''Thesium goetzeanum'' is a species of plant from Africa, where it grows between South Africa and Kenya.

History

Species in the genus ''Thesium'' are poorly understood. This was particularly the case for the ''Thesium goetzeanum'' complex, which was assessed in 2018. It contained a number of morphologically similar and variable species in southern Africa. The number of species in this complex was reduced from sixteen to nine. ''Thesium goetzeanum'' was found to have the highest number of synonyms. Five species were determined to be a synonym. These are ''T. coriarium'' A.W.Hill, ''T. deceptum'' N.E.Br, ''T. macrogyne'' A.W.Hill, ''T. nigrum'' A.W.Hill, and ''T. orientale'' A.W.Hill.

Description

Plants start off herbacoues with virgate growth form (erect, rod-like stems) and become increasingly woody and often

decumbent This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

(branches grow along the ground but turn up towards the ends) with age. It has a rhizomatous rootstock. The leaves are linear or lance shaped and often have roughly hairy margins. Flowers are present between August and February. They are long and borne in racemose cymes. The bracts are mostly fused to the stalk. There is no fruit stipe.

Similar species

''Thesium goetzeanum'' is commonly confused with ''Thesium resedoides'' as both have similar growth forms. ''Thesium goetzeanum'', however, has sparser branches with parallel stem (grow at about 45° in ''T. resedoides''), vegetative shoots that grow past the inflorescences, and larger flowers.

Distribution and habitat

This species is found growing between South Africa and Kenya. It is found in

Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...

Burundi Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...

, and

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

. While it prefers the

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

biome, it has also been recorded from rocky

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...

areas.e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36 It grows at altitudes of .

Ecology

This species occurs in the highest density in areas that have recently burned.

Etymology

This species is named after Walter Goetze, a German naturalist, explorer and photographer who collected botanical and zoological specimens in

Conservation

As this species is abundant and widespread, it is classified as least concern.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18076893 Plants described in 1901 Flora of Botswana Flora of Burundi Flora of Swaziland Flora of Kenya Flora of Lesotho Flora of Malawi Flora of Mozambique Flora of Rwanda Flora of South Africa Flora of Tanzania Flora of Zambia Flora of Zimbabwe Santalaceae