Ficinia limosa Levyns, J. S.

Muasya, A. M., Stirton, C. H. & Archer, C., 2020, Ficinia pygmaea is not conspecific with F. limosa, and a description of a new species of Ficinia (Cyperaceae) from South Africa, South African Journal of Botany 128, pp. 128-131 : 129

1. Ficinia limosa Levyns, J. S. African Bot. 13: 68 (1947).

Type: South Africa: Western Cape, Cape Town (3318): Paarden Island (— CD), Sep 1937, Levyns 6307 (BOL, hol.!, BOL!, iso.)

Perennial, caespitose with a wiry rhizome to 0.6 — 1.4 mm diameter. Culms 30 — 150 mm tall, 0.4 — 1.1 mm thick, but c. 4.0 mm thick across the rim of the leaf sheath, glabrous. Leaf sheaths 10 — 36 mm long, glabrous, not papery, creamish, ligule absent. Leaf blades well developed, shorter to longer than peduncle, 38 — 160 mm long, glabrous, flattened to canaliculated, not terminating in a sharply-pointed apex. Involucral bracts 2 — 4, channelled and base partially sheathing spikelets, 16 — 42 mm long, margins glabrous. In fl orescences capitate, 7.4 — 12.0 X 3.8 — 6.5 mm, each with 3 — 7 spikelets. Spikelets 8.7 — 12.1 X 1.5 — 2.0 mm, terete, yellowish green, 6 — 8 florets. Glumes 6.1 — 9.9 mm long, boat-shaped with a mucro 0.6 — 0.8 mm long; margins entire. Style trifid. Stamens 3, anthers 3.5 — 4.8 mm long, connective crested. Nutlets 2.4 — 2.9 X 1.4 — 1.6 mm, dark brown, minutely papillose; hypogynous disk to 0.5 mm long, cupular, 3-lobed.

Etymology: The specific epithet limosa refers to the muddy habitat this taxon occupies.

Diagnostic characters: Ficinia limosa is diagnosed by its wiry rhizomes (rarely making dense clumps), peduncles not clandestine among the leaves; Table 1.

Distribution and ecology: Ficinia limosa occurs in tidal channels, dune slacks, estuaries and similar habitats below 100 m, scattered along the coast from Lambert’ s Bay to the Agulhas plain ( Fig. 2 ).

Conservation status: Ficinia limosa is widespread, occurring in conservation areas as well as outside. The coastal localities are increasingly fragmented and converted into agriculture or housing. We therefore uphold the previous assessment given to this taxon under the expanded concept under F. pygmaea (NT B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v); Muasya and Raimondo, 2008).

Additional specimens examined

South Africa. WESTERN CAPE: 3218 (Clanwilliam): Jakkalsrivier near Lambert's Bay (-AB), 5 Jul 1983, Van Breda 4521 (PRE); Wadrif, soutpan W. of railway (-AB), 14 Sep 1984, O'Callaghan, Van Wyk and Morley 130 (PRE); Elandsbaai (-AD), 11 Sep 1984, Stirton 10700 (PRE). 3318 (Cape Town): Skilpadfontein (-AB), 22 Jul 2013, Helme 7787 (BOL); Yzerfontein Sout Pan (-AC), 23 Nov 2002, Muasya 2295 (BOL, EA, GENT, K); Yzerfontein Sout Pan (-AC), 23 Nov 2002, Muasya 2296 (BOL, EA, GENT, K); Darling (-AD), 14 Sep 1894, Schlechter 5344 (BOL); Uitvlugt (-BB), no date, Wolley Dod 1350 (BOL); Cape Flats (-CD), 29 Jul 1933, Humbert 9387 (PRE); Middle part of Paarden Island (-CD), 29 Aug 1919, Pillans 3899 (BOL); Paarden Island (-CD), 8 Nov 1935, Adamson 5177 (BOL); Paarden Island (-CD), Aug 1937, Levyns 6273 (BOL); Paarden-Eiland, Jakkals River (-CD), Aug 1969, Toelken 74 (PRE). 3419 (Caledon): Pearly Beach (Hagel Kraal) (-CB), 28 Aug 1962, Acocks 22653 (BR, K, PRE); Uilenkraals River near Danger Point (-CB), Oct 1949, Levyns 9566 (BOL). 3420 (Bredasdorp): Cape Agulhas, next to Caravan Park (-CC), Oct 1973, Arnold 698 (K, NU, PRE); De Mond Nature Reserve (-CA), 23 Jan 2012, Muasya, Kilian, Job and Euston-Brown 6409 (BOL).

Figures

Fig. 2. Distribution of species allied to Ficinia pygmaea.