Search

Ficinia stirtonii Muasya, sp. nov. (Fig. 3, 4) Diagnosis:— Ficinia stirtonii is morphologically most similar to F. argyropus Nees (1836: 177), especially based on a common gross morphology (rhizomatous, bulbous culm base, papery white leaf sheaths) and partial overlapping of their distribution ranges. Ficinia stirtonii differs in its shortly spicate inflorescence (vs. capitate), shape of involucral bracts auriculate (vs. linear) and glume margins entire (vs. fimbriate). Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape Province. Willowmore: Baviaanskloof, Nuwekloof Pass, 33°30.071’S 023°38.000’E, 20 December 2009, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 5265 (holotype BOL!, isotype NBG! PRE!). Perennial, culm base bulbous, surculose, rhizome to 3.8 mm diameter, spacing between consecutive tillers/shoots up to 70 mm apart. Culms 120–350 mm tall, 0.6–1.4 mm thick, ca. 3.8 mm thick across the rim/edge of the leaf sheath, glabrous. Leaf sheath 23–78 mm long, glabrous, papery, white, ligule ca. 5 mm long. Leaf blade 31–134× 0.4–0.8 mm, canaliculate, glabrous, margin minutely scabrid. Involucral bracts 3–5, leaf-like and lowermost partially sheathing spikelets, 11–53 mm long, auricular and papery. Inflorescence a contracted spike, rachis up to 3 mm long, each spike comprises between over 4–25 spikelets. Spikelets 3.4–5.7× 1.4–3.4 mm, terete, dark brown, florets bisexual. Glumes 2.0– 3.2 mm long, ovate with a mucro up to 0.3 mm long; margins entire and membranous. Stamens 3; anthers 1.4–2.4 mm long, crested. Style trifid, 2.3–3.5 mm long. Nutlets 1.4–1.7×1.0– 1.1 mm, dark brown, papillose; hypogynous disc up to 0.2 mm long, cupular, 6–9-lobed. Distribution and ecology: —Known from deep sandy soils in arid fynbos vegetation in Eastern and Western Cape, occurring at altitudes of 800–1300 m. (Fig.2). Etymology: — The epithet stirtonii honours the botanist Charles Howard Stirton (C.H.Stirt.; https://ipni.org/ a/12280-1), who has made life-long contributions to African botany and mentored many upcoming researchers. Conservation status: —This species is widespread, though under collected, and occurs in areas that are not under disruptive land use practices. Therefore, we consider it to be of Least Concern (LC) based on the IUCN (2022) criteria. Additional specimens studied: — SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. Wuppertal: Kagga Kamma Game Reserve (3219DA), 24 September 1991, C. Reid 1474 (GENT, NBG, PRE); Ceres Karoo, along road to Kagga Kamma (3219DC), 30 September 2009, A.M. Muasya, I. Jardine & C.H. Stirton 4583 (BOL). Worcester: along R46 between Ceres and N1 (3319BD), 24 September 2014, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 7170 (BOL). Montagu: Touws River, Farm Pienaarskloof (3320AA), A.M. Muasya in Harry Bolus Commemorative Trip 154 (BOL). Oudtshoorn: Swartberg Nature Reserve, along road to Gamkaskloof (3322AC), 4 November 2017, A.M. Muasya 7601 (BOL). Eastern Cape Province. Willowmore: Baviaanskloof, Nuwekloof Pass to Hartebeesriver (3323AD), 20 December 2009, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 5270 (BOL); Baviaanskloof, Uitspan farm (3323DA), 19 December 2009, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 5240 (BOL)., Published as part of Muasya, A. Muthama & Stirton, Charles H., 2022, Three new species in the genus Ficinia (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, pp. 287-294 in Phytotaxa 550 (3) on page 290, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.9, http://zenodo.org/record/6651094, {"references":["Nees von Esenbeck (1836) Cyperaceae Capenses secundum novissimas Ecklonii collections. Linnaea 10: 129 - 207.","IUCN (2022) Guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria, version 15. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK: IUCN."]}

