South African Journal of Botany 88 (2013) 219–222

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South African Journal of Botany

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Short communication argentea and A. gyrosa (), two new species from the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa

R.F. Powell a,A.R.Mageea,b,⁎ a Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa b Department of Botany and Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa article info abstract

Article history: Two new species of Athanasia (Asteraceae) from the Swartruggens Mountains in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) Received 27 May 2013 of South Africa are described. Athanasia argentea is distinguished by the closely imbricate leaf arrangement, the Received in revised form 8 July 2013 canescent, curved to geniculate leaves and solitary capitula; and Athanasia gyrosa, by the closely imbricate, spiral Accepted 17 July 2013 leaf arrangement, capitula not apically constricted, and relatively large cypselas with ribs extending into apical Available online 29 August 2013 horns. Edited by JC Manning © 2013 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Athanasiinae Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos

1. Introduction Goldblatt, 2012). The predominant vegetation is arid mountain fynbos, specifically Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos (Mucina and Rutherford Athanasia L. (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) is a of discoid shrubs 2006). The number of endemic species in the flora has been substantial- endemic to southern Africa and centred in the Cape Floristic Region. It is ly increased as a result of the Jardines' extensive documentation placed within the early diverging, southern African centred subtribe of this under collected area. Recent discoveries include Berkheya Athanasiinae of the large tribe Anthemideae (Himmelreich et al., 2008; jardineana J.C.Manning & Goldblatt (Asteraceae) (Manning and Oberprieler et al., 2009). The most recent revision of the genus Goldblatt, 2012), Ficinia jardine Muasya & Helme (Cyperaceae) (Källersjö, 1991) recognised 39 species, of which eight were new at (Muasya et al., 2012), Hesperantha lithicola Goldblatt & J.C.Manning the time. Athanasia is most closely related to the Cape endemic (Iridaceae) (Goldblatt and Manning, 2007), Mesembryanthemum Cass., with which it shares stellate hairs on the stems, knolfonteinense Klak (Aizoaceae) (Klak, 2010)andTrieenea occculta leaves and peduncles, discoid capitula with distinctly nerved, funnel- J.C.Manning & Goldblatt (Scrophulariaceae) (Manning and Goldblatt, shaped corollas, secretary cavities in the style branches, and cypsela 2010). ribs with longitudinal secretory ducts (Källersjö, 1986). Athanasia is distinguished by the long-stalked, biseriate glands on the corolla tube 2. Additions to existing key to the species (Källersjö, 1991; pg 18) (often aggregated at the corolla base to form a pseudopappus), the absence of a pappus, and anatomically by a continuous ring of scleren- 2.1. Athanasia argentea chyma in the cypsela pericarp (Källersjö, 1986). We describe two new species brought to our attention by Dr. Ivor 53a. Leaves incurved to geniculate; densely canescent ……… Jardine as a result of his comprehensive survey of the farm Knolfontein ………………………………………………………………A. argentea in the Swartruggens Mountains, which forms the south eastern 53a. Leaves flat to apically reflexed …………………………………… 54 extension of the Cederberg. The Swartruggens area is particularly rich in Asteraceae, which comprise about 22% of the flora (Jardine and 2.2. Athanasia gyrosa Jardine, 2010), double the CFR average for the family (Manning and 66. Leave imbricated, more or less appressed, very short, up to 4 mm long, entire or apically minutely 3-lobed: ⁎ Corresponding author at: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton 66a. Leaves loosely spaced, regularly alternating, leathery; Herbarium, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa. Tel.: +27 21 799 b 8881; fax: +27 21 761 4151. capitula apically constricted; cypselas 2mm,withapical E-mail address: [email protected] (A.R. Magee). teeth...... A. microphylla

0254-6299/$ – see front matter © 2013 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2013.07.020 220 R.F. Powell, A.R. Magee / South African Journal of Botany 88 (2013) 219–222

