Occultia ledebourioides (Baker) Stedje & Rulkens, 2022

Stedje, Brita, Rulkens, Antonius J. H. & Hankey, Andrew J., 2022, Occultia (Scilloideae, Asparagaceae), a new genus from Malawi and Mozambique, Phytotaxa 575 (2), pp. 166-172 : 168-170

1. Occultia ledebourioides (Baker) Stedje & Rulkens comb. nov. ≡

Hyacinthus ledebourioides Baker in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 427 (1871), basionym.

Type: — MALAWI. Zomba and E end of Lake Chilwa (Shirwa), October 1861, Meller s.n. ( K!, lectotype designated here). Figs. 1 , 3A–C .

Bulbous herb 5‒8 cm high; bulb ovoid to subglobose with pale and papery outer scales, up to 3 cm high. Leaves 3–6 or more, often with a distinct pseudopetiole up to 3 cm long; lamina oblong to linear-oblong, green or sometimes with purple markings at base, glabrous, to 6 cm long, 3–10 mm wide. Peduncle erect to slightly curved, 3–6 cm long. Inflorescence usully 2‒4 cm long, relatively lax with up to 25 flowers; pedicels patent to erecto-patent, 2‒3 mm long in flower. Perianth cylindrical, white to pinkish, 3–4 mm long; tepals with slender dark keel united into a tube for 1/3 to half its length, free parts spreading. Stamens adnate to tepals and arising in 2 levels, at top of perianth tube, filaments very short. Ovary sessile, subglobose c. 1 mm long; style c. 1 mm long; stigma capitate. Capsule depressed globose, emarginate, c. 3 mm wide. Seeds mostly one per locule, globose, ca 1,5 mm in diameter.

Ecology:— On shallow soil on rocks / On rocky mountain soils, wet ground in Acacia or Combretum ‒Bauhinia woodland; between 100–900 m of elevation.

Conservation note:— Data Deficient, probably overlooked.

Distribution:— Southern Malawi and central Mozambique.

Examined specimens:— MALAWI. Central Region: Dedza Dist, Lifidizi Breeding Centre, 16 November1985, Patel & Kwatha 2885 (MAL!). Southern Region: Mangochi Dist, Nankumba Hills, 21 November 1954, Banda 59 (MAL!). Southern Region: Matope, A.J. Rix s.n. (K); Southern Region: Monkey Bay, two miles out on Mangochi Road, 17 December 1978, Blackmore 51 (MAL!). MOZAMBIQUE. Sofala Province: Caia Dist, Sena, November1859, Kirk s.n. (K!). Zambesiaca Province: Mocuba Distict, Monte Pozo, 16.478975 S 37.264767 E, 305 m of elevation, 26 December 2014, Rulkens 17A (O!, photo, O-V-2295940). Zambesiaca Province: Milange Dist, Monte Ithulo, 16.3257° S 35.9516° E, 538 m of elevation, 14 December 2015, Rulkens 103 (O!, photo, O-V-2295941). Zambesiaca Province: Mopeia Dist, Cua Cua Lodge, North of Zambezi River, 17.7951° S 35.4178° E, 44 m of elevation, 12 December 2015, Rulkens 106 (O!, photo, O-V-2295942).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Occultia ledebourioides (specimen Rulkens 17A).A:Entire plant; B: Flower, side view; C: Flower from above, D:Developing capsule. Scale bars 20 mm (A) and 2 mm (B–D).

FIGURE 3. A–B: Occultia ledebourioides (specimen Rulkens 17A). A: Entire plant in flower: B: Close up of flowers where one whorl of stamens can be seen in the mouth of the perianth tube, the other partly hidden in the perianth tube. C: O. ledebourioides, (specimen Rulkens 106), entire plant in fruit. D–F: O. fragrans, (specimen Rulkens 50). D: Entire plant in flower; e: Close up of flower; F: Leaf. All photos:A.J.H. Rulkens. Scale bars 20 mm (A, C and F) and 2 mm (B and E).