Ficinia bolusiana Muasya & C.H.Stirt., sp. nov. (Fig. 1) Diagnosis:— Ficinia bolusiana is characterised by its tufted perennial habit forming circles of up to 30 cm diameter but lacking a visible rhizome, culms to 30 cm tall, leaf sheaths not papery, and inflorescences capitate. Ficinia bolusiana is morphologically most similar to F. dunensis Levyns (1947: 13), especially in its common gross morphology. These taxa differ in habit, with F. bolusiana growing in tufts comprising over 20 culms that are congested with no visible rhizome, whereas F. dunensis has a wiry rhizome and the tillers/shoots barely reach 10 culms. There are also ecological and geographical differences. Ficinia bolusiana grows inland in the Fynbos/Succulent Karoo ecotone on shale to sandy soils above 200 m, whereas F. dunensis is restricted to calcareous sands below 100 m elevation. Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. Worcester: along R46 between Ceres and N1, 33°18’52.4”S 19°48’27.3”E, 24 September 2014, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 7168 (holotype BOL!, isotype NBG!). Perennial, forming tufts to 20 cm diameter, shortly spaced tillers/shoots comprise over 20 stems. Culms 220–400 mm tall, 0.4–0.7 mm thick, ca. 2.7 mm thick across the rim/edge of the leaf sheath, glabrous. Leaf sheath 25–83 mm long, glabrous, not papery, glossy, brown to creamish, without a ligule. Leaf blade 33–95× 0.4–0.9 mm, flat to channelled, glabrous, margin scabrid. Involucral bracts 3–5, leaf-like, and lowermost enclosing spikelets, 15–34 mm long, glabrous, margin scabrid. Inflorescence capitate, each with over 4–7 spikelets. Spikelets 4.3–5.4× 1.4–2.4 mm, terete, dark brown, florets bisexual. Glumes 3.3–5.3 mm long, ovate with a mucro up to 0.5 mm long, margins entire. Stamens 3; anthers 1.5–3.1 mm long, crested. Style trifid, 3.1–4.4 mm long. Nutlets 2.1–2.7×1.0– 1.5 mm, dark brown, papillose; hypogynous disc up to 0.2 mm long, cupular, not distinctly lobed. Distribution and ecology: —Occurs in the Northern and Western Cape (Fig. 2) and is found between 200–1400 m elevation in deep sandy soils in arid fynbos in the ecotonal areas of Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. Etymology: — The epithet bolusiana celebrates the Bolus herbarium, which is a hub for taxonomic studies of the Cape flora. Established in 1865, it is the oldest functioning herbarium in (South) Africa. Conservation status: —This species is widespread and occurs in areas that are not under disruptive land use practices. Therefore, we consider it to be of Least Concern (LC) based on the IUCN (2022) criteria. Additional specimens studied: — SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape Province. Springbok: Farm Kap Vley 315 (2917CD), 10 October 1986, A. Le Roux & J. W. Lloyd 714 (PRE); 30 km SE of Springbok, Klipfontein 266 (2917DD), 5 July 2013, N.A. Helme 7783 (BOL). Kamiesberg: Studer’s Pass area (3018AC), 13 May 2013, A.M. Muasya & N. Moiloa 6940 (BOL); Leliefontein to Khamieskroon (3018AC) 24 November 2015, A.M. Muasya, N. Moiloa, A. Garcia-Madrid, S. Chimphango 7040 (BOL). Calvinia: Botterkloof Pass, summit of Pass (3119CD), October 1975, T.H. Arnold 934 (K, PRE). Western Cape Province. Clanwilliam: Wildshutskraal, from N7 towards Paleisheuwel (3218BD), 24 Oct 2009, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 4792 (BOL). Wuppertal: Cedarberg, Middelberg