Phymaspermum erubescens, (Hutch.) Kallersjo

Ruiters, Ashton K., Tilney, Patricia M., Wyk, Ben-Erik Van & Magee, Anthony R., 2016, Taxonomy of the Genus Phymaspermum (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) 41 (2), pp. 430-456 : 445-446

10. PHYMASPERMUM ERUBESCENS (Hutch.) Källersjö in Nord. J. Bot 5(6): 535 (1986); K. Bremer and Humphries in Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 23(2): 94 (1993); Germish. and N.L. Meyer in Pl. S. Afr.: 274 (2003); Klopper et al. in Checklist of the flowering plants of Sub- Saharan Africa: 147 (2006); Germish. et al. Checklist S. African Pl.: 243 (2006).

Brachymeris erubescens Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew,1916: 173 (1917).

— TYPE: SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape, Mthatha (3128): Tembuland : Tabase , near Bazeia (–DA), Baur 334 (lectotype: K –image!, designated by Källersjö 1986; isolectotype: SAM!) .

Phymaspermum equisetoides Thell. in Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zurich. 68. 446 (1923); Källersjö in Nord. J. Bot 5 (6): 535 (1986); K. Bremer and Humphries in Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. ( Bot. ) 23(2): 94 (1993); Klopper et al. Checklist of the flowering plants of Sub- Saharan Africa : 147 (2006). syn. nov.

—TYPE: SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape, Kokstad (3029): Pondoland , Mnceba (– CC), Dec 1913, Jaccotet and Jaccotet 58 (lectotype: Z sheet 3788–image!, designated here; isolectotype: E –image!, Z sheet 3787– image!) [ Note: There are two sheets of this collection in Z. Sheet 3788 is selected here as it is rich in flowering and leaf material.]

Multistemmed, leafy shrublet, up to 0.3 m high. Stems few-branched; branches erect, sparsely hairy to silver villous or hispid; fascicles sometimes present in leaf axils. Leaves alternate, apressed to erect, 2.0–10.0 × 1.0 mm, linear to lanceolate, acute to acuminate, revolute, entire, without petiole-like base, without secondary basal lobes, glabrous to silver-villous adaxially, glabrous abaxially, fleshy to leathery; basal swelling present, continuous with stem ribs. Capitula discoid, homogamous, terminal, solitary, with 0–3 additional capitula from leaf axils below, pedunculate; peduncles 15.0–60.0 mm long, glabrous. Involucre 5.0–7.0 × 5.0–7.0 mm, hemispherical to cyathiform, rarely tapering at the base; involucral bracts 4-seriate, tightly arranged, margins and apices scarious, membranous apices of all bracts 0.8–1.3 mm long, glabrous, brown margins absent, median resin canals present; outer bracts deltoid to lanceolate, 2.7–3.5 mm long, acute to attenuating; middle bracts triangular ovate, 4.0– 4.3 mm long, acuminate; inner bracts lanceolate, 4.6–5.2 mm long, rounded. Receptacle convex; paleae in marginal series, oblanceolate to oblong, 4.6– 5.2 mm long, rounded, membranous with scarious margins and apices, scarious apices 0.6–1.2 mm long. Disc florets ±20, without resin canals; corolla 2.0–3.0 mm long, with only glandular trichomes, yellow; tube 1.0– 1.2 mm long; limb narrowly campanulate, 1.0– 1.2 mm long (excluding lobes); lobes spreading, 0.6–1.0 mm long, triangular ovate. Anthers 2.8–3.6 mm long (including apical appendage); apical appendage obovate. Style 2.4–2.8 mm long (excluding branches); branches 0.4–1.0 mm long. Cypselas 3.6 × 1.0 mm, obovate, 11-ribbed, apical rim thickened, dentate, glandular trichomes present, sparse, scattered, not mucilaginous when soaked, discontinuous resin canals in ribs absent. Figure 13 .

Diagnostic Characters — Phymaspermum erubescens could be confused with P. peglerae or discoid specimens of P. aciculare but can be readily distinguished by the sparse to dense silvery villous or hispid indumentum on the stems and leaves (densely bronze villous in P. peglerae and glabrous in P. aciculare ), the shorter leaves, 2.0–10.0 mm long and smaller cypselas (when compared to P. peglerae ) ≤ 4 mm long.

Distribution and Ecology — Phymaspermum erubescens is a relatively poorly collected species which occurs from Lady Frere to King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape ( Fig. 13F ). It favours sandstone in grasslands at altitudes of 600–1,700 m. Flowering is from October to March.

Additional Specimens Examined — SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape: 3127 (Lady Frere): Farm Ebuhleni ca. 27 km N of Indwe along R 396, track up to Vodacom tower (– AD), Magee et al. 436 ( NBG); Farm Ebuhleni, SW mountain slopes, N of homestead (–AD), Bester 7396 ( PRE); hills near Cala (–DA), Esterhuysen 29184 (BOL); Ngcobo (–DB), Acocks 12161 ( PRE). 3227 (Stutterheim): King Williams Town (–CD), Flanagan 2164 ( NBG) .

PRECISE LOCALITY UNKNOWN: Kaffraria, Sim 19851 (PRE).

Figures

FIG. 13. Phymaspermum erubescens. A. Leaf. B. Capitula. C. Involucral bracts (outermost to innermost series, from left) and single palea (far right). D. Disc floret. E. Cypsela. F. Known geographical distribution. Vouchers: A. Esterhuysen 29184 (BOL); B–D. Bester 7396 (PRE); E. Acocks 12161 (PRE). Scale: A–B = 4 mm; C–D = 1 mm; E = 500 μm.