Dicerothamnus adpressus (Harv.) Koekemoer, 2019

Koekemoer, Marinda, 2019, Taxonomy and reclassification of South African Asteraceae genus Elytropappus (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae), the description of two new genera and two new species, Phytotaxa 403 (4), pp. 248-284 : 255-257

Dicerothamnus adpressus (Harv.) Koekemoer comb. nov.

Basionym:— Elytropappus adpressus Harvey (1865: 274) .

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Cape Province. Unknown collector s.n. (S-G-11015 image!). This specimen have been verified by B. Nordenstam as the holotype for Elytropappus adpressus as it has handwritten notes in Harvey’s hand on the sheet. A label written by Nordenstam in 2002 is affixed to the sheet.

Taxonomic note:— It is important to note that E. adpressus Harv. is not the same as Seriphium adpressum Candolle (1838: 263) . Harvey (1865) described E. adpressus in Fl ora Capensis, although he was unsure about the genus, as well as its relationship. He neither gave a Latin diagnosis, nor cited a specific specimen, apart from stating that it was from the Sonder herbarium and that he used it for his description. He was also not convinced that E. adpressus was distinct from Seriphium adpressum DC. Closer investigation of Seriphium adpressum DC. shows clearly that the name is based on an immature specimen of Elytropappus rhinocerotis , a view supported by Levyns (1935a). She also stated that it did not match her concept of Elytropappus adpressus .

A low, erect shrub up to 0.45 m tall, with rigid, whip-like branches and a yellow-green colour; leaves, branches and outer involucre woolly-hairy when young. Brachyblasts short, developing below the terminal inflorescence. Leaves generally lanceolate, narrow, ericoid, closely adpressed to the branches, sparse or dense, but rarely overlapping, 2.0–2.5(–5.0) × 0.5 mm, very densely glandular underneath a woolly-hairy overlayer, glands on very short stalks, almost sessile; hairs becoming drenched in glandular exudate and appearing shiny and smooth with age. Capitula homogamous, discoid, 3-(or 4-)flowered, solitary in the last 1–20 terminal leaf axils on flowering shoots, often arranged in a spike-like manner; occasionally compound inflorescences are found with capitula on brachyblasts below terminal inflorescences. Receptacle small, conical and stalk-like. Involucral bracts ± 15, glandular on adaxial side; outer bracts ± 10, foliaceous, 1.0–3.5 × up to 0.5 mm; innermost bracts ± 5 in a single row, hyaline, papery, up to 5 × up to 1 mm, tips acute. Disc florets up to 4 mm long, lower half tough and cells distinctly thickened, lobes remaining straight during anthesis. Cypselas asymmetrical, smooth on outer side, with 4 ribs on inner side, outer coat tough and often pinkish; inner coat a soft, thin brown layer. Pappus of 14–18 setae, fused in the lower fifth, plumose almost from the base, plumes of even lengths, ascending, tufted at the tips. Flowering mainly from February to May, occasionally in June to September.

Diagnostic features: —Erect shrub with whip-like branches; leaves and branches with a yellowish sheen; leaves linear, at least 5 times longer than wide; involucre tips acute.

Conservation status: —Least Concern (http://Redlist.sanbi.org).

Distribution and habitat: —Western and Eastern Cape as far north as Clanwilliam and east to Joubertina. Rocky soils in Mountain Rhenosterveld areas. Elevations 500–1 700 m. Figure 6 .

Vernacular name:— Wyfierenosterbos, Lady renoster bush.

