Helictotrichon Besser Ex Schult. & Schult.F. (Exclud- Ing Avenula (Dumolt.) Dumort. and Amphibromus Nees) Is a Genus of Temp

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most of their length; branches and pedicels smooth but with short scattered hairs; pedice1s unequal in length. HeLictotrichon Besser ex Schult. & Schult.f. (exclud- Spikelets 13-18 x up to 4.5 mm (excluding awns), lat- ing Avenula (DumOlt.) Dumort. and Amphibromus Nees) erally compressed, loosely 3- or 4-flowered, variegated, is a genus of temperate C grasses with about 40 species 3 usually mostly dark purple with margins and/or api- (Gibbs Russell et al. 1990; Mabberley 2008). The genus ces light brownish yellow; rachilla internode 2.8-3.3 is most diverse in the temperate regions of the northern mm long, densely hairy on upper half, hairs 0.5-4.5 hemisphere, especially Europe, from where it extends mm long, increasing in size upwards. Glumes unequal, southwards through the African mountains (Afro- narrowly lanceolate, acute, minutely awned, hairy on montane Region) with a secondary centre of diversity in 2/ upper margins; lower glume 3 as long as upper glume, southern Africa. I-nerved; upper glume 2/, as long as spikelet, 3-nerved. Lemma usually purple from awn insertion to base, In a taxonomic revision of Helictotrichon for south- otherwise light brownish yellow, scaberulous (Figure em Africa, Schweickerdt (1937) recognized 12 indig- lOB), nerves raised, 2-lobed; lobes 1.5-2.5 mm long enous species. Except for one, all of these species are (including awn) from above central awn insertion to endemic to southern Africa, several of which are rare apex, awn up to 1.5 mm long; central awn 11.0-21.5 and known from very few collections. A possible new mm long, twisted below, geniculate, scabrid; callus 1 species of Helictotrichon, H. sp. (Ellis 4663), is men- mm long, apex cuneate, hairy all over except on disar- tioned by Gibbs Russell et al. (1990). During a taxo- ticulation scar. Palea 2-toothed, 2-keeled, keels hairy. nomic revision of the genus, the status of this new spe- Anthers 3.8-4.5 mm long, yellow. Flowering time: cies was confirmed and a second new species was October. Figure 8. identified. Note that at PRE, specimens of the second new species were initially identified as H. namaquense Diagnostic characters and affinities: Helictotrichon Schweick., hence the distribution map supplied for H. rogerellisii is similar to H. longifoLium (Nees) Sch- namaquense in Gibbs Russell et al. (1990) applies to weick., possibly its nearest relative. Both species have this new species. In the present contribution, the two setaceous leaves and loosely flowered spikelets, but they new species are described, illustrated and compared with differ in a number of characters, summarized in Table I. similar members of the genus. Distribution and ecology: the species is only known Helictotrichon rogerellisii Mashau, L.Fish & from a single collection by R.P. Ellis in the De Hoop A.E. van l11;k, sp. nov., H. longifolio (Nees) Schweick. ature Reserve, east of Bredasdorp, Western Cape arcte affinis foliis setaceis spiculisque laxifloris, sed (Figure 9). Plants grow in shallow, humic soil among spiculis 13-18 mm longis (arista exclusa) usque ad 4.5 limestone outcrops and are associated with De Hoop mm latis; glumis acutis, internodio rachillae 2.8-3.3 mm Limestone Fynbos (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Bio- longo differt. geographically this locality falls within the Agulhas Plain Subcentre of the Cape Floristic Region (Goldblatt TYPE.-Western Cape, 3420 (Bredasdorp): 2 km & Manning 2000). from De Hoop Nature Reserve entrance, on road to Wydgelegen, (-AD), 21 October 1984, R.P Ellis 4663 Eponymy: the specific epithet honours Roger Pear- (PRE, holo.!; K, iso.). son Ellis (1944- ), formerly of the Botanical Research Institute-a predecessor of the South African National Densely tufted perennial, 300-600 mm high, usu- Biodiversity Institute-who researched and published ally flushed purple; culms slender, glabrous, I- or extensively on the anatomy of southern African grasses. 2-noded. Leaves cauline, sheath folded; blade 100-200 x 1.5 mm, setaceous, involute, both surfaces scabrid; Helictotrichon roggeveldense Mashau, L.Fish & ligule an unfringed membrane up to 2 mm long, lac- A.E. van Wyk, sp. nov., H. namaquensi Schweick. arcte iniate or erose; margins membranous. Panicle open, affinis lemmatibus partim scabridis, carinisque palearum with up to 15 spikelets, branches bare of spikelets for conspicue pubescentibus, sed paniculis contractis spicu-

