Seriphium pachycladum (Humbert) Koekemoer, 2016

Koekemoer, Marinda, 2016, A monograph of Stoebe and Seriphium (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae) in southern Africa and neighbouring islands, Phytotaxa 242 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

5. Seriphium pachycladum (Humbert) Koekemoer , comb. nov. Stoebe pachyclada Humbert (1923: 102 , 298). Type:— MADAGASCAR. Andringitra, Perrier de la Bathie 2783 (P!, holotype).

A much branched shrub, up to 3 m tall. Branches densely leafy, up to 6 mm in diam. including leaves, covered with short, rather coarse hairs when young. Leaves 4–6 mm long, narrowly cymbiform, antrorse; adaxial surface woolly-hairy, hairs spirally twisted; abaxial surface glabrous, often with wax deposits. Synflorescences a panicle or

STOEBE AND SERIPHIUM ( GNAPHALIEAE )

Phytotaxa 242 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 25 spike-like, of solitary capitula borne on rather short brachyblasts grouped towards the apex of the main stems. Capitula 1-flowered. Receptacle stalk-like. Involucral bracts show a gradual transition from outermost green leaves to inner bracts; innermost bracts widening in upper part, margins winged, apex acute, about as long as the floret. Disc florets narrow, 4 mm long; corolla lobes small, triangular, pointing slightly outwards at maturity. Stamens 5, apical appendage lanceolate, basally tailed. Style bifid, branches exserted far beyond the corolla at maturity; base bulbous. Nectaries absent. Cypselas with 5 ribs, papillose-scabrid between the ribs, dark brown at maturity. Pappus setae 16, slightly joined at the base, a little shorter than the corolla. Flowering September to January.

Distribution and habitat: — Madagascar high mountains. Figure 14 .

Ecology: —Mountain slopes, at elevations between 1800 and 2500 m.

Conservation status: —Least Concern.

Additional specimens examined:— MADAGASCAR. Madagascar, massif Andringitra, 19 September 1911, H. Perrier de la Bathie 2783 (P); Haut fourre arbustif, Andrianony, 29 October 1970, Guilaumet 3346 (P); Andrianony, Manjarivolo, 29 October 1970, Guilaumet 3347 (P); Ansavidilava, Andringitra, 15 January 1971, Guilaumet 3779 (P); Madagascar, massif de l’Andringitra (Iratsy); Vallées de la Riambava et de L’Antsifotra et montagnes environnantes. Pentes rocailleuses, eboulis (rochers siliceux), 08 December 1924, Humbert 3835 (BM, G, K, P, PRE, S); Madagascar, Andringitra, 27 November 1924, Humbert 3836 (G, P).

26 • Phytotaxa 242 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

KOEKEMOER

Figures

FIGURE 14:—Known distribution of Seriphium pachycladum in Madagascar.