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The southern African genus Veltheimia (Hyacinthaceae: Scilloideae: Massonieae) comprises the paraptric species pair V. capensis and V. bracteata. Both species are reviewed with full nomenclature, descriptions, ecological notes, and colour illustrations. The two species are distinguished by the shape of the bulb and the texture of the outer tunics, the colour of the foliage, and the flowering time. An epitype is designated to fix the application of the name Aletris capensis in its current sense, and the nomenclature of V. deasii is clarified, including the designation of a lectotype for V. deasii P.E.Barnes, nom. illeg., non V. deasii Coutts.

A new spirocyclic nortriterpene, 22-acetoxy-15-deoxo-eucosterol, was isolated together with a corresponding pentaglycoside from the bulbs of Veltheimia viridifolia . The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D- 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, 1D-INEPT, ID- and 2D-TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY experiments, FAB- and HRESI-mass spectrometry.

Potyviruses (genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) are transmitted by aphids in a non-persistent manner and cause significant losses in many crops including bulbous ornamentals. Host range, symptoms, physical and biochemical properties of many potyviruses in bulbous ornamentals are reported, but, especially for viruses infecting ornamentals of minor economical importance, sequence data are still lacking. We used molecular techniques for the identification, characterization and detection of these viruses. Leaf material of several ornamental crops showing virus-like symptoms were tested in indirect ELISA, using monoclonal antibodies specific for potyviruses. Generic potyvirus primers were used in an RT-PCR to amplify the 3' terminal region of these viruses. The fragments encode the viral coat protein (CP) gene and comprise the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Nucleotide sequences of the obtained fragments were determined and compared with potyvirus sequences present in the NCBI database using the BLAST algorithm. We have characterized some potyviruses previously accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), including Freesia mosaic virus (FreMV), Gloriosa stripe mosaic virus (GSMV), Hippeastrum mosaic virus (HiMV), Hyacinth mosaic virus (HyaMV), Iris mild mosaic virus (IMMV) and Nerine yellow stripe virus (NeYSV). Additionally, the identities of other potyviruses infecting ornamentals such as Anemone, Galtonia, Muscari, Ornithogalum, Allium, Stenomesson and Veltheimia have been determined. These viruses, however, have not yet been reported by the ICTV. The virus-specific sequence information generated in this research project can subsequently be used to develop PCR-based detection methods.

Aletris capensis Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, 2: 985. 1759. ["Habitat ad Cap. b. spei."] Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 456 (1762). RCN: 2503. Lectotype (Obermeyer in Dyer, Fl. Pl. Africa 34: t. 1356. 1961): Herb. Linn. No. 440.2 (LINN). Current name: Veltheimia capensis (L.) DC. (Liliaceae / Hyacinthaceae)., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part A), pp. 252-342 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 274, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971

The new homoisoflavanone R(-)-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-5-hydroxy-6, 7,8-trimethoxychroman-4-one (1) was isolated from the petroleum ether and the diethyl ether extracts of the bulbs of Veltheimia viridifolia (Hyacinthaceae) together with the known homoisoflavanone muscomin (2). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by means of 1H-NMR, 2D 1H-1H-COSY, 13C-NMR, HMQC, HMBC, mass, and CD spectra. Pharmacological testings of the new homoisoflavanone are reported.