Grielum is a
genus of four accepted species of plants in the
familyNeuradaceae.[1] They are low-growing annual herbs endemic to dry regions, mainly in Western
South Africa and
Namibia.
Description
The genus comprises annual dwarf herbs with pronounced
taproots.
The leaves are more or less furry, and may be
canescent or
tomentose. They are
lobed at least, but more typically are
decompound. The stipules are
obsolete, being barely evident if present at all.
The flowers are conspicuous and are borne on singly on
pedicels in leaf axils. They are generally vivid lemon-yellow in colour, but with a white centre in some species. The calyx has five sepals, forming a shallow cup. The corolla has five petals, usually imbricate and thereby forming a shallow bowl, though this is less evident if the petals happen to be narrow, as sometimes occurs on a particular plant. The petals are inserted into the throat of the calyx cup. There are ten stamens, more or less set in two whorls of five, inserted between the base of the gynoecium and the petals. The carpels typically are five in number, but may vary from about 3 to 10. They are
connate and remain so in the fruit, which forms a
synaptospermicdiaspore[2] that may act as a
trample burr, being spread by sticking to animals' feet.[3] The
styles are
terete and the
stigmascapitate.
The taproot of local species is well developed as a storage organ and is an important source of food and moisture for some animals such as
duiker, so much so that one of its common names is "duikerwortel",
Afrikaans for "duiker root"; duikers are notorious for digging up the root from sandy soils. It also was an important food plant for local hunter-gatherers. It is thick and so mucilaginous that it also is known by variations on the name "Pietsnot", meaning "snotty Pete". The taproot of for example Grielum humifusum and Grielum grandiflorum are relished even by some campers when roasted on a campfire.[4]
Grielum is a
genus of four accepted species of plants in the
familyNeuradaceae.[1] They are low-growing annual herbs endemic to dry regions, mainly in Western
South Africa and
Namibia.
Description
The genus comprises annual dwarf herbs with pronounced
taproots.
The leaves are more or less furry, and may be
canescent or
tomentose. They are
lobed at least, but more typically are
decompound. The stipules are
obsolete, being barely evident if present at all.
The flowers are conspicuous and are borne on singly on
pedicels in leaf axils. They are generally vivid lemon-yellow in colour, but with a white centre in some species. The calyx has five sepals, forming a shallow cup. The corolla has five petals, usually imbricate and thereby forming a shallow bowl, though this is less evident if the petals happen to be narrow, as sometimes occurs on a particular plant. The petals are inserted into the throat of the calyx cup. There are ten stamens, more or less set in two whorls of five, inserted between the base of the gynoecium and the petals. The carpels typically are five in number, but may vary from about 3 to 10. They are
connate and remain so in the fruit, which forms a
synaptospermicdiaspore[2] that may act as a
trample burr, being spread by sticking to animals' feet.[3] The
styles are
terete and the
stigmascapitate.
The taproot of local species is well developed as a storage organ and is an important source of food and moisture for some animals such as
duiker, so much so that one of its common names is "duikerwortel",
Afrikaans for "duiker root"; duikers are notorious for digging up the root from sandy soils. It also was an important food plant for local hunter-gatherers. It is thick and so mucilaginous that it also is known by variations on the name "Pietsnot", meaning "snotty Pete". The taproot of for example Grielum humifusum and Grielum grandiflorum are relished even by some campers when roasted on a campfire.[4]