Species Massonia grandiflora
Pictures from Observations
Range:
Location unknown
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
Etymology of Massonia:
For Francis Masson (1741–1805), British gardener and plant collector for Kew Gardens. He was sent by Sir Joseph Banks to collect plants in South Africa and sailed with Captain James Cook to the Cape, where he stayed from 1772–1775. Two of his three expeditions were made jointly with Carl Peter Thunberg, who named this genus for him. From 1786–1795, he visited Madeira, the Canary Islands and Azores, West Indies, North America and North Africa. He collected more than 500 specimens including, now household names, the bird-of-paradise flower Strelitzia reginae and the arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica among others such as Gladioli, Lobelia, Geranium, Pelargonium, Protea and Mesembryanthemum. He authored Stapeliae Novae on new South African succulents he discovered (1796).
Etymology of grandiflora:
From Latin grandis = 'large' and flora = 'flower', referring to having large flowers.
Scientific name:
Massonia grandiflora Lindl.
Common names:
Synonym of:
Long etymology:
Protologue:
Bot. Reg. 12: t. 958 (1826)
Synonym status:
Year published:
1826
Bulbous geophyte to 5 cm. Leaves prostrate, bracts large. Flowers clustered between the leaves, shallowly cup-shaped, greenish to white, anthers large. c. 2.5 mm long. May--July. Clay flats, NW, KM (W and Great Karoo to Bonteberg).
Observations of Taxon
Massonia grandiflora
Name of observer:
David Gwynne-Evans (David)
Date observed:
Date observed unknown
Collection: