|

Hemizygia obermeyerae is a fast growing, much branched shrub
which can grow to 1,8m tall. It is covered with velvety hairs throughout.
The broadly ovate to ovate - lanceolate leaves are up to 60mm long
and 18 - 30mm in width. The leaves are strongly and pleasantly aromatic
and have short petioles. The showy, two-lipped tubular flowers are
mauve pink and appear from summer into autumn (December - April),
making this a very rewarding plant in the garden.
The
genus name Hemizygia is derived from the Greek words,
hemi - meaning half and zygon - meaning a yoke or join.
The species name obermeyerae commemorate Miss Amelia Obermeyer
(later to become Mrs. Amelia Mauve) a botanist at the National Herbarium,
Pretoria, who first collected this plant in 1931. The plant was
described by Ashby in the Journal of Botany (London) in1935.
Hemizygia obermeyerae is restricted to the Northern Province
from the Soutpansberg southwards to just north of the Abel Erasmus
Pass in the Northern Drakensberg mountain range.
Hemizygia obermeyerae grows in grasslands, rocky hillsides
and along forest margins. It grows in acidic quartzitic sandstone
soil, at an altitude of 1400 - 1800m with a high rainfall of more
than 1250mm per annum. Hemizygia obermeyerae resprouts after
fires in grass, lands and is pollinated by bees and other insects.
In the garden this plant can be used as a shrubby border, or individually
as a specimen plant. It can also be used as a low growing hedge.
Growing Hemizygia obermeyerae
Hemizygia
obermeyerae is a rapid grower, gaining popularity in South Africa.
It can withstand mild frost provided it get additional water. It
also need to be well watered in the drier and hotter central regions
of the sub continent. In the summer rainfall areas, it requires
additional watering in the winter months. This plant need to be
pruned in winter, after flowering to ensure a denser and more floriferous
shrub. No pruning is needed in the growing season. A compost dressing
with additional fertilizer like 2:3:2 in spring (September - November)
and summer (December - March) will be beneficial to the plant. Hemizygia
obermeyerae can be propagated by herbaceous cuttings taken during
late summer, or by seed. Rooting of cuttings should be carried out
in bottom heated mist-propagation beds. This plant is relatively
pests and disease free.
The Lamiaceae, sage family, consists mainly of perennial herbs and
shrubs, usually aromatic. It comprises about 170 genera and 500
species worldwide, in warm and temperate regions, of which 37 genera
and over 250 species occur in South Africa.
This genus, Hemizygia, consists of 28 species widely distributed
in the summer rainfall, eastern parts of South Africa.
Ebrahim Lawrence
Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden
March 2001
|