Pauridia serrata subsp. serrata

Pauridia serrata subsp. serrata, commonly known as the golden star, in Afrikaans as the gouesterretjie (little golden star) and previously scientifically as Spiloxene serrata, is a cormous perennial reaching heights from 6 cm to 20 cm. The corm is covered in netted tunics, its roots below twisted.

Several narrow, basal leaves are grown, channelled and grass-like. The small teeth on the leaf margins gave the plant its specific name, serrata. It is a Latin word meaning serrated or notched, derived from the Latin, serra, meaning a saw, referring to these marginal teeth.

A single, yellow or sometimes orange flower is borne in winter to after midspring. The six tepals are green on the outside and the flower has two subtending, narrow to thread-like bracts below. Flower diameter is up to 2 cm.

The subspecies distribution is in the southwest of the Northern Cape and the west of the Western Cape. The photo was taken near Tulbagh.

The habitat is fynbos slopes and flats in clayey to granitic soils. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2007; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).