identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
9651A82052D4556798C1372F5A75DC57.text	9651A82052D4556798C1372F5A75DC57.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Erica arida R. D. Hoekstra 2025	<div><p>Erica arida R. D. Hoekstra sp. nov.</p><p>Fig. 4</p><p>Link.</p><p>WFO: https://list.worldfloraonline.org/wfo-1000079209.</p><p>Type.</p><p>South Africa • Western Cape, 3320 DD (Warmwaterberg): Langeberg Range, Barrydale outskirts, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=20.779&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-33.922" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 20.779/lat -33.922)">on steep middle south-facing slopes north of the Doringrivier Catchment Area</a>, 709 m, 33.922°S, 20.779°E, 14 February 2024, R. D. Hoekstra 218 (NBG, holotype) .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Erica arida matches characters exhibited in E. tenuicaulis, from which it differs in leaf shape (saddle-shaped, as opposed to broadly linear in E. tenuicaulis), its straight style (curved in E. tenuicaulis) and staminal filaments approximately 3 times as long as the anthers (as long as the anthers in E. tenuicaulis).</p><p>Description.</p><p>Rounded to semi-spreading, resprouting shrublet up to 30 cm tall, rootstock thick. Branches twiggy, erect, glabrous; secondary branches erect or ascending, sparsely stipitate-glandular. Leaves 3 - nate, erect to spreading, ovate to subcordate, saddle-shaped, blades 2.5–4.0 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, acute; adaxially convex, glabrous, margins revolute, rarely sparsely ciliolate; abaxially deeply sulcate, densely hispidulous within sulcus with simple, eglandular hairs; petiole ± 1 mm long, occasionally loosely decurrent, margins ciliolate. Inflorescence of 3 - nate flowers at ends of short side branches; pedicel 3.0–4.0 mm long, pale green to pink, viscid, sessile- and stipitate-glandular; bracteoles 2, opposite, median to submedian, oblong to shortly lanceolate, ± 0.75 mm long, subacute, sessile-glandular, glabrous but margins sparsely ciliolate at base, green and slightly sulcate towards abaxial apex; bract partially recaulescent, submedian, lanceolate, acute, sessile-glandular, margin sparsely ciliolate towards base. Calyx 4 - lobed, sepals connate at base, lanceolate, 1.25–1.5 mm long, acute; abaxially glabrous, apex sulcate, the sulcus shortly villous; adaxially glabrous; margins sessile-glandular. Corolla campanulate to shortly urceolate with slightly constricted throat, 3.0–4.0 × 3.0–4.0 mm, white, glabrous, dry; lobes erect to spreading, ± 0.5 mm long, acute, minutely serrated. Stamens 8, free, included, filaments flat, ± 2.5 mm long, glabrous, white turning golden reddish distally; anthers ± 0.8 mm long, obcuneate, dorsifixed at base, bipartite, thecae erect, free, muticous, dark brown; pore ± 0.3 mm long, oval. Ovary 4 - locular, shortly oblong, ± 0.8 mm long, slightly emarginate, red to purplish, hispid with long, simple, eglandular hairs; ovules ± 20 per locule; placenta apical; nectaries basal, green; style ± 3.5 mm long, glabrous, pale pink turning dark red or black towards stigma, exserted; stigma dark red to black, subcapitate. Fruit and seeds not seen. Flowering time: December to February.</p><p>Distribution and habitat.</p><p>Erica arida is known only from the mountains north of the Doringrivier Catchment Area east of Barrydale in the Western Cape. It has been recorded from a ridgeline at an altitude of 1190 m in Northern Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos (Mucina and Rutherford 2006), growing in association with Erica barrydalensis, as well as on the middle south-facing slopes as low as 516 m growing in association with Phylica mairei, Erica vestita and Cliffortia pulchella . It has not been recorded from the north-facing slopes.</p><p>Threat status.</p><p>Erica arida is only known from a few records on iNaturalist and our single collection from the Doringrivier Catchment Area. The three known subpopulations appear to be small and scattered within the catchment area, and our survey at the type locality revealed only 17 plants. Erica arida was found to have an AOO of 12.00 km 2 and an EOO of 12.00 km 2. Additionally, the marshland in the catchment area is heavily infested with invasive Hakea sericea with a significant encroachment up to the middle south-facing slopes where E. arida occurs. This poses a major threat to the two subpopulations on the middle slopes. The habitat of E. arida is remote and difficult to access and only limited botanical surveys have been