization. Pollinators have not been recorded but, based on
knowledge of the pollination of similar species, Steiner (2006) suspects that
the pollinators of Nemesia williamsonii are anthophorid bees. Pollinators
are probably attracted to the pollen as a food source as the flowers evidently
do not produce nectar in their spurs.
Derivation of name
Named after Graham Williamson who discovered the species
and "who has made a major contribution to the knowledge of the natural history
of the Richtersveld (Steiner 2006).
References
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