Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 641 No. 4: 21 Mar. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-03-21
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.641.4.1
Page range: 243-254
Abstract views: 4
PDF downloaded: 1

Crassothonna moniliformis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from the Albany Centre of floristic endemism, South Africa

Department of Plant Sciences and Afromontane Research Unit, University of the Free State, Private Bag X13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, South Africa
Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Botany Department, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
Albany Centre of floristic endemism Compositae conservation Othonninae southern Africa taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

Crassothonna moniliformis is described as a new species from the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. The species is a prostrate, succulent-leaved perennial herb distinguished from Crassothonna capensis in having slender, weak, trailing, distantly branched stems, with nodal adventitious roots developing precociously, forming diffuse patches to ±50 cm diam., with erect to ascending, usually red-purple, globose-obovoid to obovoid to subclavate leaves 10–25 mm long, and a more slender synflorescence bearing fewer capitula (1–4 per flowering shoot) with fewer ray florets (7–9) and functionally staminate peripheral disc florets. The species is geographically localised, with the known Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy <10 km2, and is habitat-restricted, growing in shallow sandy sediments overlying exposed sandstone pavements among coastal thicket. The single known population is threatened by sand mining and informal housing encroachment. Based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, a conservation assessment of Vulnerable (VU – D2) is recommended.

References

  1. Bailey, L.H. (1901) Cyclopedia of American horticulture. The Macmillan Co., New York, 2016 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.54764
  2. Baker, J.G. (1871) Othonna crassifolia. Refugium Botanicum 4: tab. 253. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47513172]
  3. Berger, A. (1912) Hortus mortolensis: Enumeratio plantarum in horto mortolensi cultarum. West, Newman & Co., London, 468 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10950
  4. Bolus, H.M.L. (1934) Notes on Mesembryanthemum and allied genera 2. University of Cape Town, Bolus Herbarium, Cape Town, 508 pp.
  5. Bolus, H.M.L. (1958) Notes on Mesembryanthemum and allied genera 3. University of Cape Town, Bolus Herbarium, Cape Town, 417 pp.
  6. Candolle, A.P. de (1838) Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis, sive enumeration contracta ordinum, generum, specierumque plantarum hucusque cognitarum, juxta methodi naturalis normas digesta 6. Treuttel & Würtz, Paris, 687 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.286
  7. Cicuzza, D., Sombra Stäheli, D., Nyffeler, R. & Eggli, U. (2017) Morphology and anatomy support a reclassification of the African succulent taxa of Senecio s.l. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae). Haseltonia 23: 11–26. https://doi.org/10.2985/026.023.0103
  8. Cowling, R.M. (2019) Vegetation of the Eastern Cape: navigating a transition zone. In: Bredenkamp, C.L. (Ed.) A flora of the Eastern Cape province 1. Strelitzia 41. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 71–91.
  9. Cron, G.V., Herman, P.P.J., Howis, S., Koekemoer, M., McKenzie, R.J., Ngoepe, N., Nonyane, F.M., Swelankomo, N. & Welman, W.G. (2019) Asteraceae. In: Bredenkamp, C.L. (Ed.) A flora of the Eastern Cape province 1. Strelitzia 41. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 423–682.
  10. Cullen, J., Knees, S.G. & Cubey, H.S. (Eds.) (2011) The European garden flora, 2nd edition, vol. 5: Dicotyledons: Boraginaceae to Compositae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 639 pp.
  11. Devos, N., Nordenstam, B., Mucina, L. & Barker, N.P. (2010) A multi-locus phylogeny of Euryops (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) augments support for the “Cape to Cairo” hypothesis of floral migration in Africa. Taxon 59: 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.591007
  12. De Vries, H. (1900) Othonna crassifolia. Botanisch jaarboek uitgegeven door het kruidkundig genootschap Dodonaea te Gent 12: 20–39. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59466853]
  13. Dinter, K. (1923) Beiträge zur Flora von Südwestafrika. I. Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis 19: 122–160.
  14. Dold, A.P. & Brink, E. (2004) Drimia chalumnensis (Hyacinthaceae — Urgineoideae), a new species from Eastern Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 70: 631–634. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0254-6299(15)30202-7
  15. Fotouo Makouate, H., Van Rooyen, M.W. & Van der Merwe, C.F. (2012) Anatomy of myxospermic diaspores of selected species in the Succulent Karoo, Namaqualand, South Africa. Bothalia 42: 7–13. https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v42i1.4
  16. Harvey, W.H. (1865) Compositae. In: Harvey, W.H. & Sonder, O.W. (Eds.) Flora capensis: being a systematic description of the plants of the Cape Colony, Caffraria, & Port Natal 3. Hodges, Smith, and Co., Dublin, pp. 44–530. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.821
  17. Heath, P.V. (1997) Three new generic names in Asteraceae (part 1). Calyx 5 (4): 136.
  18. Heath, P.V. (1999) Three new generic names in Asteraceae (part 2). Calyx 6 (2): 54–55.
  19. Hilliard, O.M. (1977) Compositae in Natal. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, 659 pp.
  20. Hoare, D.B., Mucina, L., Rutherford, M.C., Vlok, J.H.J., Euston-Brown, D.I.W., Palmer, A.R., Powrie, L.W., Lechmere-Oertel, R.G., Procheş, Ş.M., Dold, A.P. & Ward, R.A. (2006) Albany Thicket Biome. In: Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M.C. (Eds.) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 540–567.
  21. IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Version 3.1, 2nd edition. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, 32 pp.
  22. Jacobsen, H. (1968) String-of-beads senecio: Senecio rowleyanus Jacobs spec. nov. National Cactus and Succulent Journal 23 (2): 30–31.
  23. Jacobsen, H. & Rowley, G.D. (1956) Some name changes in succulent plants—part III. National Cactus and Succulent Journal 11 (3): 59–61.
  24. Kuntze, O. (1891) Revisio generum plantarum 1. Arthur Felix, Leipzig; Dulau & Co., London; U. Hoepli, Milano; G.E. Stechert, New York; C. Klincksieck, Paris, 374 pp. [https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/idurl/1/14269]
  25. Kupicha, F.K. (1984) Studies on African Asclepiadaceae. Kew Bulletin 38: 599–672. https://doi.org/10.2307/4108575
  26. Le Roux, F.G. (1989) The lithostratigraphy of Cenozoic deposits along the South East Cape coast as related to geological change. MSc thesis, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 247 pp. [http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/67134]
  27. Lessing, C.F. (1831) Synanthereae Rich. In: de Chamisso, A. & de Schlechtendal, D. (Eds.) De plantis in expeditione speculatoria Romanzoffiana observatis disserere. Linnaea 6: 76–170. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/97076]
  28. Lessing, C.F. (1832) Synopsis generum compositarum earumque dispositionis novae tentamen, monographis multarum Capensium interjectis. Dunckeri et Humblotii, Berolini, 473 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.51470
  29. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species plantarum. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 1200 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.669
  30. Linnaeus filius, C. (1782) Supplementum plantarum. Orphanotrophei, Brunsvigae, 468 pp. [https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/idurl/1/11485]
  31. Magoswana, S.L. (2018) Systematics of geophytic Othonna (Senecioneae, Othonninae). MSc thesis, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 170 pp. [http://hdl.handle.net/11394/5699]
  32. Manning, J. & Goldblatt, P. (Eds.) (2012) Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region I: The core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 853 pp.
  33. Marloth, R. (1910) Some new South African succulents. Part III. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 2: 33–39. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47230503]
  34. McKenzie, R.J. & Dold, A.P. (2023) Lectotypification of Othonna crassifolia Harv., a replaced synonym of Crassothonna capensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae). Phytotaxa 618 (3): 296−300. https://doi.org/10/11646/phytotaxa.618.3.8
  35. Nordenstam, B. (1978) Taxonomic studies in the tribe Senecioneae (Compositae). Opera Botanica 44: 1–84.
  36. Nordenstam, B. (2012) Crassothonna B.Nord., a new African genus of succulent Compositae-Senecioneae. Compositae Newsletter 50: 70–77. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41205937]
