Holothrix villosa

Holothrix villosa is a tuberous perennial growing an annual, erect stem to a height of about 36 cm. There are two unequal, fleshy leaves positioned flat on the ground, clasping the base of the slender stem. Their shape is ovate to nearly circular and, like the stem, variably hairy.

Hairiness is common in the Holothrix genus, but the thrix of Holothrix as well as the specific name, villosa, denote it doubly for this species; the tautology confirming the emphasised characteristic.

The species distribution is widespread from the north of Namaqualand, the Richtersveld and the western Karoo of the Northern Cape through parts of the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape around Graaff-Reinet and northwards in discrete areas, including Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

The habitat is stone and granite slopes of both summer and winter rainfall areas. The plants grow in sheltered or exposed fynbos, karoid shrubbery and more. The habitat populations of both varieties of H. villosa are considered of least concern early in the twenty first century (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; iNaturalist; www.pacificbulbsociety.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).