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Issue: Vol. 731 No. 2: 27 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-27
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.731.2.6
Page range: 159-168
Abstract views: 100
PDF downloaded: 3

Ceropegia ornata (Asclepiadoideae, Ceropegieae) a new species from Eastern Cape, South Africa

Depto. de Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (dCARN), Universidad de Alicante, P.O. Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain, Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Department of Botany, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Department of Botany, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
Environmental Science Department, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
Apocynaceae Brachystelma Ceropegia sp. nov. Albany Thicket Eudicots

Abstract

A new species of Ceropegia, named C. ornata, is described from the Albany Thicket Biome in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Under the traditional generic concepts, the new species would belong to Brachystelma based on its open-rotate flowers and flattened tuber. However, following the recently enlarged concept of Ceropegia s.l., which includes Brachystelma and the stapeliads, we provisionally place the new species in Ceropegia s.l. Ceropegia ornata is morphologically closest to C. delicata (≡ Brachystelma delicatum) but differs in several reproductive and vegetative characters, such as shorter stems, smaller leaves, different corolla colouration, and distinct corona structure. Ceropegia ornata may also be confused with the more distantly related C. huttonii (≡ B. huttonii) and differences to this species are discussed as well. A complete description is presented for the new species, and illustrations of all three species under discussion are provided.

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How to Cite

Martínez-Azorín, M., Dold, A.P. & Powell, M.J. (2025) Ceropegia ornata (Asclepiadoideae, Ceropegieae) a new species from Eastern Cape, South Africa. Phytotaxa 731 (2): 159–168. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.731.2.6