Kewa Christenh., 2014

Christenhusz, Maarten J. M., Brockington, Samuel F., Christin, Pascal-Antoine & Sage, Rowan F., 2014, On the disintegration of Molluginaceae: a new genus and family (Kewa, Kewaceae) segregated from Hypertelis, and placement of Macarthuria in Macarthuriaceae, Phytotaxa 181 (4), pp. 238-242 : 240

Kewa Christenh. , gen. nov.

Type of the genus:— Kewa salsoloides (Burch.) Christenh. (= Pharnaceum salsoloides Burch. ).

The genus differs from Hypertelis sensu stricto in having succulent, alternate, terete leaves, stipules that are adnate to the sheathing leaf bases, simple umbellate inflorescences on long stalks, the short stigmatic crests topping the ovary, and the absence of a nectary disk.

Etymology:— Kewa is named for Kew, a village in Richmond, Surrey, southwest London, where the internationally acclaimed Royal Botanic Gardens are situated. This botanical institute has conducted botanical research worldwide for over 250 years and has earned a global fame in taxonomy, conservation, horticulture and science. We chose to name it in honour of RBG Kew because members of the genus occur in areas ( St. Helena, southern Africa, Madagascar) where Kew carried out research, and samples provided by Kew have been instrumental in resolving the relationships discussed here.