Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia (Stayaert) Musandiwa

Musandiwa, Liada, Magee, Anthony R. & Boatwright, James S., 2022, A Taxonomic Revision of Chamaecrista (Caesalpinioideae, Cassieae, Cassiinae) in Southern Africa, Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) 47 (4), pp. 992-1011 : 1001-1002

4b. Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia (Stayaert) Musandiwa & Boatwr., stat. nov.

Cassia comosa var. capriconia Stayaert , Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20: 252 (1950); Brenan in F.T.E.A Legum.-Caesalp.: 90 (1967); Gordon-Gray in F.S.A. 16(2): 97 (1977); Lock in Kew Bull 43(2): 336 (1988).

TYPE: ZAIRE [ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO]. Katanga, Elizabethville , 15 May 1950, Rogers 10184 (holotype: BR, [ BR0000008917614 ]–image!).

Perennial herbs, to 0.6 m tall. Stems simple or sub-simple, or branched from the woody rootstock. Leaves paripinnate, 30–90 × 10–20 mm; leaflets 5–34-jugate, 4–13 × 2–4 mm; stipules 5–10 mm; large, sessile extrafloral nectaries, often spreading over the sides of the petiole. Pedicels 10–20 mm long. Pods 33–55 × 4–5 mm.

Diagnostic Characters — Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia is distinguished by large, sessile extrafloral nectaries that are often spreading over the sides of the petiole ( Fig. 3D ), and smaller general morphology (i.e. leaves 30–90 × 10–20 mm; leaflets 4–13 × 2–4 mm; stipules 5–10 mm; large, pedicels 9–20 mm long and pods 33–55 × 4–5 mm).

Distribution and Ecology — Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia is an inland species, distributed in the drier, northern parts of South Africa, from Tzaneen through Rustenburg to Pretoria and Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, extending beyond the region to Zimbabwe ( Fig. 7 ). It grows in grasslands in drier areas, usually on sandy soil, at an altitude below 1820 m. Flowering from October–February.