performed around the catchment area. Therefore, there are not enough data to accurately estimate the population size of this species. However, the wide range in altitude between the known subpopulations and results from our survey suggest that additional small subpopulations may exist within this catchment area. Since all observed subpopulations have consisted of only a few plants we estimate a minimum total population of 100 plants. Based on this estimate, an EOO of 12.00 km 2, ongoing decline in quality of habitat as a result of invasive alien plant species, and its restriction to a single known location, we recommend an IUCN (2012) category of Critically Endangered (CR) under criterion B 1 ab (iii) for E. arida .</p><p>Pollination syndrome.</p><p>Erica arida has well-developed nectaries and small, open cup-shaped flowers, suggesting entomophily. The lack of a peltate stigma and the fact that pollen is not released in a cloud after in situ manipulation make anemophily highly unlikely, and the size and shape of the corolla make ornithophily unlikely.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>Erica arida is named for the seasonal aridity seen during its flowering months in the part of the Klein Karoo where it occurs; from the Latin, arida, for dry or arid.</p><p>Subgeneric classification.</p><p>The closest relatives of E. arida are classified in at least five different (non-monophyletic) sections, but most are in either Ceramia (glabrous, pitcher-shaped corollas and terminal inflorescences: consistent with E. arida) or Arsace (large peltate stigmas: inconsistent). Placement of the new species in Ceramia may be a useful provisional classification.</p><p>Notes on morphology and phylogeny.</p><p>The single strict match for E. arida with the Erica ID aid, E. tenuicaulis, diagnosed above, has yet to be analysed phylogenetically. Phylogenetic data place E. arida in a clade containing E. cordata, E. lowryensis, E. flanaganii (ITS only), E. hispidula, E. turneri, E. leucopelta, E. natalitia, E. copiosa, E. tradouwensis and E. grata, with which it is unlikely to be confused as it differs from all of these by its glabrous (as opposed to hairy) leaves. It further differs from E. cordata, E. lowryensis and E. tenuicaulis in leaf shape (saddle-shaped, as opposed to cordate in E. cordata, and lanceolate in E. lowryensis); from E. turneri and E. copiosa by its muticous (as opposed to awned) anthers; from E. turneri by its closed-backed (versus distinctly broad, open-backed) leaves, and glabrous (versus hairy) corolla, and from E. copiosa, E. tradouwensis and E. grata by its glabrous (as opposed to hairy) sepals. Erica hispidula, E. leucopelta and E. natalitia are clearly distinct wind-pollinated plants with peltate stigmas and absent nectaries, in contrast to E. arida which has a subcapitate stigma and conspicuous nectaries.</p><p>The placement of Erica flanaganii is unexpected: it is geographically distant, from the Drakensberg Mountains more than 500 km from the eastern edge of the CFR, as well as morphologically dissimilar, possessing a hairy corolla, lanceolate imbricate leaves, a fully recaulescent bract and anther appendages. The result (from data presented by Pirie et al. 2011; 2024) is only shown by ITS and contradicted by plastid results. Additional data from different samples are needed.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9651A82052D4556798C1372F5A75DC57	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Hoekstra, Rendert D.;Musker, Seth D.;Pirie, Michael D.;Vlok, Jan H. J.	Hoekstra, Rendert D., Musker, Seth D., Pirie, Michael D., Vlok, Jan H. J. (2025): An integrative approach to alpha taxonomy in Erica L. (Ericaceae) with three new species from the Western Cape, South Africa. PhytoKeys 257: 95-117, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.139457
345EC13EC5A957F3B39393AA265D260F.text	345EC13EC5A957F3B39393AA265D260F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Erica hessequae R. D. Hoekstra 2025	<div><p>Erica hessequae R. D. Hoekstra sp. nov.</p><p>Fig. 5</p><p>Link.</p><p>WFO: https://list.worldfloraonline.org/wfo-1000079210.</p><p>Type.</p><p>South Africa • Western Cape, 3321 CD (Sandkraal): Langeberg Range, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=21.482&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-33.945" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 21.482/lat -33.945)">Romanskraal north of Albertinia, north-facing slopes west of Skoorsteen Peak</a>, 1165 m, 33.945°S, 21.482°E, 23 December 2023, R. D. Hoekstra 181 (NBG, holotype; BG, isotype [2088580]) .