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Abstract: A highly localised new species from the Cederberg Mountains near Wuppertal in the Western Cape Province is described. Annesorhiza asparagoides B.-E. Van Wyk, collected for the first time in 2009, differs from all other species of Annesorhiza (and the closely related Chamarea) in the unusual leaf structure, with crowded, subsessile, acicular leaf segments, resulting in dense, bottlebrush-like pinnae. The new species has a cluster of 10 or more slender roots, small (<150mm long), sparsely hairy leaves and small (±8mm long), oblong, conspicuously ribbed, homomericarpic fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The taxonomy of the hitherto monotypic, fynbos-endemic genus Glia Sond. is revised, together with a re-consideration of its generic circumscription. Recent field work has revealed and clarified the existence of two new species, herein described as G. decidua B-E.van Wyk and G. pilulosa B-E.van Wyk. Both are summer-deciduous geophytes (growing at low elevations in clay or limestone) that are clearly related to the well-known G. prolifera (an evergreen pyrophyte found in sandy soils, mostly at higher elevations). The genus Glia differs from the closely related Anginon Raf. in the geophytic habit with a single, tuberous root (woody shrubs or shrublets in Anginon), the predominantly unbranched flowering stems arising from a short woody collar above the tuber (stems usually much-branched above ground level in Anginon), with basal rosettes of leaves (mature leaves cauline and crowded towards the branch ends in Anginon) and with cauline leaves (if present) strongly reduced in size (not reduced in Anginon). Furthermore, the leaves are sparsely and minutely hairy, at least along the margins or veins below (totally glabrous in Anginon) and the petioles have medullary vascular bundles (absent in Anginon except in seedlings or juvenile leaves). Anginon species are evergreen shrubs or shrublets with persistent leaves borne on woody branches but some of them (e.g. A. verticillata) may lose their leaves under extreme drought conditions in summer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Evolutionary relationships within the poorly known and anomalous South African endemic genus Lichtensteinia were elucidated. Phylogenetic analysis of morphological and anatomical characters suggests that there are two main groups of species, viz. the L. obscura–L. globosa–L. interrupta (including L. kolbeana) clade and the L. latifolia–L. trifida–L. lacera–L. crassijuga clade. Furthermore, Lichtensteinia is not monophyletic, with the former group allied weakly with the Namibian endemic genus Marlothiella and the latter group allied strongly with Annesorhiza macrocarpa. In contrast, the results of phylogenetic analyses of nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnQ-5''trnK sequences, separately and combined, as well as the results of a total evidence analysis of all available data, suggest three main groups of species in a monophyletic Lichtensteinia: the aforementioned L. latifolia–L. trifida–L. lacera–L. crassijuga complex, a clade comprising L. interrupta and L. globosa, and L. obscura. DNA sequence data, however, are not currently available for Marlothiella. The new species L. globosa B.-E. Van Wyk and P.M. Tilney is sister group to L. interrupta in the molecular analyses; in the analysis of morphological/anatomical data, however, the relationships among L. globosa, L. interrupta and L. obscura are equivocal. Lichtensteinia lacera and L. trifida are each not monophyletic based on the molecular phylogenies. The various populations of L. lacera and L. trifida examined are morphologically quite distinct, with large differences observed among populations but limited variation within populations. The size and shape of the leaves and of the marginal teeth, as well as the presence and length of setae, were found to be of diagnostic value in distinguishing among the species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lichtensteinia globosa B.-E. Van Wyk & P.M. Tilney, a distinct new species from the Cedarberg Mountains in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, is described. The new species is related to Lichtensteinia interrupta (= L. kolbeana) but differs in having tuberculate (pustulate), globose fruits (fruits smooth in all other species and strongly dorsally compressed in all except L. obscura and L. interrupta). It is geographically isolated from L. interrupta, which has a wide distribution in the southern and eastern coastal parts of South Africa. The new species has serrate–aristate leaf margins and pustulate fruits which appear to further reduce the taxonomic distance between Lichtensteinia and the subfamily Saniculoideae, where bristly or even spiny leaf margins and tuberculate fruits are common. Furthermore, Lichtensteinia species also have crystals right around the pericarp, rounded cotyledons, large rib oil ducts and a complete absence of vittae, all of which are typical of the Saniculoideae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Flowers and fruits of the monotypic Namibian endemic Marlothiella gummifera were examined to explore anatomical variation and to highlight problems associated with the homology of certain character states. Some unusual new features observed in the fruits and ovaries raise questions regarding the homology of fruit heteromorphy, rib oil ducts, vittae and carpophores in subfamily Apioideae. These include the irregular occurrence of heterocarpic ovaries, oil ducts on both the internal and external sides of the vascular bundles (the inner dwarf ducts), short ducts in the commissural area, and carpophores (only rarely present). The fruits of Marlothiella share several unusual features with the genus Lichtensteinia, namely concentric rings of cells around the rib oil ducts, of which the innermost are irregular in size and shape, very small vascular bundles that are usually comprised of two separate strands, and the occurrence of heteromorphy in fruits and ovaries. These two genera are morphologically very different and it is encouraging to find anatomical data to support their presumptive relationship based on molecular studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A taxonomic revision of the recircumscribed South African endemic genus Dasispermum Raf. is presented, including keys to the species, complete nomenclature, typifications, descriptions, and geographical distributions. In addition, two new species, D. grandicarpum Magee & B.