Plateau (3219AC), 14 December 1941, E.E. Esterhuysen 7223 (PRE); Klipfonteinrand, N. of Pakhuis Pass (3219AA), 22 September 1969, E.E. Esterhuysen 32193 (K, PRE); Cedarberg Pass,between Citrusdal and Ceres (3219AC), October 1975, T.H. Arnold 1001 (K, PRE); Cedarberg State Forest, Sneeuberg shale band (3219AC), 27 October 1989, D.C. Le Maitre 627 (PRE); Cedarberg, NW. of Sneeuberg hut, along track to Noordpoort (3219AC), 19 September 1984, H.C. Taylor 11066 (PRE); Central Cedarberg, Welbedacht (3219AC), 30 September 1986, H.C. Taylor 11595 (NBG, PRE); Citrusdal, 15 Km from Citrusdal on road to Ceres (3219CA), October 1975, T.H. Arnold 991 (K, PRE); Ceres Karoo, along road to Kagga Kamma (3219DC), 1 October 2009, A.M. Muasya, I. Jardine, C.H. Stirton 4595 (BOL); Swartruggens, Knolfontein (3219DC), 18 November 2014, A.M. Muasya & Y. Ito 7215 (BOL). Worcester: Southern Witzenberg Mts., Ceres Peak (3319AD), October 1975, T.H. Arnold 972 (K, NU, PRE); Swartruggens (3319BA), 16 September 1964, H.C. Taylor 5877 (K, NBG, NU, PRE); Brandvlei Dam (3319CB), 03 August 2014, A.M. Muasya & N. Moiloa 7139 (BOL); Hex River Mts., Ezelsfontein (3319DA), 01 September 1952, E.E. Esterhuysen 20366 (PRE, K). Oudtshoorn: Camfer Station (3322CD), 29 September 1962, J.P.H. Acocks 22858 (BR, PRE)., Published as part of Muasya, A. Muthama & Stirton, Charles H., 2022, Three new species in the genus Ficinia (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, pp. 287-294 in Phytotaxa 550 (3) on pages 287-290, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.9, http://zenodo.org/record/6651094, {"references":["Levyns, M. R. (1947) Notes on Ficinia and descriptions of four new species. Journal of South African Botany 13: 66 - 74.","IUCN (2022) Guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria, version 15. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK: IUCN."]}

Muasya, A. Muthama, Stirton, Charles H. (2022): Three new species in the genus Ficinia (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Phytotaxa 550 (3): 287-294, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.9

Ficinia swartruggensis Muasya & C.H.Stirt., sp. nov. (Fig. 5) Diagnosis:— Ficinia swartruggensis is morphologically most similar to F. bulbosa (Linnaeus, 1771: 178) Nees (1833: 91) in having a tufted habit and spicate inflorescence, but differs in lacks the bulbous culm bases and a spike shortly contracted (vs. lax) with rachis of spikelet heads 5 mm long). Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. Wuppertal: Ceres Karoo, Kagga Kamma, near mast, 32°51’14.2”S 19°38’00.9”E, 1 October 2009, A.M. Muasya, I. Jardine & C.H. Stirton 4601 (holotype BOL!, isotypes NBG!, PRE!). Perennial, caespitose, tufts above 5 cm diameter, no visible rhizome. Culms 125–230 mm tall, 0.4–0.6 mm thick, ca. 1.6 mm thick across the rim/edge of the leaf sheath, glabrous. Leaf sheath 19–46 mm long, reddish brown at base, papery and white at apex, ligule ca. 4 mm long. Leaf blade 20–65× 0.3–0.6 mm, canaliculate, glabrous, margin minutely scabrid. Involucral bracts 3–5, leaf-like and lowermost partially sheathing spikelets, 8–27 mm long. Inflorescence a contracted spike comprising 2–3 spikelet heads separated by a rachis up to 2 mm long, lower cluster comprising 1–2 spikelets, upper cluster 3–5 spikelets; each spikelet cluster subtended by an involucral bract with auricular lobes. Spikelets 3.6–6.0× 1.8–2.3 mm, terete, reddish brown, florets bisexual. Glumes 2.8–4.1 mm long, ovate with a mucro up to 0.6 mm long; margins entire. Stamens 3; anthers 1.4–2.3 mm long, crested. Style trifid, 2.1–3.5 mm