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• Eight species of Freylinia are recognised. • An infrageneric taxonomy is proposed. • Freylinia brevistyla is described as a new species. • Updated conservation assessments are provided. The taxonomy of Freylinia Pangella ex Colla (Scrophulariaceae) is revised and eight species are recognised. Each species is fully described, with complete nomenclature, typification, ecological notes, and an updated conservation assessment. The subtropical F. tropica S.Moore is segregated as the new sect. Tropicae J.C.Manning, defined by axillary inforescences and flowers with a glandular corolla tube. The remaining species from temperate South Africa share terminal inflorescences and eglandular corollas. Within this group two sections are recognised. Sect. Freylinia comprises the type of the genus F. lanceolata (L.f.) G.Don, and is readily segregated on the basis of its sessile foliage and small capsules, whereas the remaining, strictly shrubby species share petiolate foliage and larger capsules and are recognised as sect. Macrocarpae J.C.Manning. The latter section includes several highly local endemics, most of them of conservation concern, and among which we propose several taxonomic changes. The most significant of these are the inclusion of F. vlokii Van Jaarsv. in F. undulata (L.f.) Benth., and a reappraisal of the identity F. longiflora Benth., which is recognised here as an earlier name for F. helmei Van Jaarsv. The new species F. brevistyla J.C.Manning & N.A.Helme is accordingly described for the populations that were previously misidentified as F. longiflora , and which are readily distinguished from all other species by their short style and unique, obtuse hairs in the corolla throat. This taxon was thought to be restricted to the Hottentots Holland Mtns near Elgin but a recent collection from the northern foothills of the Klein River Mtns represents a significant range extension. Finally, examination of the type of F. undulata var. macrophylla Hiern. shows it to be misplaced in the genus and we identify it as a synonym of Selago myrtifolia Rchb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspects of the nomenclature and classification of the subtribe Strumariinae are corrected and emended as follows: Hessea subgenus Myophila (Snijman) Snijman and Strumaria subgenus Carpolyza (Salisb.) Snijman are described, and Strumaria section Gemmaria (Salisb.) Snijman is validated; the correct author citations for several names in Strumaria that were invalidly published by Jacquin are established; and a complete infrageneric synopsis for the actinomorphic-flowered taxa of subtribe Strumariinae is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ledebouria sect. Resnova is revised. • Five species are recognised. • Ledebouria hardyi is described as new. • All taxa are described and fully illustrated. • A new subtribal classification is presented for Massonieae. The species in Ledebouria sect. Resnova are revised, with an identification key, full nomenclature, descriptions, ecological notes, and illustrations. Sect. Resnova is defined by its deeply campanulate flowers with tepals shortly connate basally and erect throughout or spreading distally; biseriate stamens with white, filiform filaments; sessile or subsessile ovary; and diagnostic seeds, obliquely obovoid with an inflated and invaginated raphe, and a finely puberulous-echinulate testa. Five species are recognised, divided between the monotypic ser. Lachenalioides , diagnosed by larger flowers with multi-nerved tepals, and ser. Resnova , with smaller flowers and uni-nerved tepals. Species in ser. Resnova are distinguished primarily by the presence or absence of hairs on one or both surfaces of the leaves, and by the presence or absence of a pseudopetiole. The new species Ledebouria hardyi J.C.Manning is described for a collection of plants from near Burgersfort in Limpopo with mostly solitary, markedly pseudopetiolate foliage. The species in sect. Resnova are geographically and ecologically separated by altitude and climate. A revised subtribal classification is provided for Massonieae, based on available phylogenetic hypotheses. Three subtribes are recognised: the monotypic Merwillineae is described for the genus Merwilla and is diagnosed by its white ovary and beige seeds; the genus Schizocarphus is transferred to join Ledebouria in Ledebouriinae, which is weakly diagnosed by the development of multiple inflorescences in some species and a flexuous scape; and Lachenaliinae is included within Massoniinae, which comprises all remaining genera in the tribe and is diagnosed by its few to many subglobose seeds per locule and often tunicated bulbs. This classification replaces existing hypotheses, which are inconsistent with available morphological and phylogenetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic genus Bryomorphe Harv. is found to be homotypic with Klenzea lycopodioides Sch.Bip., which is considered to be a later synonym of Dolichothrix ericoides (Lam.) Hilliard & Burtt, and Bryomorphe is thus a synonym of Dolichothrix. The new genus Muscosomorphe J.C.Manning is proposed to accommodate the species previously included in Bryomorphe as B. aretioides (Turcz) Druce, along with the new combination M. aretioides (Turcz) J.C.Manning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophytum boomense (Agavaceae), a local endemic from southern Namibia, is found to be morphologically indistinguishable from C. namaquense, which ranges from southern Namibia to central Namaqualand, and is consequently synonymised in that species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new combinations Colchicum burchellii (Baker) J.C.Manning & Vinn. and C. burchellii subsp. pulchrum (Schltr. & K.Krause) J.C.Manning & Vinn. are provided for the taxa currently known respectively under the names C. coloratum subsp. burchellii (Baker) J.C.Manning & Vinn. and C. coloratum J.C.Manning & Vinn., nom superfl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appreciation of body size allometry is central for understanding insect pollination ecology. A recent model utilises allometric coefficients for five of the seven extant bee families (Apoidea: Anthophila) to include crucial but difficult-to-measure traits, such as proboscis length, in ecological and evolutionary studies. Melittidae were not included although they are important pollinators in South Africa where they comprise an especially rich and morphologically diverse fauna. We measured intertegular distance (correlated with body size) and proboscis length of 179 specimens of 11 species from three genera of Melittidae. With the inclusion of Melittidae, we tested the between family differences in the allometric scaling coefficients. AIC model selection was used to establish which factors provide the best estimate of proboscis length. We explored a hypothesis that has been proposed in the literature, but which has not been tested, whereby body and range sizes of bees are correlated with rainfall regions. We tested this by using body size measurements of 2109 museum specimens from 56 species of Melittidae and applied the model coefficients to estimate proboscis length and foraging distance. Our results from testing differences across bee families show that with the addition of Melittidae, we retained the overall pattern of significant differences in the scaling coefficient among Apoidea, with our model explaining 98% of the variance in species-level means for proboscis length. When testing the relationship between body size and rainfall region we found no relationship for South African Melittidae. Overall, this study has added allometric scaling coefficients for an important bee family and shown the applicability of using these coefficients when linked with museum specimens to test ecological hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ongoing systematic studies in the African flora periodically reveal the existence of undescribed species. Objectives To describe the new species. Method Relevant literature was surveyed, and herbarium and fresh material were examined. Results Collections of a Massonia (Hyacinthaceae) from the escarpment near Sutherland in Northern Cape with unique, softly hairy foliage represent an undescribed species. Conclusions Massonia villosa J.C.Manning is a new species distinguished by the small, markedly convex leaves with recurved apex and pilose adaxial surface covered with soft, shaggy hairs up to 7 mm long and slender flowers without marked sigmoid coiling of the tepals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent field work in the Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape, resulted in several collections of an unknown species of Lithospermum (Boraginaceae), a genus that is taxonomically relatively poorly understood in southern Africa. Objectives To describe the Baviaanskloof collections and characterise them against currently known species of Lithospermum. Method Relevant literature was surveyed and herbarium and fresh material was examined. Results Recent collections of Lithospermum from the Baviaanskloof Mountains in Eastern Cape represent an undescribed species. Conclusion Lithospermum sylvestre J.Cohen & J.C.Manning is a new species recognised by its well-branched stems with adpressed-scabrid pubescence, and relatively long-tubed flowers with long styles that are ± as long as the corolla tube and only shortly included within it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ongoing systematic studies in the African flora necessitate periodic nomenclatural adjustments and corrections. Objectives To effect requisite nomenclatural changes. Method Relevant literature was surveyed and relevant material was examined. Results Nomenclatural adjustments are provided for recently described taxa of Hyacinthaceae subfamily Urgineoideae in order to accommodate them in the alternative classification system in use in South African herbaria. Conclusion A broadly circumscribed Drimia Jacq. has the advantages of nomenclatural stability and utility. The newly described segregate genera Austronea Mart.