Abstract
This article attempts to resolve the long-standing confusion surrounding the identities of Pavetta hirtiflora and Pavetta zoutpansbergensis, both treated as synonyms of Pavetta trichardtensis. It is proposed that the P. trichardtensis complex be split into two varieties. Extensive field work and investigation of herbarium specimens supported these two varieties as distinct and occurring on the Blouberg, Soutpansberg and Wolkberg ranges. The typical pubescent variety occurs on the Soutpansberg through to the Wolkberg and the glabrous variety occurs on the Soutpansberg, Blouberg and possibly Houtbosch (Woodbush).
References
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<p>Boon, R.G.C., Jordaan, M. & van Wyk, A.E. (2020) A new species of <em>Combretum </em>sect. <em>Ciliatipetala </em>(Combretaceae) from South Africa. <em>Phytotaxa</em> 434 (1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.434.1.1</p>
<p>Bremekamp, C.E.B. (1929) A revision of the South African species of <em>Pavetta</em>. <em>Annals of the Transvaal Museum</em> 13 (3): 182–213. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA00411752_672</p>
<p>Bremekamp, C.E.B. (1933) New or otherwise noteworthy plants from the Northern Transvaal. <em>Annals of the Transvaal Museum</em> 15 (2): 233–264. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA00411752_605</p>
<p>Bremekamp, C.E.B. (1934) A monograph of the genus <em>Pavetta </em>L.: Additions and Emendations. <em>Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis (Fedde’s Repertorium)</em> 37: 1–208.</p>
<p>Edwards, D. & Leistner, O.A. (1971) A degree reference system for citing biological records in southern Africa. <em>Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung München</em> 10: 501–509.</p>
<p>Hahn, N. (2011) Refinement of the Soutpansberg Geomorphic Province, Limpopo, South Africa. <em>Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa</em> 66 (1): 32–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0035919x.2011.566422</p>
<p>Hahn, N. (2017) Endemic flora of the Soutpansberg, Blouberg and Makgabeng. <em>South African Journal of Botany</em> 113: 324–336. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.09.006</p>
<p>IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2019) Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Version 14. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (Accessed April 2021).</p>
<p>Jordaan, M. & Steyn, H.M. (2012) Rubiaceae. Taxonomic notes on <em>Sericanthe andongensis</em> and a new combination and status in <em>Sericanthe </em>from Limpopo, South Africa. <em>Bothalia</em> 42 (2): 204–209. https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v42i2.21</p>
<p>JSTOR Global Plants (2021) <em>Journal Storage, Global Plants </em>[Online]. Available: http://plants.jstor.org/1147 (Accessed April 2021).</p>
<p>Kok, P.D.F. & Grobbelaar, N. (1984) Studies on <em>Pavetta </em>(Rubiaceae) II. Enumeration of species and synonyms. <em>South African Journal of Botany</em> 3 (3): 185–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4618(16)30046-8</p>
<p>Partridge, T.C., Dollar, E.S.J., Moolman, J. & Dollar, L.H. (2010) The geomorphic provinces of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: A physiographic subdivision for earth and environmental scientists. <em>Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa</em> 65 (1): 1–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/00359191003652033</p>
<p>Richard, A. (1847) <em>Tentamen Floræ Abyssinicæ seu Enumeratio Plantarum hucusque in plerisque Abyssiniæ provinciis detectarum et præcipue a beatis doctoribus Richard Quartin Dillon et Antonio Petit (annis 1838–1843) lectarum,</em> vol. 1. Parisiis, Apud Arthus Bertrand, Editorem.</p>
<p>Schumann, K. (1900) Rubiaceae. <em>Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie</em> 28 (3): 385–500.</p>
<p>Thiers, B. (2021 [continuously updated]) Index Herbariorum: A Global Directory of Public Herbaria and Associated Staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (Accessed April 2021)</p>