Specimens examined: — SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape. Sand River Mts., May 1907, Marloth 4492 (PRE); Sine loc., Marloth A320 (NBG); Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres, Skoongesig (3119), 8 April 1967, Hanekom 877 (PRE); Clanwilliam, Algeria on rd. to Cederberg (3219AA), 22 March 1996, Koekemoer 1235 (PRE); Cederberg, Pakhuisberge, Clanwilliam on rd. to Pakhuis (3219AA), 25 August 1995, Rodriguez-Oubina 2091 (PRE); Welbedacht Gorge (3219AC), February 2004, Bergh 1175a-1 (NBG); Clanwilliam, Driehoek, (3219AC), 14 February 1936, Compton 6159 (NBG); Clanwilliam Div., Cederberg Mt., S of Tafelberg (3219AC), 24 June 1942, Esterhuysen 7879 (BOL); Clanwilliam, Cederberg, between Algeria and Cederberg (3219AC), 8 March 1991, Koekemoer 600 (PRE); Clanwilliam, S Cederberg (3219AC), April 1947, Stokoe SAM63093 (SAM); Welbedacht (3219AC), 17 April 1986, Taylor 11513 (NBG, PRE); Cederberg, between Kalkoenfontein and Perdekloof flats (3219AC), 9 February 1978, Thompson 3661 (K, NBG, PRE); Elandskloof, Cold Bokkeveld (3219CA), April 1935, Levyns 4903 (BOL, PRE); Elandskloof, Cold Bokkeveld (3219CA), 21 April 1935, Levyns 4926 (BOL); Clanwilliam, farm Kromrivier, above Kromrivier Pass (3219CB), 9 March 1991, Koekemoer 605 (PRE); Wuppertal, Gideonskop (3219CB), 22 April 1957, Stokoe s.n. (NBG); Ceres Div., Schurweberg, Cold Bokkeveld (3219CD), 19 April 1946, Esterhuysen 12661 (BOL); Clanwilliam,Tafelberg,Cederberg (3219CD), 3May 1953, Esterhuysen21368 (BOL, PRE); Knolfontein,Swartruggens, NE of Ceres (3219DC), 2 March 2007, Jardine 669 (NBG) and 14 May 2008, Jardine 876 (NBG); Houdenbek, Cold Bokkeveld (3318DC), May 1928, Levyns 4228 (BOL); Stellenbosch, near Van der Stel railway station (3318DD), March 1931, Smith 6033 (PRE); Ceres, Visgat, between Schurfteberg and Gt. Winterhoek (3319AA), October 1953, Stokoe SAM63950 (SAM); Worcester, Rocklands Farm, N of Ceres (3319AB), 10 March 1981, Hugo 2513 (NBG, PRE); Hex River Mts., Waboomberg on rd. to tracking station (3319AD), 5 September 1996, Bayer s.n. (NBG); Ceres, Kareekloof Private Nature Reserve, Kleinfontein farm, Ossenkloof (3319BA), 17 July 2003, Murray 123 (NBG); Worcester Dist., Hex River Valley (3319BC), 1875–1880, Rehman 2813 (K); Jonaskop(3319CD), 17April 1975, Bayliss 1401 (K, PRE); Brandvlei, S of gevangenis Bacchus substasie (3319CD), 12 March 1985, Van der Kooy 1112 (NBG, PRE); Keeromsberg (3319DA), 18 May 1944, Esterhuysen 10151 (BOL); Karadouws Mts., above Orchard, Hex River Valley (3319DA), 26 July 1944, Esterhuysen 10330 (BOL, NBG, PRE); Farm Jonas Plaats, S of Worcester (3319DC), April 1920, Andreae 320 (NBG); Matjiesfontein, Witteberg Mt. (3320BA), 8 August 1933, Humbert 9818 (PRE); Matjiesfontein (3320BA), June 1906, Marloth 4347 (PRE); Laingsburg, Witteberg (3320BC), 11 May 1941, Compton 10800 (NBG); 22 May 1926, Compton 2983 (BOL, K); 28 September 1926, Compton 3079 (BOL); Pypsteelfontein, Waboomsberge, N of Koo Valley, Montagu (3320CA), 3 March 1986, Moffett & Steensma 4092 (NBG, PRE); Ceres, Zandfontein (3320DA), 6 April 1947, Compton 19445 (NBG); Sandfontein, S Cederberg (3320DA), 5 April 1947, Esterhuysen 13869 (BOL); Swellendam, S slopes of Anysberg (3320DA), 22 May 1950, Esterhuysen 17083 (BOL, NBG, SAM); Touwsberg, Little Karroo (3320DB), 12 July 1937, Levyns 6116 (BOL); W by S of Barrydale (3320DC), 9 March 1959, Acocks 20338 (K, PRE); Elandskloof between Vleiland and Seweweekspoort (3321AD), 20 February 1986, Moffett & Steensma 3830 (K, NBG, PRE); 21 February 1986, Moffett & Steensma 3890 (NBG, PRE); Ladismith, Rooiberg, above North Gate on rd. to Baily Peak (3321CB), 23 April 1977, Taylor 9663 (NBG, PRE); Langeberg, above Herbertsdale (3321CC/CD), 12 May 1915, Muir 2063 (PRE); Laingsburg, Rietvleikloof (3321CD), 23 March 1940, Compton 8644 (NBG); Riversdale, W side of Langeberg, 600 m (3321CD), 4 April 1959, Lewis 5390 (NBG); Swartberg Pass (3322AC), 1 May 1974, Goldblatt 1720 (PRE); Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass (3322AC), April 1972, Reynecke & Students 149 (PRE); Oudtshoorn (3322CC), April 1979, Bond 1742a (NBG); Outeniqua Mts., rd. from Robinsons Pass to Sebrafontein (3322CC), 5 April 1979, Campbell 13452 (NBG); Oudtshoorn, Moeras River, Witberg (3322CC), 19 March 1976, Hugo 128 (NBG, PRE); Oudtshoorn, Waboomskraal, along National rd. (3322CD), 7 March 1967, Lange 27 (PRE); Paardepoort, George (3322CD), 26 July 1956, Levyns 10526 (BOL); Klipdrift in Karroo Magna (3322CD), 7 March 1893, Schlechter 2283 (BOL, G, K, P, PRE, S, SAM); Near Herold on Paardeberg on track to radiomast (3322DC), 4 March 2003, Koekemoer 2636 (PRE); Eselsjacht Poort, George (3322DC), 31 July 1956, Levyns 10554 (BOL); Haarlem (3323CB), April 1930, Thode A2445 (PRE); Mts. of Baviaanskloof near Genadendal (3419BA), 27 February 1815, Burchell 7815 (K); Genadendal (3419BA), March 1935, Levyns 4856 (BOL); Potberg, W of residence (3420BC), 17 September 1980, Burgers 2549 (NBG); Potberg (3420CA), April 1947, Levyns 8184 (BOL); Riversdale, Koerente River rd. NW of Riversdale (3421AA), 13 March 1978, Thompson 3683 (PRE); Albertinia to Riversdale (3421AB), 2 April 1996, Koekemoer 1286 (PRE); N2 between Albertinia and Riversdale, Resiesbaan Siding (3421AB), 4 March 1991, Koekemoer 567 (PRE); Eastern Cape. Willowmore, Baviaanskloof, Bergsigkloof (3323DB), 19 May 1983, Van Jaarsveld 7584 (NBG); Long Kloof, N of Ganz Kraal (3323DC), April 1928, Fourcade 3821 (NBG); Keurbooms River, Long Kloof below drift (3324AB), April 1928, Fourcade 3816 (K, NBG); Long Kloof, N of Ganz Kraal (3324AB), April 1928, Fourcade 3827 (BOL, NBG, PRE).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Known distribution of Dicerothamnus adpressus in South Africa.