Inulanthera montana (Wood & Evans)

Magoswana, S. L., Boatwright, J. S., Manning, J. C. & Magee, A. R., 2016, A taxonomic revision of Inulanthera (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) *, South African Journal of Botany 105, pp. 141-157 : 151-152

5. Inulanthera montana (Wood & Evans) KällersjÖ in Nord. J. Bot. 5 (6): 539 (1986).

Athanasia montana Wood & Evans in Na t. Colon. Herb. Annual Rep. 10. (1900); Wood in J.Bot.171 (1901); Hilliard, Compositae in Natal: 338 (1977).

Type: South Africa, [KwaZulu-Natal], Drakensberg, source of Bushman's River, Jun. 1896, Evans 662 (NH, lecto. – image!, designated here; BOL!, K – image!, PRE – image! isolecto.).

Multi-stemmed shrub 0.30–1.0 m, resprouting from a woody caudex, stems simple or densely branched from near base, branches 2–6 mm diam., cobwebbed. Leaves sub-erect to spreading, lanceolate to obovate, 10–25 × 4–10 mm, base cuneate, margins sharply serrate, revolute, glabrous, coriaceous; axillary shoots developed in upper leaves. Capitula in dense compound corymbs 30–40 mm across, branches 5–20 mm long, inflorescence bracts linear to lanceolate, 2–10 × 3–5 mm. Involucre subglobose, 3–5 × 3–7 mm, glabrescent or glabrous; outer bracts ovate to elliptic, 2–3 × 1–2 mm, obtuse, margins serrulate. Receptacle paleate. Florets 40 to 50. Pappus formed by ribs extended apically into horns 0.1–0.3 mm long. Cypselas obovoid, 1.5–2.0 × 0.5–1.0 mm, prominently 8- to10-ribbed, scabrid. Fig. 10 .

Diagnostic characters

Inulanthera montana can be confused with I. leucoclada because of its serrated leaves, but is distinguished by the low branching habit and conspicuous axillary shoots ( Fig. 10A ) and the smaller capitula 3–7 mm long containing 40 to 50 florets (vs. 7–10 mm long containing 60 to 70 florets).

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Inulanthera montana is known mainly from central KwaZulu-Natal, where it occurs on rocky slopes in grassland at altitudes above 1700 m, with a single isolated early record from the Winterberg in Eastern Cape. Flowering is from May to July. ( Fig. 9 ).

Additional specimens examined

South Africa. KWA‐ ZULU NATAL: 2829 (Harrismith): Cathedral Peak (− CC), Schelpe 262 (NU), Esterhuysen 10,240 (BOL); Weenen Division, Cathedral Peak area, (− CC), Esterhuysen 15504 (BOL, NBG); 2929 (Underberg): Cathkin area, Drakensberg upper S slopes (− AB), Esterhuysen 7934 (BOL); Giant's Castle Game Reserve, Giant's Castle Pass (− AB), Wright 1010 (NU); slopes of Cathkin Peak (− AB), Edwards 2008 (NU), Meebold PRE 58477 (PRE); Bergville, Injasuti area, near Drakensberg (− AB), Esterhuysen 34966 (BOL); upper Loteni Valley, vicinity of Ash Cave (− AD), Hilliard and Burtt 18,089 (NU); source of Bushman's River, Drakensberg (− BA), Evans 662 (BOL); Highmoor Forest Reserve, ridge SE of Giant's Castle, Headwaters of Elandshoek River (− BC), Hilliard and Burtt 16235 (NU); Lion's Rover, Farm Allendale (− BC), Hilliard and Burtt 11264 (NU); Kamberg (− BD), Gibson s.n. (NU). EASTERN CAPE: 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Great Winterberg (− AC), Galpin 2660 (BOL).

Figures

Fig.10. Inulanthera montana, Gibson s.n.(NU).A.Flowering branch.B1 and B2.Leaf.C.Involucral bracts.D.Palae.E.Floret.F.Cypsela.G.Style.H.Anthers.Scales:A–B2:10 mm; C–H:1 mm. Artist:S.L.Magoswana.

Fig.9. Known distribution of Inulanthera leucoclada (circles),I.montana (stars) and I.nuda (triangles).