Ruschia knysnana (L.Bolus) L.Bolus

Klak, Cornelia, Hanáček, Pavel & Bruyns, Peter V., 2023, Six new species of Ruschieae (Aizoaceae) and further notes in Ruschia, South African Journal of Botany 156, pp. 144-161 : 157-159

1 Ruschia knysnana

(L.Bolus) L.Bolus was transferred to Esterhuysenia by van Jaarsveld, 2017 based on the “presence of apiculate leaves, the absence of valve wings and long awns at the end of expanding keels”. However, both its morphology and its distribution made the placement of R. knysnana in Esterhuysenia uncertain ( van Jaarsveld, 2017). Aberrant characteristics of R. knysnana from typical members of Ruschia are the 6- locular fruits (though the fruits are 5-locular in all other Esterhuysenia ) and the absence of closing bodies. Like E. aristata , E. joubertiniana and E. staminodiosa , the upper part of the placenta is slightly detached ( van Jaarsveld, 2017), but the filamentous staminodes do not curve over the centre of the flower in R. knysnana ( Fig. 17 ). A further important feature which the four species share are the way the leaves are attached to the branch. Notably, the leaves are not fused into a sheath, but are separated at their bases so that a triangle is formed between the pair of leaves and the branch ( Fig. 6 , Figs. 16 and 17 ). The importance of the leaves was recognized by Dehn (1992), who based his subgeneric classification of Ruschia primarily on morphology of the leaves and only then followed by inflorescence characters. In all species of Esterhuysenia the leaves are fused towards their bases, so that the old leaves typically remain on the plant once they have dried up. In addition, as in the case of R. aristata , R. knysnana occurs ( Fig. 7 ) considerably further to the east of the other species of Esterhuysenia , which are confined to the south-western Cape. We reinstate Esterhuysenia knysnana in Ruschia and place it in subg. Cymbifolia on account of its leaves, fruits and flowers ( Dehn, 1992).

Ruschia knysnana (L.Bolus) L.Bolus , Notes Mesembryanthemum 1: 146 (1928),

Mesembryanthemum knysnanum L.Bolus , Annals of the Bolus Herbarium 4: 97 (1927),

Esterhuysenia knysnana (L.Bolus) van Jaarsv. , Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Aizoaceae, ed. 2 1: 582 (2017).

Lectotype (selected here): Knysna (3423AA), Feb. 1924, Duthie 671 ( BOL, barcode: BOL134786 ) .

Ruschia knysnana (L.Bolus) L.Bolus var. angustifolia , Notes Mesembryanthemum 1: 146 (1928).

Lectotype (selected here): Humansdorp div., Uitvlugt (3324CD), 2000 ft .., Feb. 1924, Fourcade 2971 ( BOL, barcode: BOL134793 ) .

3.2.7. Additional collections investigated

South Africa. WESTERN CAPE: 3321 (Ladismith): Garcias Pass , Waterfall valley (-CC), 609 m a.s.l., 7 Dec. 1980, P.A. Bean 523 ( BOL) ; 3322 (Oudtshoorn): Kammanassie Mountains (-DB), 8 Aug 1983, P.A. Bean 1186 ( BOL) ; E of Montagu Pass on road to Uniondale , hill N of Eensaamheid (-DB), 16 Jul. 1980, P.A. Bean 382b ( BOL) ; 3423 (Knysna): Kafferskop Bosreservaat (-AB), 230 m a.s.l., 5 Jan. 2022, Klak 3041 ( BOL) ;

EASTERN CAPE: 3323 (Willowmore): Farm Tweefontein (-BB), 800 m a.s.l., 12 Dec. 2001, Bruyns 8955 ( BOL) ; Nuwekloof Pass (-BC), 3 Dec 2006, Klak 1424a ( BOL) ; 8 miles south-west of Uniondale (-CA), 3 Sep. 1951, Acocks 16028 ( BOL) ; Prince Alfred’ s Pass, 1 km north of Diep River Heights (-CC), 300 m a.s.l., 26 Jan. 2006, Klak 1174 ( BOL) ; De Vlugt (-CC), J.F.V. Phillips 1196 ( BOL) ; Buffels Nek (-CC), Fourcade 1262 ( BOL) ; Avontuur (-CC), 1 Apr. 1969, Liebenberg s.n. ( BOL) ; Near Kouga Peak and Smutsberg (-DB), 14 Nov. 1944, E. Esterhuysen 11031 ( BOL) ; 5 km north-east of Kransfontein (-DD), 410 m a.s.l., 7 Jan. 2008, Klak 1585 ( BOL) ; 3 km east of Joubertina - Onder Kouga (-DD), 500 m a.s.l., 25 Oct 2018, Bruyns 13540 ( BOL) ; 3324 (Steytlerville): Baviaanskloof , Geelhoutbos (-CA), 370 m a.s.l., 28 Jan. 2006, Klak 1183 ( BOL) ; 14 km east of Geelhootbos (-CB), 436 m a.s.l., 31 Jan. 2006, Klak 1196 ( BOL) ; Kouga hills (-CC), 12 Nov. 1941, E. Esterhuysen 6747 ( BOL) ; Rietvlei (-DC), 11 Nov. 1941, E. Esterhuysen 6744 ( BOL) ; 3325 (Port Elizabeth): Kirkwood area , Kabouga (-AD), 800 m a.s.l., 26 Aug. 2000, Bruyns 8408 ( BOL) ; Van Stadens Gorge (-CC), A. Grant sub NBG182/27 ( BOL) ; Godetia Drive (-DC), 103 m a.s.l., 8 Jan. 1922, Klak 3054 ( BOL) ; 3424 (Humansdorp): Witteelsbosch (-AA), Fourcade 2976 ( BOL) ; Between Clarkson and Palmiet Vlei (-AB), 228 m a.s.l., 1 Apr. 1924, Fourcade 2993 ( BOL) ; Kromme River (-BB), 1 Apr. 1924, Fourcade 2991 ( BOL) .

Figures

Fig. 17. Illustration of Ruschia knysnana. Artist: M.M.Page.

Fig. 6. Ruschia joubertiniana. A. Habit. B. Flower.C. Side view of closed (l) and top view of open fruit (r). D. Seeds.

Fig. 16. Illustration of Ruschia aristata. Artist:B. Carter.

Fig. 7. Distribution of species of Ruschia subg.Cymbifoliae. R.joubertiniana (triangle), R.knysnana (circle) and R.aristata (star).