Massonia elandsmontana

When this plant was first discovered in 1997, it was obvious it was a Massonia but the species was initially a puzzle. Subsequent careful study revealed that this Massonia was in fact … a new species! Today, there may be as many as 100 at Elandsberg. Here is Dr John Manning’s final verdict: “Massonia elandsmontana is described for a population of plants from Elandsberg Nature Reserve at the western foot of the Elandskloof Mountains near Hermon in the Swartland of Western Cape, South Africa. . . . It is one of several geophytic taxa endemic to Swartland Alluvial Fynbos vegetation on Elandsberg Nature Reserve.” J.C. Manning © 2021 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V.