-E.van Wyk and D. perennans Magee & B.-E.van Wyk, are described. Seven species of Dasispermum are now recognised and can be distinguished from one another by their habit (life history and growth form), leaf morphology (leaf texture, leaf colour and width of the ultimate leaflet segments), inflorescence structure (length of the peduncle, presence or absence and division of involucral and involucel bracts), fruit morphology (relative length of the styles, fruit size and the prominence and relative orientation of the ribs) and fruit anatomy (shape of the cells external to the vittae). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Cape endemic genus Capnophyllum Gaertn. is revised. As a result of valuable recent collections and extensive fieldwork, this hitherto neglected genus was found to comprise four annual species, two of which are newly described, namely C. lutzeyeri Magee and B.-E.van Wyk, and C. macrocarpum Magee and B.-E.van Wyk. The four species are distinguished from one another by their fruit morphology (relative length of the styles, the shape and position of the stylopodium, fruit size, surface sculpturing, and the presence or absence of a sterile apical portion) and fruit anatomy (marginal wings slightly or prominently involute and secondary ribs present or absent). A comprehensive key to the species, their complete nomenclature and typification, together with complete descriptions and known geographical distributions for all the species are presented and illustrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The current concept of Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. and Zeyh. embraces two distinct species which can be distinguished on the basis of leaf morphology: (1) A. amatymbica sensu stricto, which has the radical leaves attenuate at their bases and (2) A. cordifolia B.-E. Van Wyk, a new species with the radical leaves cordate at their bases. The new species also differs in the presence of minute hispid hairs on the terminal parts of the peduncles and sometimes also on the basal parts of the involucre and the sepals, styles and stylopodium. The two species are vicariants, with A. amatymbica occurring from the Eastern Cape Province northwards to the southwestern parts of KwaZulu–Natal and A. cordifolia from here northwards to Lesotho, Swaziland, Mpumalanga Province and eastern Zimbabwe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The recently reinstated genus Cynorhiza Eckl. and Zeyh. is revised. It includes three summer-deciduous species two of which were hitherto placed in the genus Peucedanum L., namely C. typica Eckl. and Zeyh., C. meifolia (Eckl. and Zeyh.) A.R.Magee and a new species, C. bolusii A.R.Magee and B.-E.van Wyk. The species are easily distinguished by a combination of both leaf and fruit morphological characters. Possible phylogenetic relationships within the genus were explored using a cladistic analysis of anatomical and morphological characters, the results of which suggests that C. bolusii and C. meifolia are sister taxa. A formal taxonomic treatment is presented, including a key to the species, correct nomenclature, typifications, descriptions and geographical distributions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanobubon is a recently described genus consisting of two evergreen, perennial suffrutices endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Nanobubon strictum (Spreng.) Magee and N. capillaceum (Thunb.) Magee share a partly sympatric distribution, from the Cape Peninsula northwards to the Cedarberg mountains and eastwards to Port Elizabeth. Although both species are relatively similar in their highly sclerified and much-divided evergreen leaves with sub-terete ultimate segments, they can be distinguished from one another by the orientation of the leaves (erect or reclining), the branching pattern of the leaves (pinnae erect or spreading), the curvature of the leaf rachises and segments (straight or refracted), the colour of the flowers (yellow or cream-coloured) and the prominence of the dorsal ribs on the fruits (prominent or inconspicuous). The nomenclature and typifications, as well as complete descriptions and known geographical distributions are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The systematic position of three Apiaceae taxa, Carum piovanii , Bunium nothum and Bunium kandaharicum , is clarified based on morphological and nrITS sequence data. The phylogenetic analyses place C. piovanii within the African peucedanoid genus, Afroligusticum and not with its congeners. Although C. piovanii differs considerably from Afroligusticum in underground organs (spindle-shaped or subcylindrical tubers vs. rhizomatous woody rootstocks), size of leaflets (up to 4 mm long vs. over 8 mm long), and petal color (white vs. mostly greenish or yellow), it is similar carpologically (obtuse-keeled dorsal ribs and narrowly-winged marginal ribs). As a result the new combination Afroligusticum piovanii is proposed. A new section, Austrobunium , is described to accommodate the South Indian B. nothum based on the well-developed calyx teeth not found in the rest of the genus. The Afghanian species, B. kandaharicum , is reduced into synonym with Elwendia stewartiana . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new species of woody Apiaceae, Polemanniopsis namibensis B-E. Van Wyk, A. Burke & C. Mannheimer, is described. The species is allied to Polemanniopsis marlothii but differs in the much smaller habit of (up to 0.6m vs 1.5–4m in Polemanniopsis marlothii), the white or greyish colour of the twigs (brown in Polemanniopsis marlothii), the 3-foliolate leaves (predominantly 5-foliate in Polemanniopsis marlothii), the smaller inflorescences with persistent involucral bracts (caducous in Polemanniopsis marlothii) and anatomical details of the leaves. The species is endemic to Namibia and is known only from a localised area in the southern Namib desert near Lüderitz, where it is relatively common. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]