Elytropappus aridus 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 : 264-265

Elytropappus aridus Koekemoer sp. nov.

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape. Swartberg Pass, 13 km from Prince Albert (3322AC), 2 April 1996, Koekemoer 1289 (PRE!, holotype).

Plantae lignosae, erectae, usque ad 0.8 m altae. Rami rubrobrunnei, laeves, infra inflorescentiam glandiferi. Folia usque ad 8 x 2 mm, late dispersa, haud imbricata, persparse glandulifera, apices versus 1–6-glandulosis. Glanduli multicellulares, cum capitibus distinctissimis.Synflorescentia 5–22 capitulis composita, distincta terminalis globosa vel subglobosa.Capitula homogama, discoidea, (2–)3(–4) floribus formata. Flosculi disci lutescentes, rosei vel prunini, usque ad 4.5 mm longi, lobis patentibus. Cypselae c. 1.5 mm longae, superficie laevi. Setae pappi 15–21, basin versus subconnatae, infra hamulatae, in tribus quartis partibus superioribus plumosae.

Woody, erect plants, occasionally scrambling, up to 0.8 m tall. Branches reddish brown, smooth, glandular below the inflorescence. Leaves up to 8 × 2 mm, widely spaced, twisted, not overlapping, slightly rounded at the tips, shortly mucronate, spreading ± 90 degrees, very sparsely glandular, 1–6 glands towards the tip of the leaves, many leaves glabrous. Glands multicellular; heads very distinct, widening to about twice the diam. of the stalks. Synflorescence with 5–22 capitula grouped in a distinct terminal head, including a few subtending leaves, sometimes with a small sub-terminal cluster of 2–5 capitula. Capitula homogamous, discoid, 3-flowered (rarely with 2 or 4 florets). Receptacle very small, stalk-like. Involucral bracts 11–19, woolly-hairy on adaxial side; outermost partly foliaceous, less than half the length of the innermost, which are up to 5.5 mm long, occasionally sparsely glandular, acute with a short mucro. Disc florets yellowish, pink or plum-coloured, up to 4.5 mm long, lobes spreading slightly to widely, tube thickened in the lower half. Cypselas ± 1.5 mm long, surface smooth, leathery; with 5 indistinct ribs, annulus well-developed. Pappus setae 15–21, slightly fused at the base, barbed in lower part, plumose in the upper three quarters, plumes interspersed by short barbs, plumes rigid, ascending, slightly congested towards the apex. Flowering mainly February to April.

Diagnostic features: —Leaves widely spaced, spreading, very sparsely glandular; capitula grouped in distinct globose or sub-globose terminal heads.

Conservation status: —Least Concern (http://Redlist.sanbi.org).

Etymology: —The name aridus refers to the dry areas where these plants grow.

Distribution and habitat: —Inland, dry mountainous fynbos areas of the Western Cape at elevations from 900– 2 000 m. Figure 8 .

Note: —For the two disjunct distributions of this taxon two varieties or subspecies can possibly be described in future. Insufficient material was, however, available during this study to firmly establish a subdivision.

Specimens examined: — SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape. Gifberg, on rd. to Vondeling (3118DC), 28 September 1991, Koekemoer 862 (PRE); Gifbergpad (3118DD), 19 March 1996, Koekemoer 1202 (PRE); Gifberg (3118DD), 19 March 1996, Koekemoer 1206 (PRE); Gifberg, near turn-off to Vondeling (3118DD), 20 November 1991, Koekemoer 967 (PRE) and 7 February 1992, Van Wyk 3339 (PRE); Clanwilliam Div., Wolfberg, Cederberg (3218AB), 27 February 1946, Esterhuysen 13809 (BOL); from Cederberg on rd. to Cederberg (3219AA), 22 March 1996, Koekemoer 1236 (PRE); Between Cederberg & Wupperthal (3219AC), 21 December 1995, Koekemoer 1109 (PRE); Cederberg, Matjiesrivier on rd. to Zuurvlakte (3219AD), 11 March 2003, Koekemoer 2681 (PRE); Clanwilliam, Apollo, S Cederberg (3219CA), 31 March 1956, Esterhuysen 25530 (BOL, K); Ceres Div., Gideons Kop, S Cedarbergen (3219CB), 6 April 1947, Esterhuysen 13882 (BOL, PRE); Cederberg, Farm Kromrivier, above Kromrivier Pass (3219CB), 9 March 1991, Koekemoer 607 (PRE); Ceres, Schurweberg, N of Bokkeveld Tafelberg (3219CD), 19 April 1954, Esterhuysen 22883 (BOL, K, PRE); Ceres, rd. from Cederberg to Ceres, near Bo-Sneewkop turn-off (3219CD), 9 March 1991, Koekemoer 611 (PRE); Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve (3219DA), 24 September 1991, Koekemoer 801 (PRE); Knolfontein, Swartruggens, NE of Ceres (3219DC), 31 January 2007, Jardine 656 (NBG) and 27 February 2007, Jardine 662 (NBG); Ceres, Farm Katbakkies (3219DC), 21 September 1991, Koekemoer 666 (PRE); Cold Bokkeveld, Schurweberg ‘pone’ Kleinvlei (3319AB), 30 January 1897, Schlechter 10210 (BOL); Anysberg Nature Reserve, jeep track to Weather Station (3320BC), 6 March 2003, Koekemoer 2652 (PRE); Anysberg (3320DA), 21 May 1950, Esterhuysen 17054 (BOL, K, NBG); Ladismith, Touwsberg (3320DB), 1 June 1956, Esterhuysen 25886 (BOL, NBG, PRE, S) and 12 July 1937, Esterhuysen 6134 (BOL); Langberg, Boosmansbos Wilderness Area on N side of Witboois River (3320DD), 15 January 1986, McDonald & Morley 1110 (NBG, PRE); Elandskloof between Vleiland & Seweweekspoort (3321AD), 21 February 1986, Moffett & Steensma 3861 (NBG, PRE); Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass, N side (3322AC), 19 June 1955, Acocks 18272 (K, PRE); Groot Swartberg, Swartberg Pass, Platkop, (3322AC), 13 March 2011, Bergh 2258 (NBG); Prince Albert Dist., Swartberg Pass (3322AC), 16 April 1963, Esterhuysen 30173 (BOL, S) and July 1935, Esterhuysen 5035 (BOL) and 2 April 1996, Koekemoer 1289 (PRE); Swartberg Pass, Prince Albert side (3322AC), 5 March 2003, Koekemoer 2638 (NBG, PRE).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Known distribution of Elytropappus aridus in South Africa.