Abstract
A diagnostic description of the genus is given with special emphasis on the occurrence of succulence amongst its species. The geographical distribution is outlined, together with a selection of important literature, and an explanation of the etymology of the name. This is followed by a short summary of its position in the phylogeny of the family and of the past and present classification in a phylogenetic context. The succulent features present amongst the species of the genus are shortly explained as to morphology and anatomy.
This is followed by a synoptical treatment of the succulent species of the genus, complete with typification details, full synonymy, geographical and ecological data, a diagnostic description, and, where applicable, notes on phylogenetic placement and relationships, as well as economic and/or horticultural importance.
References
Jessop, J. P. (1976) Studies in the bulbous Liliaceae in South Africa: 6. The taxonomy of Massonia and allied genera. J. South Afr. Bot. 42(4): 401–437, keys.
Johnson, S. D. [& al. 2001], Pauw, A. & Midgley, J. (2001) Rodent pollination in the African lily Massonia depressa (Hyacinthaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 88(10): 1768–1773, ills. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3558351
Manning, J. C. [& al. 2004], Goldblatt, P. & Fay, M. F. (2004) A revised generic synopsis of Hyacinthaceae in sub-Saharan Africa, based on molecular evidence, including new combinations and the new tribe Pseudoprospereae. Edinburgh J. Bot. 60(3): 533–568, keys. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960428603000404
Manning, J. C. [& al. 2011], Goldblatt, P. & Saunders, R. (2011) Massonia bifolia. Curtis's Bot. Mag., ser. nov., 28(4): 324–332, ills., t. 721. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8748.2011.01759.x
Martínez-Azorín, M. [& al. 2015], Pinter, M. & Wetschnig, W. (2015) Desertia, a new genus in Massonieae (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), including the description of Desertia luteovirens and the taxonomic revisions of Whiteheadia and Namophila. Phytotaxa 221(3): 201–225, ills., maps, key. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.221.3.1
Müller-Doblies, U. & Müller-Doblies, D. (1997) A partial revision of the tribe Massonieae (Hyacinthaceae). 1. Survey, including three novelties from Namibia: A new genus, a second species in the monotypic Whiteheadia and a new combination in Massonia. Feddes Repert. 108(1–2): 49–96, ills., keys. https://doi.org/10.1002/fedr.19971080106
Pfosser, M. F. [& al. 2003], Wetschnig, W., Ungar, S. & Prenner, G. (2003) Phylogenetic relationships among genera of Massonieae (Hyacinthaceae) inferred from plastid DNA and seed morphology. J. Pl. Res. 116: 115–132, ills. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-003-0076-8
Wester, P. (2010) Sticky snack for sengis: The Cape Rock Elephant-Shrew, Elephantulus edwardii (Macroscelidea), as a pollinator of the Pagoda Lily, Whiteheadia bifolia (Hyacinthaceae). Naturwissenschaften 97(12): 1107–1112, ills. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-010-0723-6
Wester, P. (2015) The forgotten pollinators: First field evidence for nectar-feeding by primarily insectivorous elephant-shrews. Veld Fl. (1975+) 101(2): 84–85, ills.
Wester, P. [& al. 2009], Stanway, R. & Pauw, A. (2009) Mice pollinate the Pagoda Lily, Whiteheadia bifolia (Hyacinthaceae) — first field observations with photographic documentation of rodent pollination in South Africa. South Afr. J. Bot. 75(4:Spec.Ed.): 713–719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2009.07.005
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Van Jaarsveld, E., Eggli, U. (2018). Massonia HYACINTHACEAE. In: Eggli, U., Nyffeler, R. (eds) Monocotyledons. Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-56324-3_14-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-56324-3_14-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-56324-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-56324-3
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences