Doellia cafra (De Candolle, 1836) Anderberg, 1995

Bester, Stoffel P., Herman, Paul P. J. & Klopper, Ronell R., 2012, National Herbarium Plant Collecting Programme reveals new country and provincial distribution records from South African National Parks (Apocynaceae, Asteraceae & Xanthorrhoeaceae: Asphodeloideae), Phytotaxa 62 (1), pp. 44-56 : 50-52

Doellia cafra versus Pulicaria scabra , and range extension records for Doellia cafra

In September 2010, a specimen of Doellia cafra ( De Candolle 1836: 38) Anderberg (1995: 21) was collected along the Orange River in the Augrabies Falls National Park (Bester 10188)—totally out of its then known distribution range as it was not previously recorded from the Northern Cape ( Herman et al. 2003).

Doellia cafra looks superficially very similar to Pulicaria scabra ( Thunberg 1800: 153) Druce (1917: 642) , which is known to occur in the Northern Cape ( Herman et al. 2003). As it is possible that specimens could have been wrongly identified, all the Doellia cafra and Pulicaria scabra specimens housed in PRE were carefully studied and identified using Hilliard (1977). A number of mis-identifications were corrected: Acocks 2561 was collected in the Hay Division along a tributary to the Orange River. This specimen was also misidentified as P. scabra and re-identified as D. cafra , but because of the mis-identification, the distribution of this taxon in the Northern Cape was never realized until now. While preparing distribution maps for this article, two other overlooked localities for D. cafra in the Northern Cape (Potjiespram and near Pella) were discovered [Pearson 3836 (NBG), Williamson & Williamson 5876 (NBG)].

The genus Doellia was attributed to the tribe Plucheeae ( Anderberg 1994, 1995) but further research proved that the tribe Plucheeae should be included in the tribe Inuleae ( Anderberg & Eldenäs 2007, Anderberg 2009). The genus Pulicaria Gaertn. also belongs to the tribe Inuleae ( Anderberg 1994, Anderberg & Eldenäs 2007, Anderberg 2009). In southern Africa both of these genera are represented by only one species: Doellia cafra (DC.) Anderb. [= Blumea cafra (DC.) O. Hoffmann (1889: 274) ] and Pulicaria scabra (Thunb.) Druce ( Herman et al. 2000, 2003). Both of these species grow in moist habitats along watercourses, edges of dams, etc. Vegetatively they look very similar and both are aromatic. In the fresh state, they can be distinguished by having purple ( Doellia cafra ) or yellow ( Pulicaria scabra ) inflorescences. When examining the inflorescences closely, the following distinguishing characters can be observed:

Doellia cafra: The outer female florets are arranged in several rows, their corollas filiform (without a noticeable corolla limb, the protruding bifurcate styles easily observed); few central disc florets and the pappus consisting of a few scabrid bristles only ( Figure 5 A–C ).

Pulicaria scabra: The outer female florets are arranged in one or two rows, having a small, but distinct corolla limb; many disc florets and the pappus consisting of an outer row of small scales fused into a shallow corona and an inner row of scabrid bristles ( Figure 5 D–E ).

According to PRE records Doellia cafra was known to occur in Namibia, Botswana, Limpopo, North-

West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The Acocks, Pearson, Williamson & Williamson and Bester specimens mentioned above extended the distribution range to the Northern Cape ( Figure 6 ), but the localities are far apart and the collections made with long time lapses in between. Pulicaria scabra occurs in Namibia, Botswana, Limpopo, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape ( Figure 7 ). On the label of a Pulicaria scabra -specimen collected by Giess [Giess 13838 (PRE)] in Namibia along the Nuob River, 3 km from where it flows into the Orange River (QDS: 2817AA), it is stated that it is growing with Doellia cafra (= Blumea cafra ). However, no Doellia cafra specimen from that area is represented in PRE.

Pulicaria scabra is commonly known as aambeibos ( Wells et al. 1986) most likely because of its usage as a lotion for bathing haemorrhoids ( Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk 1962). According to a label on a herbarium specimen [Gerstner 2335 (PRE)], the Zulu used it as an eye medicine. Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) also recorded it being used by the Zulu for vaginal diseases and Hutchings et al. (1996) recorded its usage by the Zulu as an eye medicine and for gynaecological purposes. No medicinal or other usage could be found for Doellia cafra .

Specimens examined for Doellia cafra : — SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: Richtersveld National Park, Poortjiespram [Potjiespram], bank of Orange River ( QDS: 2816 BB), December 1996 , Williamson & Williamson 5876 ( NBG); Augrabies Falls National Park, Farm Daberas 8, Vaalsand area ( QDS: 2819 BD), 19 September 2010, S. P . Bester 10188 ( PRE!); Bushmanland, banks of a water conduit in the Pella area ( QDS: 2819 CC), 8 January 1909, H. H. W . Pearson 3836 ( NBG!, digital scans); Hay Div., in kloof at Lelikstad ( QDS: 2922 AB), 12 November 1937, J. P. H . Acocks 2561 ( PRE!) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Doellia cafra (photographs by P.P.J. Herman). A. Capitula showing the outer female florets in many rows and a few central disc florets. B. Outer female floret showing the filiform corolla and exserted style. C. Cypsela showing the pappus bristles. Pulicaria scabra (photographs by P.P.J. Herman). D. Capitula showing the outer female florets in one row and many disc florets. E. Outer female floret with short but distinct corolla limb. F. Cypsela showing the outer pappus scales fused in a corona and inner pappus bristles. A–C from Koekemoer 2693 (PRE). D from Leendertz 1127 (PRE). E from Van Rooyen 2314 (PRE). F from Hafström Herb. H960 (PRE). Scale bars all 4 mm.

FIGURE 6. Known distribution of Doellia cafra in southern Africa,. New localities, ̝. Specimens housed at PRE and NBG.

FIGURE 7. Known distribution of Pulicaria scabra in southern Africa. All specimens housed at PRE and NBG.