Nothovernonia purpurea (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) H.Rob. & V.A.Funk, 2011

Robinson, Harold & Funk, Vicki A., 2011, A new genus, Nothovernonia, from tropical Africa (Asteraceae or Compositae, Vernonieae), PhytoKeys 3, pp. 21-34 : 26

Nothovernonia purpurea (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) H.Rob. & V.A.Funk comb. nov.

Vernonia purpurea Sch.Bip. ex Walp., Rep. 2: 946 (1843). Type: Ethiopia, Schimper 1197 (holotype P).

Vernonia inulifolia Steud. ex Walp., Rep. 2:946 (1843). Type: Ethiopia, Sholoda, Schimper 221 (holotype P, isotypes BM, K).

Vernonia jaceoides A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 376 (1848). Type: Ethiopia, Chire, Dillon s.n. (holotype P).

Vernonia rigorata S. Moore, J. Bot. 41: 155 (1903). Type: Kenya, Simba, Kassner 724 (holotype BM).

Vernonia scabrida C.H, Wright, Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 1906: 21 (1906). Type: Malawi, Namasi, Cameron 41 (holotype K).

Vernonia duemmeri S. Moore, J. Bot. 52: 91 (1914). Type: Uganda, Dummer 35 (syntype BM, isosyntype K), Wilson 72 (syntype BM).

Vernonia pascuosa S. Moore, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 47: 263 (1925). Type: Angola, Uije, Gossweiler 7404 (holotype BM).

Vernonia keniensis R.E. Fr., Acta Hort. Berg. 9: 114 (1929). Type: Kenya, Fries and Fries 948 (holotype UPS; isotype K).

Centrapalus purpureus (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) H. Rob., Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 112(1): 236 (1999).

Linzia purpurea (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) Isawumi, Comp. Newsl. 46: 40 (2008).

Distribution.

The species is known from the Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, south to Angola and Malawi and west to southern Senegal.

Specimens examined.

Congo. Bafuka (ueli), 1929, Steyaert77(US). French Equatorial Africa. Dans la Haute-Kotto (Oubangu-Chari-A.E.F.), 100 km NW Labuya, 1921-1923, herb. G. le Testu 4127(BM, US). Malawi. s.l.,1891, Buchanan 143 (K, US). Machinga District: Liwonde Forest Reserve, in Brachystegia woodland on steep hillside, 15°07'S, 35°23'E, 3000 ft., 11 Apr 1984, Christenson and Solubeni 1454(US). Ntcheu District: Golomati Road, 4 km E of road to Dedza, 14°50'S, 35°25'E, 20 Apr 1984, Christenson, Patel and Lipende 1477 (US). Lilongwe District: Dzalanyana Forest Reserve, about 8 km from entrance gate, 14°15'S, 33°25'E, 3000 ft, 2 May 1984, Christenson and Lipende 1493(US). Senegal. Tambacounda, Dindéfello, à proximité du campement touristique, dans le vallée de la cascade, 12°22'N, 12°19'W, 200 m, 22 Sep 1994, Sambou et Madsen, Goudiaby, Traoré and Laegaard 319 (AAU, DAKAR, US). Uganda. s.l., s.d.,Dummer 84(US, isotype of Vernonia dummeri ). Upper Volta. Ifan, Solenso, 16 Sep 1974, Bognounou-Quattara 2(US). Zambia. Kitwe, 15 May 1967, DZF? F10,062(NDO, US).

Diagnostic characters.

Figure 3 illustrates the habit of Nothovernonia purpurea , note the large bracteoles at the base of the capitula. Figure 4 has the details of the capitula, note the stout hairs of the style branches ( Fig. 4D ) and the setulae of the achenes that have pairs of cells fused together beyond the basal 1/3 ( Fig. 4H ).

Nothovernonia purpurea has large, obvious foliiform bracteoles at the bases of the capitula, bracteoles that can often cover the involucre completely. In contrast, Nothovernonia amblyolepis has minute foliose bracts that are easily overlooked.

Figures

Figure 3. Images of Nothovernonia purpurea (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) H. Rob. and V. A. Funk A Habitat B Head before flowering with outer bracts tightly appressed C Fully flowering head showing well developed bracts D Head with only a few flowers but showing the well developed bracts. [Photographs by A. Thiombiano, M. Schmidt, and K. Schumann]

Figure 4. Nothovernonia purpurea (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) H. Rob. and V. A. Funk A head B involucral bract C floret with style branches D style branch with detail of sweeping hairs in square E longitudinal section of floret showing anthers F achene with pappus G achene H detail of achene setulae I examples of raphids from achene wall. [Illustration by Alice Tangerini (US)]