Callilepis normae P.P.J.Herman & M.Koekemoer, 2014

Herman, Paul P. J. & Koekemoer, Marinda, 2014, Two new species of Callilepis (Asteraceae) from southern Africa with corymbose inflorescences, Phytotaxa 183 (4), pp. 254-262 : 258-262

Callilepis normae P.P.J.Herman & M.Koekemoer , sp.nov. ( Figs. 5 , 6 )

Similar to Callilepis leptophylla but capitula arranged in terminal corymbs, involucral bracts imbricate, ovate, acute, disc florets white, only anthers purplish, cypselae densely covered with a mixture of long twin hairs and multicellular hairs, pappus awns slightly broadened towards base, with membranous margins. Also similar to C. corymbosa , but cypselae densely hairy, leaves filiform and flowering time February (late summer).

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Mpumalanga: NE of Lydenburg (Mashishing) , on Mount Anderson Ranch , farm Goedverwacht, SE of guest cottages (QDS: 2530 BA; GPS: 25°00’33”S 30°36’09”E), 14 February 2014, Koekemoer 4573 (holotype PRE!, isotypes BC, BNRH, MO, NH, P, US) .

Perennial herb from woody underground rootstock, rootstock deltoid, up to 110 mm in diameter at top, aromatic (smells like fennel: Foeniculum vulgare Miller (1768 : FOEN)). Stems up to 1.2 m high, simple below, branching corymbosely in upper half. Leaves alternate, filiform, up to 80 mm long, ± 0.5 mm broad, decreasing in size upwards, apex acute, margin entire, glabrous. Capitula heterogamous, radiate, up to ± 16 in loose terminal corymbs. Involucre obconic, 10(–12) mm long, 10–12(–15) mm in diameter across mouth of involucre. Involucral bracts in 5 or 6 rows, imbricate, outer shorter than inner, straw-coloured, glabrous except for hairy apices; outer row ovate, 3–4 × 1.0– 1.2 mm, apex long acuminate, purplish, margin narrowly membranous, fimbriate, midline keeled; second row ovate, 3.5–4.5 × 1.5– 2.0 mm, apex acute to acuminate, purplish, margin narrowly membranous, fimbriate, midline keeled; third row ovate, 4.5–5.0 × 2 mm, apex acute, purplish, margin membranous, fimbriate, midline dark, broadening slightly towards apex; fourth row ovate, 6–7 × 2.2–3.0 mm, apex acute, purplish, margin membranous, fimbriate, midline dark, elliptically broadened near apex; fifth row oblong, 7.5–8.5 × 3.0– 3.5 mm, apex acute, purplish, margin membranous, fimbriate, midline dark, elliptically broadened near apex; sixth row oblong to narrowly obovate, 9–10 × 3.0– 3.5 mm, apex acute, purplish, margin membranous, fimbriate, midline dark. Receptacle conical, paleate, paleae straw-coloured, boat-shaped, 9–10 × 2–4 mm, apex acute, margins fimbriate, midline dark, sometimes membranous winged, sparsely fimbriate, glabrous except for hairy apices, enveloping disc florets. Ray florets female, fertile, up to ± 12, tube 3 mm long, with staminodes, limb 8.0–8.5 × 4–5 mm, oblong to elliptic, narrowing abruptly towards tube, apex 3-dentate, corolla glabrous, white. Style 4 mm long, bifurcate, but often 3-furcate, style branches linear, 1 mm long, apex obtuse, stigmatic areas marginal, confluent at apex. Cypselae (immature) obconical, 4.0–4.5 × 1.2–1.5 mm, 3-angled, densely covered with a mixture of long twin hairs and multicellular hairs. Pappus dimorphic, consisting of 3 or 4 awn-like scales, up to 4 mm long, slightly broadening towards base, interspersed by 5 or 6 flat, chartaceous scales, up to 2 × 1 mm, apices and margins fimbriate. Disc florets bisexual, regular, tubular below, slightly widening upwards, tube up to 5 mm long, 5-lobed, lobes up to 2 mm long, corolla glabrous, white. Anthers purplish, 2 mm long, apical appendages narrowly ovate, ± 0.8 mm long, base calcarate and caudate, tails ± 0.8 mm long, hairy. Style 5 mm long, bifurcate, style branches linear, 1.0– 1.4 mm long, obtuse, stigmatic areas marginal, confluent at apex, with papillae outside on apices. Cypselae (immature) very narrowly obovate, 4–5 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, laterally compressed, densely covered with a mixture of long twin hairs and multicellular hairs. Pappus dimorphic, consisting of 3 or 4 awn-like scales, up to 4 mm long, slightly broadening towards base, interspersed by 5 or 6 flat, chartaceous scales, up to 2 × 1 mm, apices and margins fimbriate ( Fig. 3E, F ). Flowering time: February (late summer).

Distribution:—Currently only known from the type collection from Mpumalanga ( Fig. 4 ) and it seems to be endemic there.

Etymology:—Named for Mrs Norma Mary Rattray, hotelier and conservationist. Together with her husband (since 1972), M.L.P. Rattray, they were the first private individuals to establish a Big Five eco-tourism reserve as well as the first water catchment reserve. They are the owners of the Mount Anderson Ranch where the type species was collected for the first time.

Additional specimens examined: SOUTH AFRICA. Mpumalanga: Mount Anderson, Golden Hill, on the farm Goedverwacht , (GPS: 25°00’28.6”S 30°36’10.3”E), 1 February 2014, Raimondo s.n. ( PRE!) . Lydenburg District , Mount Anderson Catchment Reserve , Farm Goedverwacht 152JT, Golden Hill (GPS: 25°00’58”S 30°36’11”E), 1 February 2014, Burrows, J . E . & Burrows , S . M . 14008 ( BNRH!) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cypselae and pappi of Callilepis species as seen under the stereomicroscope: C. corymbosa (A. ray cypsela, B. disc cypsela, Koekemoer 2596, PRE), C. leptophylla (C. ray cypsela, D. disc cypsela, Pole Evans 401, PRE) and C. normae (E. ray cypsela, F. disc cypsela, Koekemoer 4573, PRE). Photographs by P.P.J. Herman.

FIGURE 4. Known geographical distribution of Callilepis corymbosa (●) and C. normae (■) in southern Africa.

FIGURE 5A. Scanned image of holotype of Callilepis normae P.P.J.Herman & M.Koekemoer (Koekemoer 4573, PRE), Sheet I.

FIGURE 6. Callilepis normae: A. habit, B. corymbose inflorescences, C. rootstock, D. involucral bracts. Photographs by M. Koekemoer.