-Azorín et al. and Zingela N.R.Crouch et al. are formally included in Drimia , and A. densiflora Mart.-Azorín et al., A. hispidoplicata Mart.-Azorín et al. and A. pinguis Mart.-Azorín et al. are transferred to that genus as D. densiflora (Mart.-Azorín et al.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, D. hispidoplicata (Mart.-Azorín et al.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt and D. pinguis (Mart.-Azorín et al.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, respectively, whereas A. grandiflora Mart.-Azorín et al. and A. linearis Mart.-Azorín et al. are treated as synonyms of D. vermiformis J.C.Manning & Goldblatt; A. olifanta Mart.-Azorín et al. is treated as a synonym of D. barkerae Oberm. ex J.C.Manning & Goldblatt; and A. papillosa Mart.-Azorín et al. and A. pygmaea (A.V. Duthie) Mart.-Azorín et al. are treated a synonyms of D. virens (Schltr.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. Zingela pooleyorum N.R.Crouch is considered to be conspecific with Urginea zambesiaca Baker, for which the new combination D. zambesiaca (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt is provided. The combination D. zebrina (Mart.-Azorín et al.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt is provided for an allied species. Examination of recent collections of Ornithogalum toxicarium C.Archer & R.H.Archer confirms that it is actually a species of Drimia and it is accordingly transferred to that genus as D. toxicaria (C.Archer & R.H.Archer) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correct author citations for several names in the genera Drimia (Hyacinthaceae) and Eriospermum (Ruscaceae) that were invalidly published by N.J. Jacquin are provided. The later validation dates for these names do not have implications for their nomenclatural priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae (Asparagales) currently comprises five genera, four of which are endemic to southern Africa. Despite their importance in commercial horticulture the evolutionary relationships among the genera are still incompletely understood. This study examines phylogenetic relationships in the subfamily using an expanded molecular sequence dataset from three plastid regions (matK, rbcLa, trnH-psbA) and the first subunit of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1). Sequence data were analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian statistics, and selected morphological traits were mapped onto the molecular phylogeny. Haworthia is confirmed as being polyphyletic, comprising three main clades that largely correlate with current subgeneric circumscriptions. Astroloba and Gasteria are evidently each monophyletic and sister respectively to Astroloba and H. subg. Robustipedunculares. Chortolirion is shown to be deeply nested within Aloe and is formally included in that genus. Aloe itself is clearly polyphyletic, with the dwarf species A. aristata allied to Haworthia subg. Robustipedunculares. The taxonomic implications of these findings are examined but branch support at critical lower nodes is insufficient at this stage to justify implementing major taxonomic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invalidly published name Massonia sect. Whiteheadia (Harv.) J.C.Manning is validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ongoing systematic studies in the African flora necessitate periodic nomenclatural adjustments and corrections. Objectives To effect requisite nomenclatural changes. Method Relevant literature was surveyed and requisite nomenclatural transfers provided. Results The new combination Sesamum byngianum Christenh. proposed for Josephinia africana Vatke is superfluous as an available synonym exists. Conclusions The new combination Sesamum rosaceum (Engl.) J.C. Manning & Magee is also provided for Josephinia africana Vatke. Three new sectional combinations are provided to accommodate the species previously placed in Ceratotheca Endl., Josephinia Vent. and Dicerocaryum Bojer in the current infrageneric classification of Sesamum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Othonna koos-bekkeri Van Jaarsv. is recognised as a synonym of O. cerarioides Magoswana & J.C.Manning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]