Drosanthemopsis diversifolia (L.Bolus) Klak, 2018

Klak, C., Hanáček, P. & Bruyns, P. V., 2018, A recircumscription of Jacobsenia (Aizoaceae): Re-instating Drosanthemopsis, with two new quartz-endemics from Namaqualand, South Africa and sinking Knersia *, South African Journal of Botany 116 (10), pp. 67-81 : 77-78

1. Drosanthemopsis diversifolia (L.Bolus) Klak , comb. nov.,

Drosanthemum diversifolium L.Bolus , Notes Mesembrianthemum 2: 10 (1928). Knersia diversifolia (L.Bolus) H.E.K.Hartmann & Liede, Bradleya 31: 126 (2013).

Type: South Africa. Western Cape, Vanrhynsdorp (3118DA), without date, Ross Frames sub NBG 205/ 28 ( BOL, holo.!) .

Drosanthemum subalbum L.Bolus , Notes Mesembrianthemum 2: 248 (1931).

Type: South Africa. Western Cape, Vanrhynsdorp (3118DA), Sept. 1930, Luckhoff sub BOL19374 ( BOL!, lecto.!, designated by Hartmann and Liede-Schumann, 2013) .

Erect woody shrublet 7–15 cm high, 20–30 cm diam., young internodes covered with low, ovate papillae, as white dots on reddishbrown bark when dry, turning smooth and black with age, long internodes and very short ones present. Leaves basally free, dirty green, often suffused reddish, ascending, trigonous to cymbiform, 8–19(−25) mm long, 4–8 mm diam.; epidermis with large, ± circular bladder cells with flat top, with many short protrusions, longer protrusions especially along the margin. Flowers 25–35(−40) mm diam., pedicels 10–20 mm long; sepals 6, outer ones roundish and bigger than the inner four lobes; petals white to deep pink; filaments white to deep pink. Fruit 5–7 mm diam., locules 6, expanding keels diverging distally, closing bodies firm, valve wings broad. Seeds with a translucent testa, perisperm white, the area of the embryo purplish-black with white dots, 0.75 × 0.45 mm.

Ecology and distribution: The species prefers deep loamy soils, with or without a thin cover of quartz gravel, in areas with winter rain, mean annual precipitation <125 mm. Flowering between July and September. The species is common in the Vanrhynsdorp and Vredendal districts and extends also to the north-east to the Calvinia district, where it is much rarer. Its most southern location is at the Doorn River Bridge, north of Clanwilliam ( Fig. 6 ).

Diagnostic characters: Drosanthemopsis diversifolia is the only species in the genus where the leaves are free at their bases: in the other three species the leaves are fused basally into a sheath.

Conservation status: The species is common and we therefore consider that it is not threatened.

Additional specimens examined:

South Africa. NORTHERN CAPE: 3019 (Louriesfontein): Louriesfontein , Farm Platklip (-CC), Klak 1297 (BOL) . WESTERN CAPE: 3117 (Lepelfontein): Brandsebaai District , Soutpan (-BB), Klak 883 (BOL) ; NE of Brandsebaai, Kerskloof (-CC), Klak 2320 (BOL) ; 7 km south of Brandsebaai (-BD), Klak 873 (BOL) . 3118 (Vanrhynsdorp): NW of Komkans farm house (−AA), Klak 2292 (BOL) ; near Nieuwerust (-AB), O. le Roux sub BOL19646 (BOL) ; South of Hoogstaan (− AD), Klak 929 (BOL) ; Vanrhynsdorp (-BB), Esterhuysen 7762 (BOL) ; Between Van Rhynsdorp and Bitterfontein (-BC), Acocks 14,757; 14,786 (BOL) ; Gypsum Mine area (-BC), Bean 1284 (BOL) ; Rooiberg (-BC), Bean & Viviers 1683 (BOL) ; Farm Quagga's Kop (-BC), Gerbaulet & Struck 24,718; Hilton-Taylor 1528 (BOL) ; 10 miles north of Vanrhynsdorp (-BC), Littlewood sub KG277/60 (BOL) ; 2 miles beyond Zout River Bridge (-BC) ; JW Mathews s.n. (BOL) ; At Salt River Bridge, 10 miles N of Vanrhynsdorp (-BC) ; Salter 3843 (BOL) ; Beeswater road off N7 (-BC), Cowell , Van Slageren & Stoll 3866 (NBG) ; Wolwenes (-BC) ; Desmet & Ellis 1127 (NBG) ; Koekenaap, coast between Olifants River and Brand se Baai (-CA), Desmet 3542 ; (NBG) ; 20 miles west of Vanrhynsdorp (-CB), JD Luckhoff s.n. (BOL) ; Koekenaap (-CB), without collector sub SUG14065 (BOL) ; Holriver, Vredendal (-CB), MJ Thompson 46 (NBG) ; Vredendal, Strandfontein (-CB), H Hall 2875 (BOL) ; Near Vanrhynsdorp (− DA), L. Bolus s.n. ; Pillans 6059 ; J Luckhoff s.n. ; PR Frames s.n. (BOL) ; 1 mile south of Vanrhynsdorp (− DA), Salter 3858 (BOL) ; Approximately 8 miles from Klawer near Doorn River Bridge (-DC), L Bolus sub BOL24217 (BOL) ; Doorn River Bridge (-DC), H Hall sub BOL26084 ; Klak 1818 (BOL) ; 10 km south of Klawer (-DC), Burgoyne 6500 (NBG) . 3119 (Calvinia): Louriesfontein , farm Klompboom (− AA), Klak 1743 (BOL) . 3218 (Clanwilliam): Between Nardouw and Pakhuis (-BB), Salter sub BOL23689 (BOL).

Figures

Fig. 6. Distribution of Drosanthemopsis and Knersia, with phytochoria indicated (Knersvlakte,Riethuis-Wallekraal, Southern Richtersveld).