Character H. rogerellisii H. longifolium Spikelet length 13-18 mm 8-10(-12) mm Glumes (apices) acute acuminate Rachilla internode length 2.8-3.3 mm ±2mm Lemma scaberulous smooth or finely papi lIate Lemma nerves raised not raised Anther length 3.8-4.5 mm 0.6-3.3 mm Geographical range Bredasdorp District, Western Cape (Agulhas Plain Subcentre, Drakensberg Range, centred on Lesotho (Drakensberg Cape Floristic Region) Alpine Centre) fynbos; mainly in shallow, humic soils between limestone grassland; mainly on moist and rocky mountain slopes outcrops on coastal plain \ / .'// 8.-fleliclolrichol1 rogerel- \: il/> . / F1GURE \ ;a /' lisii, RP Ellis 4663 (PRE). A, ;;/ habit; B, spike let; C, lem111a; , D, rachilla. Scale bar: A, 5 o 111111;B, 10 111111;C, D, 20 111m. Artist: Gillian Condy. las 15-18 gerentibus, spiculis flosculis aggregatis, lem- strongly ribbed; leaf blade 80-180 x 2-3 mm, expanded maque scabrida differt. or convolute, nan'owed towards apex, apex boat-shaped, strongly ribbed, both surfaces hairy; ligule an un fringed TYPE.-Northern Cape, 3220 (Sutherland): Geel- membrane, 1.5-2.8 mm long, laciniate or erose; mar- hoek (Vyffontein), (-BC), 21 September 1953, JPH. gins membranous. Panicle contracted; spike lets 15-18, Acocks 17178 (PRE, holo.!). lower branches sometimes spreading, pulvini in axils Densely tufted perennial, 250-280 mm high; culms absent, branches and pedicels scabrid; pedicels unequal slender, 1- or 2-noded. Leaves mainly basal, sheath in length. Spikelels 10-17 x 2.5-3.0 mm (excluding I-- i- I/ \

1\ I~ r ~ '\ r- j /' \ \ l< Ir' ~ \ -.., J ( '1 '"L? I'--- L,i I..- >--/ 1\ '->, .-- 1'1 IY\. l,r "'v IJ <- / Ii \ A I'- / IA lr" .-' 1/ V .••• 1.-' ./ f.-.-- /' 0 2lJO 400 km D I'>-- •• -

FIGURE 9.-Known distribution of He/iclolrichon rogere//isii, .; and H. roggeveldense, .•..

