Dicerothamnus Koekemoer, 2019

Koekemoer, Marinda, 2019, Taxonomy and reclassification of South African Asteraceae genus Elytropappus (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae), the description of two new genera and two new species, Phytotaxa 403 (4), pp. 248-284 : 254-255

Dicerothamnus Koekemoer gen. nov.

Type species:— Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (L.f.) Koekemoer

Frutices vel suffrutices erecti lignosi. Folia perpusilla, saepe adpressa , infra dense glandulosa, glandulis sessilibus vel subssessilibus, saepe sub strato pilorum implexorum occultis; supra tomentosa. Synflorescentia spicata vel paniculata, 2–4-florata, homogama, discoidea. Flosculi disci vinacei, lobis parvis erectis. Nectarium abest. Cypselae pilis brevissimis, abaxiale rotundatae, adaxiale cum costis 3 vel 4 longitudinalibus.

Woody shrubs or subshrubs up to 1.8 m tall. Branches erect, densely leafy, often tomentose. Leaves small, often scale-like, ericoid, adpressed, occasionally spreading, 1.5–2.5(–5.0) × 0.5 mm, adaxial surface woolly-hairy; abaxial surface densely glandular; glands minute, sub-sessile, often not visible, covered by a layer of matted hairs. Inflorescences terminal on branches, many capitula arranged in a panicle or spike. Capitula homogamous, discoid, 2- to 4-flowered. Receptacle small, conical, stalk-like. Involucral bracts chaffy, 15–20; 1.0–4.0 × 0.5–1.0 mm, tips acute or rounded. Disc florets tubular, bisexual, plum-red above, lower half tough, chaffy, cells distinctly thickened; lobes small, erect.

Anthers syngenesious, 5, apically acuminate, basally tailed. Style bifid, style arms truncate. Nectaries absent. Cypselas asymmetrical, smooth on outer side, with 3–4 longitudinal ribs on inner side, surface covered in short barbs. Pappus setae 10–18, plumose, basally fused. Flowering February to June.

Diagnostic features:— Leaves minute, often adpressed, covered abaxially by a layer of matted hairs, with small, sessile or sub-sessile glands underneath; capitula 2- to 4-flowered, discoid.

Distribution and habitat:— Northern, Western & Eastern Cape. Rocky soils in Mountain Rhenosterveld.

Etymology:— The name Dicerothamnus is a direct translation of the word ‘renosterbush’, from the Greek Dicero: rhino and –thamnos: shrub.