Additional Specimens Examined — South Africa. — LIMPOPO: 2327 (Ellisras): at bridge over Palala River, 5 km from Palala (–BB), 8 Mar 1978, Germishuizen 00726 ( PRE) . 2330 (Tzaneen): New Agatha Forest Reserve (–CC), 13 Nov 1918, McCallum 548 ( PRE) . 2428 (Nylstroom): Tafelkop Private Nature Reserve at Geelhoutkop and Melkriver (–AB), 19 Feb 1972, Coetzee 1035 ( PRE) ; Heuningfontein, Ratelhoek Farm (–AD), 7 Dec 1985, Westfall 2037 ( PRE) ; near Loubadspruit bridge on road between Nylstroom and Alma (–CA), without date, Welman 506 ( PRE) ; between Warmbaths and Nylstroom, 1 mile (ca. 1.6 km) along Vaalkop road (–CD), 22 Apr 1970, Clarke 39 ( PRE) ; Vaalwater Farm Driefontein (–DA), without date, Westfall 1531 ( PRE) . — NORTH WEST: 2526 (Zeerust): Grasfontein (–CC), 16 Dec 1929, Sutton 344 ( PRE) . 2527 (Rustenburg): Buffelskloof farm (–AA), 30 Nov 1977, Germishuizen 582 ( PRE) ; Rustenburg Kloof (–AB), 27 Dec 1949, Steyn 895 ( NBG) ; Brits (–DB), 24 Feb 1958, Van Vuuren 471 ( PRE) . 2626 (Klerksdorp): Schoonspruit, 5 km from Ventersdorp on road to Koster (–BD), 27 Nov 1986, Germishuizen 3955A ( PRE) . 2627 (Potchefstroom): Carletonville, A. Bairley Nature Reserve (–AD), Apr 1983, Van Wyk 154 ( PRE) ; Gerhardsminnebron (–CA), 25 Nov 1976, Botha & Ubbink 1835 ( PRE) ; Arboretum (–CA), 31 Jan 1996, Cilliers 2020 ( PRE) . — GAUTENG: 2528 (Pretoria): Botanical Garden, Brummeria (–CA), 4 Jan 1967, Todd 4 ( PRE) ; Fountain Valley (–CA), 15 Nov 1928, Repton 104 ( PRE) ; Wonderboom S, Pretoria (–CA), 14 Nov 1969, Coetzee 6 ( PRE) ; Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve (–CB), 27 Dec 1979, Rooyen 2238 ( PRE) ; Willow on turnoff to Garsfontein (–CB), 8 Nov 1977, Germishuizen 00464 ( PRE) ; Groenkloof (–CC), 15 Feb1922, Phillips s.n. ( PRE) ; Cornwall Hill Ridge (–CC), 3 Feb 2009, Masupa 2 ( PRE) ; Cornwall Hill Ridge (–CC), 3 Feb 2009, Ramantswana 4 ( PRE) ; Olievenhoutbos extension 13 (–CC), without date, Masombuka 15 ( PRE) ; Cornhill Ridge (–CC), 3 Feb 2009, Ramalekana 18 ( PRE) ; 31.1 km E of Pretoria (–CD), 14 Jan 1959, Mauve s.n. ( NU) ; 18 miles (ca. 28.9 km) from Pretoria on road to Welbekend (–CD), 30 Jan 1971, Clarke 138 ( PRE) ; Waterkloof Heights, SE of Pretoria (–CD), 24 Jan 1970, Clarke 126 ( PRE) ; Garsfontein (–CD), Feb 1977, Liebenberg 8626 ( PRE) ; Goedvertroudt Farm 499 JR (–DD), 6 Nov 2009, Masupa 68 ( PRE) ; Goedvertroudt Farm 499 JR (–DD), 6 Nov 2009, Masupa 32 ( PRE) ; Goedvertroudt Farm 499 JR (–DD), 6 Nov 2009, Masupa 38 ( PRE) . 2628 (Johannesburg): Johannesburg (–AA), 24 Jan 1976, Burger 292 ( PRE) ; Mulders Drift road (–AA), 13 Mar 1927, Young 26450 ( PRE) ; Kensington Ridge (–AA), Dec 1932, Neydorn s.n. ( PRE) ; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve (–AC), 4 Feb 2014, Kondlo, Magoele, Mogale, & Konanani 2902 ( PRE) ; Ashburry station (–CA), 29 Nov 1925, Smith 1351 ( PRE) ; Suikerbosrand (–CB), 23 Dec 1971, Bredenkamp 539 ( PRE) ; Melville Koppies (–CC), 27 Dec 1971, Macnae s.n. ( NBG) . — MPUMALANGA: 2430 (Pilgrims Rest): on road from Machadodorp to Sabie via Houtbosloop (–DB), 16 Jan 1969, Hilliard 5954 ( NU) ; Blyde River Nature Reserve (–DD), 21 Jan 1969, Hilliard & Burtt 6029 ( PRE) . 2529 (Witbank): 10 km from Grobersdal on road to Nebo (–AB), 4 Mar 1986, Germishuizen 3734 ( PRE) ; Kwa-Ndebele, Farm Goederede (–AC), 16 Mar 1981, Du Toit 207 ( PRE) ; Loskop Dam (–AD), 19 Dec 1966, Theron 855 ( PRE) ; Mapoch’ s Cave (–BB), 18 Jan 2005, Swelankomo 232 ( PRE) ; Middleburg, Doornkop 273 (–CB), 14 Feb 1968, Du Plessis 398 ( PRE) ; Middleburg, Doornkop 273 J.S. (–CB), 29 Oct 1968, Du Plessis 951 ( PRE) ; Farm Doornrug ca. 16 km West of Witbank next to the N4 (–CC), 18 Dec 2003, Nkonki 74 ( PRE) ; ca. 15 km N of Belfast on road to Stofberg (–DB), 30 Jan 1996, Jordaan 3100 ( PRE) . 2530 (Lydenburg): Witklip (–BD), 13 Dec 1973, Kluge 370 ( PRE) ; along R541 towards Machadodorp ca. 15.4 km directly NNW of Badplaas (–CD), 27 Nov 2017, Bester 13905 ( PRE) . 2630 (Carolina): 20 km from Lochiel on road to Badplaas (–BA), 6 Mar 1986, Germishuizen 3860 ( PRE) ; 2531 (Komatipoort): Barberton (–CC), Nov 1913, Rogers 12862 ( PRE) ; Komatipoort (–CC), Dec 1913, Rogers 13722 ( PRE) ; Kangwane, Songimvelo Game Reserve (–CC), 9 Dec 1992, Germishuizen 5767 ( PRE) ; Kangwane, Songimvelo Game Reserve (–CC), 9 Dec 1992, Germishuizen 5686 ( PRE) .

Swaziland ( Eswatini). —2631 (Mbabane): ca. 20.9 km turn off to Piggs Peak from Mbabane (–AB), 19 Jan 1966, Hilliard 3561 ( NU) .

Zimbabwe. —1831 (Marondera): Nyanga village (–DA), 2 Jan 1975, Nicholas 302 ( NU) .

Figures

FIG. 3. Extrafloral nectaries of Chamaecrista species. A. C. mimosoides, sessile, circular or circular-elliptic. B. C. capensis var. capensis, circular, sub-sessile or attached on small stalk. C. C. biensis, circular, concave, sub-sessile or raised on small stalk. D. C. comosa subsp. capriconia, elliptic, sessile, spreading over the petiole. E. C. comosa subsp. comosa, sessile, slightly sunken in petiole. F. C. grandiglandulata, large, sessile, elliptic, overlapping the sides of petiole. G. C. gordon-grayei subsp. longipedicellata, sub-sessile to sessile, circular. H. C. falcata, extrafloral nectaries, long stalked, concave on top. Vouchers: A. Burtt & Hilliard 3215 (NU). B. Walker 119 (PRE). C. Phelan 1120 (PRE). D. Burger 292 (PRE). E. Arnold 792 (NU). F. Ward 1219 (NH). G. De Winter and Wiss 4423 (PRE). H. Ward 2439 (PRE).Scale bars = 5 mm).

FIG. 7. Known distribution of Chamaecrista comosa subsp. comosa (-) and Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia (O) in southern Africa.