FIGURE 10.-Heticlolrichon roggeve/dense: A, scabrid lemma sur- awns), laterally compressed, closely 2- or 3-f1owered, face. H. rogerel/isii: B, scabendous lemma surface. Scale bar: A, pallid (light green) occasionally flushed purple; rachilla B, 10 11m.Artist Gillian Condy. internode 2.5-3.0 mm long, densely hairy on upper half, hairs 4.0-6.5 mm long. Chimes unequal, lanceolate, acuminate, minutely ciliate on upper margins; lower glume biogeographically forms part of the Hantam-Roggeveld 1/ _2/ Centre of Endemism. 2 3 as long as upper glume, I-nerved; upper glume ± as long as spikelet (excluding awns), 3-nerved. Lemma body densely scabrid (Figure lOA), smooth at base, Distribution and ecology: known only from three col- nerves conspicuous, apex 2-lobed; lobes 5-7 mm long lections from two localities south and southwest of Suth- (excluding awn) from insertion of central awn to apex, erland (Northern Cape), where it is associated with Rog- awn 3.0-5.0 mm long; central awn 12-25 mm long, geveld Shale Renosterveld (Mucina & Rutherford 2006) twisted below, geniculate, scabrid; callus I mm long, (figure 9). The area is characterized by sandy to clayey apex cuneate, hairy all over except on disarticulation soils derived from mudstone and sandstone of the Beau- scar, hairs up to 6 mm long. Palea emarginate, apex fim- fort Group. The species is obviously rare and is yet another briate, 2-keeled, keels hairy. Anthers 1.7-2.6 mm long, taxon endemic to the Roggeveld Subcentre of the Hantam- yellow. Flowering time: September. Figure II. Roggeveld Centre of Endemism (Van Wyk & Smith 200 I). The current range of H. roggeveldense is closely associ- Diagnostic characters and affinities: Helictotrichon ated with that of another grass, Secale africanum Stapf [= roggeveldense resembles H. namaquense Schweick. in Secale strictum (1.Presl) lPresl subsp. africanum (Stapf) having spikelets with the lemmas scabrid in parts and K.Hammer], a Roggeveld Subcentre endemic today and on the keels of the paleae conspicuously hairy, but the two the brink of extinction in the wild, but previously appar- species differ in a number of characters, some of which ently more abundant, though still localized, on deep allu- are compared in Table 2. In Gibbs Russell et al. (1990), vial soils mainly along the banks of the upper Fish River H. roggeveldense was mistaken for H. namaquense and its tributaries. The rapid demise of S. africanum is Schweick., a rare species and near-endemic to the ascribed primarily to overgrazing by domestic stock Kamiesberg Centre of Endemism (Van Wyk & Smith (mainly sheep) following the colonization of the area by 2001; Helme 2009), with an outlier distribution on the farmers in the late 18th century. H. roggeveldense may be Hantamsberg near Calvinia, the latter locality which under similar pressure with its current rarity indicative of

Character H. roggeveldense H. namaquense Panicle contracted open Pulvini in branch axils absent present; purple Spikelets per inflorescence 15-18 up to 10 Spikelet closely flowered loosely flowered Lemma scabrid all over, except on lobes and basally scabrid below awn insenion in a band from margin to margin, rest of body scaberulous Anther length 1.7-2.6 mm 4.5 mm Geographical range Sutherland District (Roggeveld Subcentre, Hantam- mainly Kamiesberg, Namaqualand (Kamiesberg Centre of Roggeveld Centre of Endemism) Endemism); outlier on Hantamsberg, Calvinia renoslerveld; mainly on sandy to clayey soils derived renosterveld; mainly on sandy soils arising from granite from shale and gneiss FIGURE II.-Heliclorrichon roggeve/dense, 1.PH. A cocks /7178 (PRE). A, habit; B, spikelet; C, lemma; 0, rachilla. Scale bar: A, 5 mm; B, C, 10 mm; 0, 20 mill. Anisl: Gil- lian Candy. survival as a relict in sites protected from overgrazing. The Etymology: Helictotrichon roggeveldense is named most recent collections of H. roggeveldense (September after the Roggeve1d (rye lands/fields), a region named 1986) are from plants in a road reserve where they enjoyed after Secale qfhcanul11 (known as wilde rag in Afri- some protection from grazers. kaans), an important grazing grass and a Roggeveld Subcentre endemic which was once more common, but GOLDBLATT, P. & MAN 1JNG, J.e. 2000. Cape plants. A conspectus is very rare today. of the Cape Aora of South Africa. S/relitzia 9: 1-743. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, SI. Louis. HELME, N. 2009. A description of the endemic flora and vegetation of the Kamiesberg Uplands, Namaqualand. PlantLife 37 & 38: NORTH ERN CAPE.-3220 (Sutherland): 10 km from Sutherland 12-31. to Matjiesfontein, (-BC), 29 September 1986, Spies 3137 (PRE); 10 MABBERLEY, DJ. 2008. Mabberlel')' plant-book, edn 3. Cambridge km south of Sutherland on road to Ceres, (-BC), 29 September 1986, University Press. Cambridge. Ellis 5117 (PRE). MUCINA, L. & RUTHERFORD. M.e. 2006. The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and S,,·aziland. S/relitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. SCHWEICKERDT, H.G.W.J. 1937. A revision of the South African species of Helictotrichon Bess. ex Schultes. Bothalia 3: 185-203. Our grateful thanks to Dr O.A. Leistner for comment- VAN WYK, A.E. & SMITH, G.F. 2001. Regions of floris/ic ende- ing on the manuscript and translating the diagnoses into mism in sOllthern Aji-ica. A review ,pith emphasis on sllccl/len/s. Umdaus Press, Pretoria. Latin, Gill Condy for the line drawings and Hester Steyn for the distribution map. The South African ational Biodiversity Institute is thanked for financial support. * South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X 101,0002 Pretoria.