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Erica hessequae matches characteristics exhibited in E. hispidula, E. oakesiorum, E. rivularis, E. tegetiformis, E. umbratica and E. woodii . It can be distinguished from all these taxa by its ovate leaves (linear, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate in all). It is further distinguished by its glandular pedicel, sepals, bract and bracteoles (all eglandular in E. magistrati, E. oakesiorum and E. tegetiformis); by its subcapitate stigma (peltate in E. hispidula; simple in E. rivularis and E. tegetiformis), and by its densely lanate ovary (shortly hispid in E. hispidula, E. oakesiorum, E. rivularis, E. woodii and E. umbratica).</p><p>Description.</p><p>Semi-spreading shrublet up to 80 cm tall. Branches twiggy, glabrous to puberulous; secondary branches ascending, hispid with a mix of simple, eglandular hairs and stipitate glands. Leaves 3 - nate, erect, ovate, blades 4.0–5.0 × 1.5–2.5 mm, acute, open-backed; adaxially slightly convex, hispidulous when young with simple, eglandular hairs mixed with stipitate and sessile glands, glabrescent, margins thickened, revolute; abaxially deeply sulcate, pale, densely hispidulous with simple, eglandular hairs; petiole 0.8–1.2 mm long, hispidulous and glandular as for adaxial leaf surface, not decurrent. Inflorescence of 3 - nate flowers, terminal on secondary and side branches; pedicel 4.0– 5.5 mm long, pale creamy green turning red-purplish with exposure to sun, stipitate-glandular, viscid; bracteoles 2, median, lanceolate, ± 1.5 × 0.5 mm, acute, creamy white to dark pink, leathery, margins densely sessile-glandular, abaxially sparsely hispid towards apex and along basal margin, adaxially glabrous; bract partially recaulescent, sub-median, ovate to lanceolate, ± 0.5 × 1.5 mm long, acute, creamy white to dark pink, leathery, margins densely sessile-glandular, abaxially sparsely hispid towards apex and along basal margin, adaxially glabrous. Calyx 4 - lobed; sepals adpressed to corolla, ovate, 2.0–2.5 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, creamy white / yellow with green tips, leathery; margins densely sessile-glandular, revolute towards apex; abaxially sulcate, with occasional stalked glands and sparsely hispidulous with simple, eglandular hairs within sulcus and at base, otherwise glabrous, viscid; adaxially glabrous, midrib slightly raised. Corolla 4 - lobed, cyathiform to shortly urceolate, throat constricted, 3.5–4.5 × 3.0–4.0 mm, creamy white, glabrous, viscid, occasionally with stalked glands adjacent to sepals; lobes recurved, 0.75–1.25 mm long, obtuse, margins smooth. Stamens 8, free, manifest to exserted, filaments flat, 2.5–3.0 mm long, glabrous, white turning dark reddish pink towards apex, apically kyphotic; anthers cuneate, 0.7–0.8 mm long, brown, dorsifixed at base, bipartite, thecae erect, ventral surface golden brown and shortly scabrous; awns ± 0.4 mm long, thin, laterally fixed to apex of filaments, simple or rarely with one or two basal barbs, reddish brown; pores round, ± 0.4 mm long. Ovary 4 - locular, turbinate, ± 1.0 mm long, dark purple, densely lanate with simple, white, eglandular hairs; ovules 15–20 per locule; placenta apical; nectaries basal, green to black; style ± 3.5 mm long, glabrous, pale pink above but white towards base, exserted; stigma dark pink to purplish, subcapitate. Fruit and seeds not seen. Flowering time: December to January.</p><p>Distribution and habitat.</p><p>Erica hessequae is only known from two localities, some 4 km apart, on the mountains surrounding Romanskraal north of Albertinia — one along the ridgeline leading up to a plateau mountain west of Skoorsteen Peak, the other on Langeberg Peak. It appears to be confined to high-elevation ridgelines where it grows amongst craggy rocks in North and South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos (Mucina and Rutherford 2006). It has only been observed at altitudes above 1100 m.</p><p>Threat status.</p><p>Erica hessequae appears to be a naturally rare, range-restricted species. There are only two records of the species, one plant having been observed on Langeberg Peak and two west of Skoorsteen Peak. Limited surveys performed in the surrounding area have failed to reveal additional localities. While alien vegetation is present in the region, favouring middle, south-facing slopes, neither location is yet threatened by invasive species. The plants examined at both localities demonstrated a reseeding regeneration strategy, which may represent a vulnerability to too-frequent fires. Erica hessequae was found to have an AOO of 8.00 km 2 and an EOO of 8.00 km 2. Unfortunately, its habitat is remote and not easily accessible, making estimation of the population size difficult in the absence of more systematic surveys. Until more data can be collected, current conservative estimates put the total population size at fewer than 50 mature individuals. Based on this estimate, an IUCN (2012) category Critically Endangered (CR) under criterion D is recommended.