The Smuts in Cyphia smutsii
What do the United Nations, Anglo-Boer War and a pink-flowered Cyphia species have in common? — J.C. Smuts.
Jan Christian Smuts (24 May 1870–11 September 1950) was a South African statesman serving as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919–1924 and 1939–1948). He played a key role in establishing the United Nations and rubbed shoulders with world leaders including Lloyd George,
Churchill and Woodrow Wilson. Jan Smuts was also a lawyer, soldier and military leader during the Anglo-Boer war, philosopher, mountaineer and amateur botanist of note.
Jan Smuts matriculated at the Victoria College, Stellenbosch, where he met Marloth (see article on Acanthopsis tuba) and he accompanied Marloth on several plant collecting excursions. Jan Smuts collected mostly within southern Africa and is commemorated in at least five plant names including a grass (Sporobolus smutsii) and two daisies (Anisopappus smutsii, Pteronia smutsii). Over 2800 of his specimens are housed in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (PRE) of which 13 are type specimens (see The different types of taxonomic types in plants). His private herbarium of ± 4000 specimens are housed at the Smuts House Museum, Irene (Gauteng).
The holotype of Cyphia smutsii was collected by Jan Smuts and M.C. Gillett on Mauchsberg in the former Lydenburg District on the 22nd of December 1932. Cyphia smutsii is a rather inconspicuous erect, unbranched herb with pink, woolly flowers borne in a lax inflorescence. The species is restricted to grasslands in the high mountains of Mpumalanga around Mashishing (Lydenburg) and flowers in late summer.
One of Jan Smuts’ famous quotes: “When in doubt, do the courageous thing…”