t Student affiliation: Depanment of Plant Science, University of Pre- toria, 0002 Pretoria. GIBBS RUSSELL, G.E., WATSON, L.. KOEKEMOER, M., SMOOK, E-mail: [email protected];[email protected]. L., BARKER, N.P., ANDERSON, H.M. & DALLWITZ, MJ. ** H.G.WJ. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Depanment of Plant Science, 1990. Grasses ofsouthel11 Africa. ilfemoirs of/he Botanical SI/r- University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria. E-mail: [email protected]. \'e)"ofSoll/h Aji-ica o. 58. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria. MS. received: 2009-10-21.

£1ephanlorrhiza rangei was first described by Harms siderable change has taken place. The Naute Dam, one of 3 (1913) from a specimen, Range 455, collected in Janu- Namibia's largest dams with a capacity of 84 million m , ary 1908 at Naute in the Keetmanshoop District, south- was constructed in 1970-1972 to supply the arid southern ern Namibia. Paul Range (1879-1952) was a govern- areas of Namibia and specifically the town of Keetman- ment geologist by occupation but also an avid naturalist shoop with water. It is built in the Lowen River, a tribu- that travelled extensively throughout amibia. He docu- tary of the Fish River. Initially it seemed that the dam was mented his travels to amaland (1906-1914) in great located where the mysterious E. rangei OCCUlTedand that detail and recorded many noteworthy and lesser-known its total habitat had been destroyed with the building of facts of the plant life, climate and general ecology of the the dam, especially since the plant had not been recorded areas he visited. His observations were written up in a for the Namibian Tree Atlas Project (Curtis & Mannhe- series entitled 'Die Flora des Namalandes' in Feddes imer 2005). However, a single plant of an £1ephantor- Reperlorium from 1932 to 1938. His personal herbarium rhiza was located near the visitors' centre, close to the collections exceed 2 000, most of which were sent to dam wall. Since it was just at the start of the flowering Berlin (B), resulting in the description of many new spe- season, the small tree did not have any leaves on it. Inflo- cies (Gunn & Codd 1981). rescences, ready to undergo anthesis, were visible on all the branches. Some dried leaf material was collected from [n recent years, Elephantorrhiza rangei has been under the tree where it had fallen after senescence during known for certain from the type collection only. Speci- the winter months. The racemes, leaves and especially mens attributed to E. rangei by Phillips (1923) were the leaflets (Krige 451 in PRE and PRU) were studied to subsequently shown by Ross (1975) to be incorrectly determine if the plant could be the rediscovety of the elu- identified as E. elephantina (Burch.) Skeels. In the sive Elephantorrhiza rQngei. absence of any further collections besides that of Range, Ross (1975) hinted that E. rangei might be extinct and Comparative morphology confirms beyond doubt that he recommended a search at the type locality to evaluate this plant at the Naute Dam is con specific with Elephan- and determine its conservation status. Ross nevertheless lorrhiza sufJruticosa. The original distinction between E. noted a superficial resemblance between the type mate- rangei and E. sufJruticosa was based mainly on a char- rial of E. rangei and E. sufji-ulicosa Schinz, a spectes acter of the leaflets. In E. sufJrulicosa, the midrib of the from further north in Namibia and beyond. leaflet is usually described as marginal throughout. In E. rangei it is marginal becoming central towards the apex In 2005, the first author visited southern Namibia to (Ross 1974, I975)-which is also the case in the leaflets conduct a search for plants matching the description of of the plant at Naute. However, in E. sufji-uticosa, the Elephanlorrhiza rangei in the general area of Keetmans- midrib occasionally tends toward a central position and hoop, Seeheim and the Naute Recreation Resort. Since the leaflets from Naute clearly fall within the currently Range's travels in southelll Namibia a century ago, con- known range of variation in E. sufji-uticosa. In addition,