Rubus pinnatus Willdenow (1799: 1081)

Beek, Abraham Van De, 2021, Rubi Capenses: a further contribution to the knowledge of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 515 (1), pp. 1-71 : 13

2. Rubus pinnatus Willdenow (1799: 1081) .

Neotype (designated here):— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: ‘In promontorio Bonae Spei prope Hangklipp in nemoribus’, August 1821, Mundt & Maire 225 ( B101068581 [https:// herbarium.bgbm.org/object/B101068581])

Heterotypic synonym:— Rubus caffrorum Gandoger (1918: 25) . Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: In umbrosis prope Knysna , 10.11.1894, Schlechter 5922 (holotype LY, LY0027817 [https://herbier2014.univ-lyon1.fr/fiche/8577]).

Primocane ( Figs 1B–D ) arching, angular, diam. 5–8 mm, densely short hairy, sometimes slightly pruinose; prickles 9–19 per 5 cm, unequal, subulate or from 2–4 mm wide base compressed, declining or curved, up to 4–6 mm long; stipules 8–13 mm, linear, hairy, green. Leaves ( Fig. 1E ) pinnate 5- to 7-foliolate, sometimes with divided basal and second yoke leaflets, adaxially glabrous, abaxially ( Fig. 1F ) with some hairs only on main nerves, reddish when young; serrature rather fine to mediocre, short periodical, triangular or obtuse, serrations straight; petiole 6–8 cm long, with 10–19 curved or hooked prickles, densely short hairy; central leaflet (45–) 58–66 mm long, ovate or rhombic, with attenuate, rounded or subcordate base, gradually attenuate into moderate apex, sometimes lobed on one or both sides, width–length index 0.54–0.84, length of its petiolule 31–39% of length of leaflet; petiolule between lowest yokes 4–6 cm, petiolule of lowest leaflets 4–10 mm. Flowering branch bluntly angular to furrowed, densely tomentose, with only few patent longer hairs, pruinose; prickles unequal, subulate or from 1–5 mm broad base, very compressed, most with curved tip, or curved to hooked, up to 3–5 mm long. Leaves pinnate 3-foliolate or 5- to 7-foliolate; central leaflet 57–77 mm long, ovate, with attenuate, rounded to subcordate base, gradually attenuate into (rather) long point without distinguishable tip, width–length index 0.50–0.66, length of petiolule (8–)21–40% of length of leaflet. Inflorescence ( Figs 1G–H ) with 2 to 3 axillary branches and cylindrical or pyramidal tip, tomentose and with long hairs, with rather many fine declining and curved prickles; pedicels ( Fig. 1I ) 3–14 mm, short tomentose and with long hairs, with numerous fine prickles. Flowers: sepals narrow, very long pointed, 2–3 × (5–) 13 mm, loosely patent to erect, greyish green, tomentose, with few subsessile glands and often some prickles; petals (light) pink, long clawed, roundish, 5–6 × 4 mm; stamens shorter to somewhat longer than styles, anthers glabrous; styles red, ovaries hairy; receptacle almost glabrous or with some hairs, often more densely hairy at conus. Ripe fruit finally dark red or black, often orange for long time.

Ecology: —The main habitat is in forests, but it sometimes is found in fynbos vegetation.

Distribution: — Rubus pinnatus is the most common Rubus species in the south of the Western Cape, South Africa. It is limited to the southern mountain ranges, from Tafelberg to Wittedrift, and the Swartberg region.

Note: —There is some variation in pilosity and armature, but the primocanes with dense short hairs combined with (almost) glabrous leaves clearly distinguish this species from others in the series.

Specimens:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Houtbay , NE end of the town, at the road to Constantia, 18 March 2017, Sochor RSA 13 /17 ( NBG) ; Between Constantia Nek and Houtbaai , 9 September 1976, Stirton 6186 A ( PRE) ; Road from Kirstenbos to Houtbaai , W of Constantia Nek, N side, 12 October 2018, Beek 2018.88 ( L) ; Constantia, Cecilia Plantation , 29 September 2011, Ramjukadh C-LR18 ( NBG) ; Tafelberg, November 1828, Ecklon s.n. ( BREM _00002218) ; Cape Town, Table Mountain, Skeleton Gorge , 300 m of the beginning of Hely-Hutchinson Dam, 11 March 2017, Sochor RSA 2 /17 ( NBG) ; Kirstenbosch, by Nursery Stream , 27 February 1941, Barker 846, ( PRE) ; Rondebosch, 1831, Zeyher s.n. (only the right hand inflorescence) ( SAM 15646 ) ; Rondebosch, 300 m NW of Rhodes Memorial , 16 March 2017, Sochor RSA 6 /17 ( NBG) ; Newlands Station , October 1916, Page s.n. ( PRE) ; Millwood , 26 September 2011, Paijmans DMP076 ( NBG) ; Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Road, beginning of the entrance of Stark Condé / Postcard, 31 October2018, Beek 2018.121 ( L) ; Betty’s Bay, entrance to Dizas Gorge , 27 June 1977, Stirton 7217 ( PRE) ; Kogelberg State Forest, road to Oudebosch , 22 September 1992, Kruger 792 ( NBG) ; Kogelberg , botanical garden, 4 April 2017, Sochor & Manning RSA 47 /17 ( NBG) ; Kogelberg , 500 m NW of visitors centre, 22 March 2017, Sochor & Manning RSA 26 /17 ( NBG) ; Kleinmond, road to Hermanus , short before the end of the R44 on the right side, 14 November 2019, Beek 2019.88 & 2019.90 ( L) ; Grootvadersbos, Swellendam , 4 December 1952, Taylor 515, ( NBG) ; Riversdale, Mozambique Kop , October 1924, Muir 3423 ( PRE) ; Suurbraak, about 2 km out of Suurbraak on road to Swellendam, 30 November 1991, Henderson 1135 ( PRE) ; Swartbergpas , 4 March 1985, Geldenhuis 971 ( PRE) ; Oudtshoorn, Homtini River crossing on the Homtini Pass between Karatara and Knysna, 21 October 1990, Henderson 1099 ( PRE) ; Buffelsnek Forest, Knysna , 16 December 1953, Taylor 1071 ( NBG) ; Knysna, Goudveld Plantation , 5 January 1978, Cameron 1 ( PRE) ; Knysna , 10 November1894, Schlechter 1344 ( PRE) ; Kruisfontein Plantations , 4 October 2011, Paijmans DMP107, ( NBG) ; Wittedrif , road to school, 17 October 2018, Beek 2018.100 ( L) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rubus pinnatus. A. Specimen in B-W, leaf detail abaxially. B. Primocane with leaves. C. Primocane. D. Primocane. E. Leaves. F. Leaves abaxially. G. Inflorescence. H. Inflorescence; I. Pedicels. Photographs: A. Katharina Rabe; All others by A. van de Beek.