Muscosomorphe, Manning & Govaerts, 2021

Manning, John & Govaerts, Rafael, 2021, Clarification of the confusion surrounding the generic name Bryomorphe Harv. (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), and the new genus Muscosomorphe J. C. Manning, Bothalia (a 8) 51 (2), pp. 1-3 : 2

The new genus Muscosomorphe

Muscosomorphe J.C.Manning , gen. nov. Bryomorphe sensu Koekemoer in Bothalia 41: 325 (2011), non Harv. (1863). Type species: M. aretioides (Turcz.) J.C.Manning

[ Bryomorphe sensu Harv.,Thesaurus Capensis 2: 33 (1863), pp., excluding type Klenzea lycopodioides ]

Dwarf, cushion-forming shrublets. Leaves ascendingincurved, imbricate, linear, adaxial surface tomentose with longitudinally striate hairs, adaxial surface lachnate. Capitula heterogamous, terminal, 1 to 3 at branch tips, partially concealed among leaves. Involucral bracts multiseriate, outer bracts ovate, foliaceous distally, inner bracts linear to narrowly oblong, scarious, rounded apically with large lateral wings clasping florets. Receptacle alveolate. Ray florets 6 or 7, female, lamina 3-lobed, white. Style branches obtuse, sweeping hairs not tufted. Disc florets 7 to 9, bisexual, corolla purple. Anthers basally tailed. Style branches truncate, sweeping hairs tufted. Cypselas terete, laevigate; pappus setae ± 15 to 30, free, barbed in lower four fifths, densely plumose distally, occasionally interspersed with clavate cells.

M. aretioides (Turcz) J.C.Manning , comb. nov.

Helichrysum aretioides Turcz. in Bulletin de la Sociéte Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou 24: 79 (1851).

Bryomorphe aretioides (Turcz.) Druce in Second Supplement to Botanical Society & Exchange Club of the British Isles, Report for 1916, 4: 611 (1917).

Type: South Africa, Western Cape: summits of Table and Hottentots Holland mtns, Zeyher 2908 (KW-1000916, holo.-image!; K-415093-image!, P-21335 and 21336-images!, PRE!, S-06-14625- image!, SAM!, TCD, iso.).

Etymology: From the Latin muscosus moss-like, alluding to the cushion-forming habit and to the generic name Bryomorphe that was previously used by Harvey (1863).