66b. Leaves closely imbricate with distinctly spiral phyllotaxis, is distinguished by its foliage. The small, terete leaves (Fig. 1C), rigid; capitula not apically constricted; cypselas N2mm, 0.5–2.2 mm long, are closely imbricate and incurved to geniculate with apical horns...... A. gyrosa (Fig. 1A,B), in contrast to A. pachycephala, which has flat to slightly keeled leaves, regularly alternating and erect to appressed against 3. Species treatment the branches. A. argentea differs further from A. pachycephala subsp. pachycephala in its smaller, cyathiform involucre (Fig. 1D) with 3.1. Athanasia argentea R.Powell & Magee, sp. nov. Type: South Africa. fewer (25 to 45) florets versus larger and hemispherical with more Western Cape, Wuppertal (3219): Swartruggens, Knolfontein, 60 km florets (70 to 170) in A. pachycephala subsp. pachycephala,andfrom NE of Ceres (-CA), 14 Dec 2011, Jardine 1767 (NBG,holo.;BOL,PRE,iso.) A. pachycephala subsp. eriopoda (DC.) Källersjö by the presence of resin sacs in the corolla lobes (Fig. 1H). Erect shrub to ca. 0.6 m. Branches ascending to erect, sympodial, densely hairy. Leaves alternate, closely imbricate, ascending, incurved to 3.1.2. Etymology geniculate, narrowly oblong, 3.0–5.0×1.0mm,simple,acute,margins The species epithet refers to the distinct canescent indumentum. entire; both surfaces densely canescent. Capitula discoid, homogamous, solitary, terminal; peduncles short, slender, 2.0–4.0 mm long. Involucre: 3.1.3. Distribution and ecology cyathiform, 4.0–9.0 × 3.0–6.0 mm; bracts 4-seriate, margins ciliate, Athanasia argentea is known from only one collection on the farm median bracts glabrescent, yellowish brown, apically-dorsally fleshy Knolfontein in the Swartruggens (Fig. 3). It was collected on rocky with resin sacs; outer bracts narrowly ovate, 3.0–3.5 mm long, obtuse; gentle slopes, in full sun and at ca. 1240 m and flowers in December. median bracts ovate, 3.5–4.0 mm long, obtuse; inner bracts lanceolate, 4.0–4.5 mm long, acute. Receptacle flat, paleate; paleae lanceolate, 3.2. Athanasia gyrosa R.Powell & Magee, sp. nov. Type: South Africa. serrate, acute, becoming shorter centrifugally. Florets: ca. 25 to 45; Western Cape, Wuppertal (3219): Swartruggens, Knolfontein, 60 km corolla 1.5–2.5 mm long, yellow; tube ± length of limb, glandular with NE of Ceres (-CA), 21 Jan 2013, Jardine1994 (NBG, holo.; BOL, PRE, iso.) long-stalked glands aggregated at base; limb funnel shaped, 5-lobed; lobes triangular, spreading, with apical resin sacs. Anthers 3.5–4.0 mm Erect shrub 0.4–1m.Branches ascending to erect, sympodial, sparsely long, including apical appendages, ecaudate; apical appendages narrowly pubescent. Leaves alternate, spirally arranged, closely imbricate, ascend- ovate, acute, with resin sacs; endothecial tissue partly polarised. ing, suberect or slightly incurved, ovate to oblong, 2.0–4.0 ×2.0 mm, sim- Style branches truncate, papillate apically-dorsally. Cypselas unknown. ple; rigid, acute; margins entire; both surfaces sparsely hispid, hairs Fig. 1. conspicuous on young leaves, green, older leaves brownish-yellow. Capitula discoid, homogamous, in simple corymbs of 2 to 5 capitula; 3.1.1. Diagnosis peduncles short, slender, 2.0–4.0 mm. Involucre: campanulate, Athanasia argentea shares solitary capitula with 10 other species in 4.0–5.0 × 3.0–5.0 mm, erect to spreading at rim; bracts 4-seriate, the genus. The low habit and densely canescent indumentum (variable margins ciliate, median bracts glabrescent, pale yellowish brown, in A. pachycephala)ofA. argentea is shared with A. pachycephala DC. but apically-dorsally fleshy with resin sacs; outer bracts narrowly ovate,

