Ficinia arnoldii Tshiila & Muasya, 2017

Tshiila, Aluwani A., Chimphango, Samson B. M., Viljoen, Jan-Adriaan & Muasya, A. Muthama, 2017, Two new species in the Ficinia indica complex (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from South Africa, Phytotaxa 295 (1), pp. 49-59 : 58

Ficinia arnoldii Tshiila & Muasya , sp. nov. ( Fig. 4 )

Similar to Ficinia indica , differing in being tufted with surculose to short rhizomes (vs. stolons), and occurring in clay-rich renosterveld vegetation type (vs. deep sandy fynbos vegetation).

Type: — SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Malmesbury , 28 August 1975, C.H. Stirton 5026 (holotype PRE!; barcode PRE0513368-0) .

Provisionally referred to as “ F. aff. indica R.” ( Tshiila 2012), or either “Taxon b” or “Taxon B”.

Tufted perennial, short rhizome to 8.0–10.0 mm diameter. Culm 240–980 mm tall, 0.9–1.2 mm thick, but ca. 2.0 mm thick across the rim of the leaf sheath, glabrous. Leaf sheath 30–125 mm long, glabrous, not papery, wine-red. Leaf blade 40–300 mm long, glabrous, canaliculate. Involucral bract 3–5, leaf-like, 11–60 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence capitate, 8.0–10.0 mm diameter, each with over 10 spikelets. Spikelets 2.8–5.8×1.0– 3.1 mm, terete, dark brown, florets bisexual. Glumes 1.8–5.0×1.0– 2.1 mm, boat-shaped with a mucro 0.5 mm long, margins entire. Stamens 3, anthers crested. Style trifid. Nutlets 1.0–2.5×0.5–2.0 mm, dark brown, minutely papillose; hypogynous disc to 0.5 mm long, cupular, 6–9-lobed.

Distribution and ecology: —This taxon is widespread in the renosterveld vegetation type in the SW part of the Western Cape. The renosterveld is floristically and physiognomically distinct from fynbos and occupies richer (mainly shale-derived) soils ( Bergh et al. 2014). Both F. arnoldii and F. laevis are restricted to renosterveld vegetation and do not overlap with the fynbos F. indica , with F. arnoldii occurring in the SW whereas F. laevis is found in the NW area of Western Cape and further north into the Northern Cape.

Eponymy: — We honour the South African botanist, the late Trevor Henry Arnold (1947–2013), who earlier in his career studied Ficinia and already recognized this taxon as separate from F. indica (as “Taxon b”) as annotated on specimens in various herbaria.

Conservation status: —We consider the conservation status to be Least Concern based on the IUCN (2012) criteria. However, its habitat is rapidly being converted into agricultural land (overgrazing, vineyards) as well as invasive alien plants.

Additional specimens studied: — SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province, Cape Town: Kuils River; Langverwacht, 21 August 1973, E.G.H. Oliver 4330 (NBG; PRE); Clifton, 9 August 1942, W.F. Barker 1574 (NBG); Signal hills, 11 August 1944, R. Compton 15750 (NBG); Camps Bay Drive, 5 July 1943, W.F. Barker 2413 (NBG); Stellenbosch, Albite Fussen; 10 September 1963, J.J. Bos 329 (NBG); Stellenbosch plains, August 1946, B. Rathbone 5 (NBG); Laagliggende dele slootjies, 23 January 1962, M.C. Oliver 82 (NBG); Stellenbosch lower slopes, 28 August 1963, H.C. Taylor 5026 (NBG; PRE); Jonkershoek, O. Kerfoot K6057 (NBG); Heidelberge Nature Reserve, 1 August 1995, P. Runnals 806 (NBG). Simonstown, 29 June 1965, H.C. Taylor 6351 (NBG); Darling, Oudepost Reserve, 29 March 2009, A.M. Muasya 4514 (BOL). Worcester: Top of Gydo Pass, 20 September 1952, R. Compton 1952 (NBG); Hex River Mountains, Morainkloof, 28 November 2009, A.M. Muasya 4961 (BOL); Citrus dam reserve, Kanetvlei farm, 28 November 2009, A.M. Muasya 4979 (BOL). Clanwilliam: Piketberg, Wittewater, 11 October 2009, A.M. Muasya 4649 (BOL).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Ficinia arnoldii. A. Habit. B. Leaf blade and sheath. C. Spikelet. D. Glume.Artist: Kay-Leigh Kilian.