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the web of life in southern Africa

Nemesia williamsonii

Life > eukaryotes > 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

  • Steiner, K. 2006. Two new species of Nemesia (Scrophulariaceae) from southern Africa. Bothalia 36(1): 39-44.