</p><p>Pollination syndrome.</p><p>The small, open cup-shaped flowers of Erica hessequae have well-developed nectaries and anther appendages, suggesting entomophily. The corolla is remarkably viscid and thus likely to trap crawling and flying insects that would need to land on the surface to effectuate pollination. Therefore, small and medium-sized flying insects that avoid trapping by landing on the recurved adaxial lobes or by entering the corolla through the mouth are the most likely pollinators of this species, although no clear interaction with pollinators has been observed. The lack of a peltate stigma and the fact that pollen is not released in a cloud after manipulation make anemophily highly unlikely.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>Erica hessequae is named for the Hessequa clan which occupied most of the modern-day Hessequa municipal area encompassing the Eastern Langeberg Range between the Tradouw Pass and Gourits River.</p><p>Subgeneric classification.</p><p>Erica hessequae could be placed in section Ceramia (Guthrie &amp; Bolus, 1905) by its glabrous, pitcher-shaped corolla and terminal inflorescence.</p><p>Notes on morphology and phylogeny.</p><p>Phylogenetic data suggest that E. macrophylla and E. ocellata (sect. Ceramia) are closely related to E. hessequae . While there are morphological similarities among these three Langeberg-endemic taxa, the former two are readily distinguishable by their muticous anthers. In addition, E. macrophylla has a more elongate, urceolate or tubular corolla with a more constricted throat as compared to the stouter bell- to cup-shaped corolla of E. hessequae . Erica ocellata is distinct in having a capitate, 6 - to 10 - flowered inflorescence (terminal and 3 - nate in E. hessequae) with significantly shorter pedicels and sepals as compared to E. hessequae .</p><p>Beyond character matching and phylogenetic relatedness, Erica hessequae bears an overall morphological similarity to E. grata and E. cordata, two other species found in the Langeberg. Erica hessequae and E. grata are restricted to the Langeberg Range whilst E. cordata has a wider distribution. Erica hessequae can be distinguished from E. grata by its viscid (as opposed to dry), creamy white (as opposed to light- to red-pink) corolla with a less pronounced constriction at the throat, and by its more densely hairy, lanate (as opposed to hispid) ovary; and from E. cordata by its awned (as opposed to muticous) anthers and subcapitate (as opposed to capitate to peltate) stigma. The leaves in E. grata are usually narrower and more lanceolate with less markedly revolute margins than those of E. hessequae, and it is usually a laxer, upright shrublet preferring wet, south-facing lower to middle slopes. Erica cordata is also mostly upright in habit with softer, shorter side branches. In contrast, Erica hessequae has hard ligneous stems and main branches, a semi-spreading, rounded habit, and preference for high-altitude craggy peaks.</p><p>Additional specimens examined.</p><p>Western Cape, 3321 CD (Sandkraal): Langeberg Mtns, summit of Unnamed Peak (Trig Beacon 45) east of the Langkloof, 1506 m, 33°57.037'S, 21°26.257'E, 22 February 2003, R. C. Turner 701 (NBG).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/345EC13EC5A957F3B39393AA265D260F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Hoekstra, Rendert D.;Musker, Seth D.;Pirie, Michael D.;Vlok, Jan H. J.	Hoekstra, Rendert D., Musker, Seth D., Pirie, Michael D., Vlok, Jan H. J. (2025): An integrative approach to alpha taxonomy in Erica L. (Ericaceae) with three new species from the Western Cape, South Africa. PhytoKeys 257: 95-117, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.139457
