Systematic Botany (2017), 42(4): pp. 943–963 © Copyright 2017 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists DOI 10.1600/036364417X696429 Date of publication December 27, 2017 A Taxonomic Revision of Schlechteranthus subgenus Microphyllus (Ruschieae; Aizoaceae) Robyn Faye Powell,1,2,5 Cornelia Klak,3 James Stephen Boatwright,1 and Anthony Richard Magee2,4 1Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Cape Town, South Africa 2Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa 3Bolus Herbarium, Department of Biological Sciences, HW Pearson Building, University of Cape Town, Rhodes Gift, Rondebosch, 7707, Cape Town, South Africa 4Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa 5Author for correspondence (
[email protected]) Communicating Editor: Susana Freire Abstract—Schlechteranthus subgenus Microphyllus is a recently erected subgenus, which is revised here for the first time. The subgenus is comprised of nine succulent species, including a new species S. parvus, and is endemic to the arid part of the Greater Cape Floristic Region. Schlechteranthus subgenus Microphyllus can be distinguished from subgenus Schlechteranthus by the smaller leaves (3.5–5.0 3 4–6 mm vs. 5–30 3 3.5–9.0 mm) and smaller capsules (2–6 3 2–6 mm vs. 6–11 3 4–9 mm), with seven to nine locules and small closing bodies that block one third of the locule (vs. 10 to 12 locules and closing bodies that block three quarters of the locule).