  37. Nordenstam, B., Clark, V.R., Devos, N. & Barker, N.P. (2009a) Two new species of Euryops (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) from the Sneeuberg, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 75: 205–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2008.10.003
  38. Nordenstam, B., Pelser, P.B., Kadereit, J.W. & Watson, L.E. (2009b) Senecioneae. In: Funk, V.A., Susanna, A., Stuessy, T. & Bayer, R. (Eds.) Systematics, evolution, and biogeography of the Compositae. International Association of Plant Taxonomists, Vienna, pp. 503–525.
  39. Oliver, D. (1887) Othonna carnosa, Less. var. discoidea. Hooker’s Icones plantarum 18: t. 1713. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16159958]
  40. Ozerova, L.V., Schanzer, I.A. & Timonin, A.C. (2017) Curio alliance (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) revisited. Wulfenia 24: 29–52.
  41. Pelser, P.B., Kennedy, A.H., Tepe, E.J., Shidler, J.B., Nordenstam, B., Kadereit, J.W. & Watson, L.E. (2010) Patterns and causes of incongruence between plastid and nuclear Senecioneae (Asteraceae) phylogenies. American Journal of Botany 97: 856–873. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.0900287
  42. Roque, N., Keil, D.J. & Susanna, A. (2009) Illustrated glossary of Compositae. In: Funk, V.A., Susanna, A., Stuessy, T. & Bayer, R. (Eds.) Systematics, evolution, and biogeography of the Compositae. International Association of Plant Taxonomists, Vienna, pp. 781–806.
  43. Rösch, M.W. (1977) Enkele plantekologiese aspekte van die Hester Malan-natuurreservaat. MSc thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
  44. Rowley, G.D. (1994) Succulent Compositae. Strawberry Press, Mill Valley, 238 pp.
  45. Rowley, G.D. (2002) Othonna. In: Eggli, U. (Ed.) Illustrated handbook of succulent plants: Dicotyledons. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 22–27.
  46. SANBI (2020) Red List of South African Plants. Version 2020.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Available from: http://redlist.sanbi.org/ (accessed: 31 July 2023).
  47. Schlechter, R. (1894) Beiträge zur Kenntnis südafrikanischer Asclepiadaceen. Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 18 (4, Beibl. 45): 1–37. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/203670]
  48. Schlechter, R. (1898) Decades plantarum novarum austro-africanarum. Decas VII. Journal of Botany 36: 23–28. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9106193]
  49. Schulze, R.E., Maharaj, M., Lynch, S.D., Howe, B.J. & Melvil-Thompson, B. (2001) South African atlas of agrohydrology and climatology. Beta 1.002. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. [http://fred.csir.co.za/project/tmg/agrohydrology_atlas/atlas.htm]
  50. Stearn, W.T. (1992) Botanical Latin (4 ed.). David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 546 pp.
  51. Swanepoel, W. & De Cauwer, V. (2019) Crassothonna agaatbergensis (Asteraceae), a new species from the Skeleton Coast, Namibia. Phytotaxa 427: 209–215. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.427.3.4
  52. Thiers, B. (2023) Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: https://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed: 22 February 2023).
  53. Turland, N.J., Wiersema, J.H., Barrie, F.R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Herendeen, P.S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W.-H., Li, D.-Z., Marhold, K., May, T.W., McNeill, J., Monro, A.M., Prado, J., Price, M.J. & Smith, G.F. (2018) International code of nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress, Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashütten, 254 pp. https://doi.org/10.12705/Code.2018
  54. Van Jaarsveld, E.J. (2011) Cremnophilous succulents of southern Africa: diversity, structure and adaptations. PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 1400 pp. [http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25107]
  55. Van Wyk, A.E. & Smith, G.F. (2001) Regions of floristic endemism in southern Africa. Umdaus Press, Hatfield, 199 pp.
  56. Victor, J.E. & Dold, A.P. (2003) Threatened plants of the Albany Centre of Floristic Endemism, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 99: 437–446. [https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC97693]
  57. Williams, I.J.M. (1978) Studies in the genera of the Diosmeae (Rutaceae): 7. Journal of South African Botany 44: 329–362.