Species Vahlia capensis

Pictures from Observations

Range:

Location unknown

Locations of Identifications

Etymology of Vahlia:

For Martin Henrichsen Vahl (1749–1804), Norwegian-born Danish botanist, zoologist and author. He studied botany under Linnaeus at Uppsala University. He edited Flora Danica, published in booklets XVI–XXI (1787–1803), Eclogæ Americanæ I–IV (1796–1807), and Enumeratio Plantarum (1804), Volume 1, in the year he died – the first of 15 volumes he had worked on for 26 years. He lectured at the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden (1779–1782), made research trips to Europe and North Africa (1783–1788), became professor at the Society of Natural History in Copenhagen (1786) and of Botany at Uppsala University (1801–1804). Vahl’s library, about 3 000 volumes, was sold to the government on his death. He was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Etymology of capensis:

From the Cape Province of South Africa, previously known as the Cape Colony. -ensis is a Latin adjectival suffix meaning “pertaining to or “originating in,” Thus these organisms were first discovered in the Cape. In the early days of exploration this epithet was frequently applied to anywhere in South Africa or even Southern Africa

Scientific name:

Vahlia capensis (L. f.) Thunb.

Common names:

Localities:

Gifberg and Matzikammaberg

Synonym of:

Unknown

Long etymology:

Authors:

(L. f.) Thunb.

Protologue:

Nov. Gen. Pl. [Thunberg] 2: 36 (1782)

Synonym status:

Accepted

Year published:

1782

Shortly hairy shrublet from woody caudex, mostly to 30 cm. Leaves opposite, linear-oblanceolate. Flowers paired, axillary, yellow fading maroon or brown. Mainly Sept.--Nov. Sandstone and granite slopes, NW, SW (Namibia to Mamre, widespread in the drier parts of southern Africa).