Talbotia elegans

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Pandanales

Familia: Velloziaceae
Genus: Xerophyta
Species: Xerophyta elegans
Name

Xerophyta elegans (Balf.) Baker, 1875
Synonymy

Talbotia elegans Balf., 1868
Talbotiopsis elegans L.B.Sm. (1985); nom. illeg.
Vellozia elegans (Balf.) Talbot ex Hook.f. (1869)

References

Balfour, J. H. (1868) Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 9: 192.
Smith, L. B. (1985), Phytologia 57: 152.

Xerophyta elegans is a species of plants in the family Velloziaceae. It is endemic to South Africa and its natural distribution and habitat is restricted to Drakensberg Mountains in Mpumalanga province. The plant is evergreen and similar to other members of its family it is able to express high level or tolerance against desiccation and even long treatment with sulphuric acid[7] under dry conditions leaves it able to revive and restart its photosynthetic abilities. Talbotia produces narrow but long, leathery leaves and white star-shaped flowers with yellow stamens. The seeds are hooked thus enhancing dispersal by animals.
References

Baker, John Gilbert Journal of Botany, British and Foreign 13: 234. 1875
Pax Nat. Pflanzenfam. (ed. 2) 15(a): 434 1930
Balf. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 9: 192 1868
L.B. Sm. Phytologia 57(2): 152 1985
Oliv. ex Hook. f. Bot. Mag. 95, t. 5803 1869
Baker Fl. Cap. 6: 246 1896
Hallam, N. D.; Gaff, D. F. (1 January 1978). "Regeneration of Chloroplast Structure in Talbotia elegans: A Desiccation- Tolerant Plant". The New Phytologist. 81 (3): 657–662. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1978.tb01640.x. JSTOR 2433860.