Inulanthera schistostephioides (Hiern.)

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 : 153

7. Inulanthera schistostephioides (Hiern.) KällersjÖ in Nord. J. Bot. 5 (6): 539 (1986).

Athanasia schistostephioides Hiern. in Cat Afr. Pl.: 589. (1898).

Type: Angola, Huila, in rocky shrubby places near Lopollo, Jan. 1960, Welwitch 3974 (BM, lecto., − image!, designated by KällersjÖ (1986); LISU – image!, isolecto.)

Multi-stemmed shrub 0.80–1.5 m, resprouting from a woody caudex, stems simple or sparsely branched in upper half, branches 2–4 mm diam., sparsely grey-felted becoming glabrous. Leaves sub-erect to spreading, obovate, 15–40 × 10–25 mm, pinnatisect, lobes 8 to 14, oblong, 3–10 mm long, base auriculate, margins revolute, discolorous, upper surface thinly cobwebbed, lower surface very densely woolly, coriaceous; axillary shoots absent. Capitula in dense compound corymbs 40–50 mm across, primary branches 15–30 mm long, secondary branches 3–8 mm long, inflorescence bracts elliptic to linear, 2–4 × 1–2 mm. Involucre campanulate to subglobose, 3–5 × 4–6 mm, pubescent when young, glabrescent; outer bracts lanceolate, 2–3 × 0.5–1 mm, obtuse, margins serrulate. Receptacle paleate. Florets 20 to 30. Pappus of scales, partially fused into a coroniform structure. Cypselas obovoid, 1–2 × 0.5–1 mm, prominently 8- to 10-ribbed, glabrous. Fig. 12 .

Diagnostic characters

Inulanthera schistostephioides is readily distinguished by its pinnatisect, strongly discolourous leaves with the upper surface thinly cobwebbed and dark green in colour and the lower surface densely woolly and yellowish-beige in colour ( Fig. 12B ). The lobes are distinctly mucronulate.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

This species is endemic to Huila in Angola, occurring in grasslands and on forest margins at altitudes above 2000 m ( Fig. 13 ). Flowering time is from December to January.

Additional specimens examined

Angola. 1215 (Huambo): Huambo, Mount Moco (− CD), Huntley, Roberts and Ward 11 (PRE).

Figures

Fig.12. Inulanthera schistostephioides, Huntley, Roberts and Ward 11 (PRE).A.Floweringbranch.B.Leaf.C.Involucralbracts.D.Palae.E.Floret.F.Cypsela.G.Style.H.Anthers.Scales:A andB: 10 mm; C–H: 1 mm. Artist: S.L.Magoswana.

Fig. 13. Known distribution of Inulanthera schistostephioides.