Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verdc., Kew Bull. 12(2): 349 (1957)

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Nilova, Maya V., Erst, Andrey S., Kushunina, Maria, Baider, Claudia, Verloove, Filip, Salas-Pascual, Marcos, Belyaeva, Irina V., Krinitsina, Anastasiya A., Bruyns, Peter V. & Klak, Cornelia, 2018, Diagnostics, taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution of perennial Sesuvium (Aizoaceae) in Africa, PhytoKeys 92, pp. 45-88 : 71-73

Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verdc., Kew Bull. 12(2): 349 (1957) Fig. 18

Sesuvium sesuvioides ≡ Diplochonium sesuvioides Fenzl in Endl., Nov. Stirp. Dec.: 58 (1839).

Sesuvium sesuvioides Lectotype (Sukhorukov & al. 2017): [S Africa, in rupestribus ad Garipum fluvium lateris coloniae occidentalis, alt. 500 ft., without date] [on the rocks near Gariep [Orange] river close to the west of the colony] Drège 2938 (K000076286!; iso - LE!);

Sesuvium sesuvioides ≡ Halimus sesuvioides (Fenzl) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 263 (1891) as " Halimum sesuvioides ".

Description.

The differences between S. sesuvioides and related annual African taxa were provided in Sukhorukov et al. (2017). Here, it is noted that S. sesuvioides is a facultatively perennial herb and, for that reason, it is also included in the list of perennial species (as in Bohley et al. 2017).

General distribution

. The distribution of S. sesuvioides was mapped in Sukhorukov et al. (2017), but the presence of this species was erroneously indicated in the eastern part of South Africa, due to a misapplication of the name “Kleinfontein”. The record from Kleinfontein (24 Oct 1922, Dinter 4151, BM!) indeed belongs to the small village located south of Maltahöhe (Hardap Region, Namibia) and not to the village in Gauteng province (South Africa) mentioned by Sukhorukov et al. (2017). The authors came to this conclusion after tracing the journeys of Kurt Moritz Dinter, who only visited Namibia (it was known at the time as "South-West Africa": Glen and Germishuizen 2010). Likewise, the lectotype specimen was not collected at Garpia river near Swellendam, Western Cape (as indicated in Sukhorukov et al. (2017)), but on the banks of the Orange River (or Gariep River, spelled by Drège as “Garip”), where S. sesuvioides is frequently found. Therefore the records of S. sesuvioides from Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces ( Sukhorukov et al. 2017) are erroneous. In South Africa, the distribution pattern of S. sesuvioides is restricted to the Richtersveld and the lower Orange River valley (Northern Cape province). Records in Namibia and Angola are from the Namib desert ( Sukhorukov et al. 2017, see also Fig. 19 ).

Sesuvium sesuvioides has a large geographical distribution with an estimated EOO of 501,893 km2, but its AOO is only 60 km2 (which would place it in EN). Many localities, especially in Namibia, are in desert areas and are presumably under little threat. Some populations collected in the past are likely to be in protected areas today. However, the current size of the populations is unknown. Therefore, the species should be considered as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List Criteria ( IUCN 2017).

Figures

Figure 18. General view of Sesuvium sesuvioides plants at Rio dos Flamingos, Angola. Photographs by C. Klak and P. V. Bruyns (December 2016).

Figure 19. Distribution map of Sesuvium sesuvioides.