Fig. 1. Athanasia argentea. (A) flowering branch; (B) leaf arrangement; (C) leaf; (D) capitula; (E) outer involucral bract; (F) median involucral bract; (G) inner involucral bract; (H) floret; (I); anther. Voucher: Jardine 1767, NBG. Scale: A = 10 mm; B-I = 1 mm. Artist: R.F. Powell. R.F. Powell, A.R. Magee / South African Journal of Botany 88 (2013) 219–222 221

Fig. 2. Athanasia gyrosa. (A) flowering branch; (B) leaf arrangement; (C) leaf; (D) floret; (E) outer involucral bract; (F, G) median involucral bract; (H) inner involucral bract; (I) floret; (J) anther; (K) cypsela. Voucher Jardine 1994, NBG. Scale: A = 10 mm; B–L = 1 mm. Artist R.F. Powell.

3.0–3.5 mm long, acute; median bracts narrowly ovate, 4.0–5.5 mm with ribs extending into apical horns (Fig. 2K). The leaves in of A. long, acute; inner bracts narrowly ovate, 6.5–7.0 mm long, acute. microphylla are loosely spaced and regularly alternating and leathery in Receptacle flat, paleate, paleae lanceolate, acute, apically serrate, becom- texture, the capitula are prominently constricted near the apex, and the ing shorter centrifugally. Florets: ca. 35 to 50, corolla 3.0–4.0 mm long, cypselas are smaller, 1.5 mm long, with the ribs extending into small yellow; tube narrow, ± half length of limb, glandular with long-stalked teeth. Athanasia gyrosa couldbeconfusedwithA. quinquedentata glands aggregated at base; limb funnel shaped, 5-lobed; lobes Thunb. but is distinguished by the entire, pubescent leaves (Fig. 2C, 3- triangular, spreading, without apical resin sacs. Anthers 3.5–4.0 mm to 5-toothed and glabrous to very sparsely hairy in A. quinquedentata), long, including apical appendages, ecaudate; apical appendages ovate, the absence of resin sacs in corolla lobes (Fig. 2D, present in A. acute, with resin sacs; endothecial tissue partly polarised. Style branches quinquedentata) and the ribbed cypsela (marginally winged in A. truncate, papillate apically-dorsally. Cypselas oblong,ca.2.5×0.5mm, quinquedentata). 10-ribbed, ribs extending apically into horns. Fig. 2 3.2.2. Etymology 3.2.1. Diagnosis This species epithet refers to the distinctly spiralled leaf Athanasia gyrosa shares a solitary capitula with 10 species in the arrangement. genus. The low habit, ascending to erect branches with ovate to ob- long leaves (Fig. 2B), absence of resin sacs in the corolla lobes 3.2.3. Distribution and ecology (Fig. 2D) and 10-ribbed cypselas (Fig. 2K) of A. gyrosa are shared Athanasia gyrosa is known only from the farm Knolfontein in the with A. microphylla DC. It is distinguished by the rigid, closely imbricate Swartruggens (Fig. 3). This species prefers full sun, on gentle, rocky leaves with distinctly spiral phyllotaxis (Fig. 2B), capitula that are not slopes and occurs at an altitude of ca. 1200–1300 m, and flowers from apically constricted (Fig. 2D) and the larger cypselas, ca. 2.5 mm long, December to February. 222 R.F. Powell, A.R. Magee / South African Journal of Botany 88 (2013) 219–222

3.2.4. Additional specimens examined South Africa. Western Cape Province. 3219 (Wuppertal): Knolfontein, Swartruggens, 60 km NE of Ceres (-DC), Jardine 296, 306, 1054, 1997 (NBG).

Acknowledgements

This work is based upon research supported by the National Research Foundation and Department of Science and Technology under the SABI Programme.

References

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