long. Nutlets 1.5–1.9×0.7–1.0 mm, dark brown, smooth to minutely papillose, gynophore 3–5-lobbed. Distribution and ecology: —Occurs in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces (Fig. 2). It is found at elevations between 1200–2000 m in arid fynbos on sandstone (sandy, rocky) substrate. Etymology: — The epithet swartruggensis refers to the region where the type specimens and the majority of known populations are located. Conservation status: —This species is localized in the Swartruggens and extends into the Northern Cape, though is probably under collected and in areas that are not under disruptive land use practices. Therefore, we consider it to be of Least Concern (LC) based on the IUCN (2022) criteria. Additional specimens studied: — SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape Province. Calvinia: Karreehout River south of Perdekloof (3119DD), 21 August 1975, M.F. Thompson 2525 (BOL). Sutherland: Geelhoek (3220BC), 27 August 1953, J.P.H. Acocks 16981 (PRE); turnoff to De Plaat Farm (3220DC), 14 September 1986, A.C. Fellingham 1195 (NBG, PRE). Western Cape Province. Wuppertal: Swartruggens, Knolfontein (3219DC), 13 April 2011, I. Jardine 1550 (BOL); 17 August 2011, I. Jardine 1556 (BOL); 30 September 2009, A.M. Muasya, I. Jardine & C.H. Stirton 4593 (BOL); along road to Kagga Kamma, 01 October 2009, A.M. Muasya, I. Jardine & C.H. Stirton 4594 (BOL); c. 10 m from farm dam, 2 October 2009, A.M. Muasya, I. Jardine & C.H. Stirton 4616 (BOL); 18 November 2014, A.M. Muasya & Y. Ito 7216 (BOL). Worcester: Ceres, Bo Swaarmoed, north of Hottentots Kraal dam (3319BC), 20 September 2021, N.A. Helme 10202 (BOL). Montagu: Witteberg Nature Reserve (3320AD), 19 February 2011, A.M. Muasya, S. Chimphango & C.H. Stirton 5912 (BOL); 3 km S of Matjiesfontein (3320BC), 25 August 2016, N.A. Helme 8936 (BOL); Drie Kuilen Private Nature Reserve (3320CA), 1 September 2014, A.M. Muasya 7151 (BOL)., Published as part of Muasya, A. Muthama & Stirton, Charles H., 2022, Three new species in the genus Ficinia (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, pp. 287-294 in Phytotaxa 550 (3) on pages 292-294, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.9, http://zenodo.org/record/6651094, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. von. (1771) Mantissa Plantarum Altera. Generumeditionis VI & specie rumeditionis II. Holmiae [Stockholm].","Nees von Esenbeck (1833) Analecta ad FloramCapensem. Linnaea 8: 75 - 94. [https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / item / 109830]","IUCN (2022) Guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria, version 15. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK: IUCN."]}

Thesium muasyae, a new species of the family Santalaceae, is described and illustrated. This species has unique morphological and ecological characters, differentiating it from other closely related species of the genus, such as T. karooicum. These characters include plants forming compact shrubs to about 30 cm tall with glabrous surfaces; leaves recurved, to about 4 cm long, terete to triangular, apiculate; flowers placed in lax spikes or borne solitary; and style up to about 2.5 mm long. Ecologically, T. muasyae is endemic to the limestone fynbos in the Overberg, Bredasdorp District, South Africa. Molecular phylogenetic evidence places this species in Subgenus Frisea Section Barbata, as closest sister to T. hispidulum + T. karooicum. A preliminary conservation Red List assessment suggests that T. muasyae is Critically Endangered, based on its population size, area of occupancy and extent of occurrence.