DCE98308BB4A53A6B2603C8C2234A4D9.text	DCE98308BB4A53A6B2603C8C2234A4D9.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Erica inopina J. H. J. Vlok 2025	<div><p>Erica inopina J. H. J. Vlok sp. nov.</p><p>Fig. 6</p><p>Link.</p><p>WFO: https://list.worldfloraonline.org/wfo-1000079208.</p><p>Type.</p><p>South Africa • Western Cape, 3320 BB (Laingsburg): Laingsburg district, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=20.373&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-33.44" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 20.373/lat -33.44)">about 20 km south-east of Touws River, on Lettaskraal Farm, Brandhoek section</a>, 840 m, - 33.440°S, 20.373°E, 13 April 2021, J. H. J. Vlok 2988 (NBG, holotype; BG, isotype [2088576]) .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Erica inopina is closely related and morphologically similar to E. subcapitata . It can be distinguished by its glabrous (as opposed to hairy) sepals, the presence of 3 (as opposed to 0) bracts on the pedicel, and its smooth (as opposed to verrucose) 3 - locular (as opposed to 1 - or 2 - locular) ovary.</p><p>Description.</p><p>Erect, densely branched, reseeding shrub to 50 cm tall. Branches erect, main branches with many secondary and tertiary flowering branches, pubescent when young with simple spreading hairs. Leaves 3 - nate, erect, imbricate, clasping stems, narrowly oblong, blades 2.0–2.5 × 0.6–0.7 mm, apex acute, sulcate, glabrous; petiole 0.3–0.5 mm long, not decurrent. Inflorescence of 1 - to 3 - nate flowers, mostly axillary in upper leaves, sometimes terminal at the tips of small branches; pedicel ± 0.3 mm long, green, glabrous; bracteoles 2, adnate to calyx, lanceolate, 0.5 × 0.4 mm, with ciliate margins; bract adnate to calyx, lanceolate, 1.5–1.7 × ± 0.4 mm, glabrous with ciliate margins. Calyx equally 4 - lobed; sepals adpressed to corolla, lanceolate, 0.7 × 0.4 mm, glabrous, green, margins entire. Corolla equally 4 - lobed, urceolate, 1.2–1.7 × ± 1.7 mm, glabrous, yellow green, fading reddish, lobes half to three-quarters the length of corolla, apex obtuse, margins irregular. Stamens 6, connate, partially exserted; anthers golden brown, almost sessile, muticous; pore tear-shaped. Ovary 3 - locular, often uniseriate septa, glabrous, smooth; 2 ovules per locule; style 2.0– 2.5 mm long, glabrous, stigma exserted, ± 0.3 mm diam., peltate. Fruit and seeds not seen. Flowering time: March to May.</p><p>Distribution and habitat.</p><p>This species is currently only known from the type locality, where it is locally abundant in deep sandy soil on the ecotone between Arid Fynbos and Renosterveld at the base of a south-facing slope.</p><p>Threat status.</p><p>Erica inopina is restricted to a single locality in the Laingsburg district, where fewer than 500 plants were observed with no immediate threats and no significant population decline expected. Based on this data, an IUCN (2012) category Vulnerable under criterion D is recommended.</p><p>Pollination syndrome.</p><p>The exserted style and peltate stigma, small, cup-shaped corolla and the absence of nectaries suggest anemophily.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>The specific name refers to the surprise to find an Erica of this group in an arid inland area.</p><p>Subgeneric classification.</p><p>Erica inopina falls within the Coccospermad group (section Ventiflora) of Erica species that have a fully recaulescent bract and bracteoles (Oliver 2000).</p><p>Notes on phylogeny and morphology.</p><p>The phylogenetic placement of E. inopina suggests E. subcapitata as its closest relative. These species are also morphologically similar but differ in several features clarified in the diagnosis above. Strict matching with the Erica ID aid yielded no results for E. inopina, irrespective of region and flowering times, and E. subcapitata featured low (32 nd) using the “ probability ” algorithm. This highlights the need to integrate multiple lines of evidence for alpha taxonomy in Erica .</p><p>Beyond the formal results, E. inopina is also morphologically similar to E. didymocarpa and E. parviporandra, from which it can be distinguished by its glabrous, 3 - locular ovary (2 - locular in E. didymocarpa; hairy, 1 - locular in E. parviporandra) glabrous sepals (hairy in E. didymocarpa), 6 exserted anthers (8, mostly included anthers in E. didymocarpa) and fully recaulescent bract and bracteoles ( E. didymocarpa is ebracteolate).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DCE98308BB4A53A6B2603C8C2234A4D9	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Hoekstra, Rendert D.;Musker, Seth D.;Pirie, Michael D.;Vlok, Jan H. J.	Hoekstra, Rendert D., Musker, Seth D., Pirie, Michael D., Vlok, Jan H. J. (2025): An integrative approach to alpha taxonomy in Erica L. (Ericaceae) with three new species from the Western Cape, South Africa. PhytoKeys 257: 95-117, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.139457
