Phymaspermum scoparium, (E. Mey. ex. DC.) Källersjö

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 : 436-437

1. PHYMASPERMUM SCOPARIUM ( E. Mey. ex. DC.) Källersjö in Nordic 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, Pl. S. Afr.: 274 (2003); Klopper et al. Checklist of the flowering plants of Sub- Saharan Africa: 147 (2006); Germish. et al. Checklist S. African Pl.: 243 (2006).

Brachymeris scoparia E. Mey. ex. DC., Prodr. 6:76 (1838); Harv. and Sond., Fl. Cap. 3: 163 (1864); Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew, 1916: 173 (1917).

— TYPE: SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape, Hanover (3124): ‘ Zeekoerivier ’ [Seekoeirivier] (–BC), March 1835, Drège 801 (lectotype: G –DC–image!, designated here; isolectotype: HBG –image!, P –image!). [Note: de Candolle cited two Drège collections in his protologue. There is a single sheet in G –DC which has both collections. The specimen from Seekoeirivier (Drège locality 1,c,1), on the right, is selected as it is the better of the two specimens and has duplicates in HBG and P.]

Single-stemmed, sparsely leafy shrublet, height unknown. Stem much-branched; branches erect to spreading, spinetipped, silvery-pubescent; fascicles sometimes present in leaf axils. Leaves alternate, appressed to spreading, 1.0–5.0 × 1.0–2.0 mm, triangular ovate to spathulate, rounded to mucronate, entire, narrowed into petiole-like base, without secondary basal lobes, densely silvery pubescent on both surfaces, fleshy; basal swelling present, continuous with stem ribs. Capitula discoid, homogamous, on short axillary shoots, solitary, subsessile. Involucre 4.0 × 3.0 mm, cyathiform, tapering at the base; involucral bracts 4-seriate, tightly arranged, margins and apices scarious, membranous apices of all bracts 0.1–0.2 mm long, glabrous to villous along edges, brown margins absent, median resin canals present; outer bracts deltoid to lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm long, acute to obtuse; middle bracts deltoid to lanceolate, ca. 1.8 mm long, acute to obtuse; inner bracts lanceolate to oblong, ca. 1.8 mm long, obtuse; innermost bracts oblong, ca. 2.2 mm long, obtuse. Receptacle convex; paleae in marginal series, linear, ca. 3.0 mm long, obtuse, rigid with scarious margins and apices, scarious apices 0.6 mm long. Disc florets ± 10, without resin canals; corolla ± 1.8 mm long, with glandular trichomes and hairs on tube and limb, yellow; tube ±1.0 mm long; limb narrowly campanulate, 0.8 mm long (excluding lobes); lobes spreading, 0.7 mm long, triangular-ovate. Anthers 2.1 mm long (including apical appendage); apical appendage oblong. Style 2.2–2.5 mm long (excluding branches); branches 0.8 mm long. Cypselas 2.0 × 0.8 mm, narrowly obovate, 11-ribbed, apical rim thickened, slightly dentate, glandular trichomes present, dense, scattered, not mucilaginous when soaked, discontinuous resin canals in ribs absent. Figure 4 .

Diagnostic Characters — Phymaspermum scoparium is unlikely to be confused with any of the other discoid species. It is easily recognised by the subsessile, axillary heads, apically spinescent stems, and florets with a pilose corolla.

Distribution and Ecology — Phymaspermum soparium is a very poorly collected species from near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape to Hanover in the Northern Cape ( Fig. 4F ). The species appears to favor seasonally moist sites. Flowering time is from November to March.

Additional Specimens Examined — SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: 3024 (De Aar): Rhenosterberg (– AC), Drège s.n. ( P –image); between Colesberg and Hanover (– DD), Henrici 3924 ( PRE). 3124 (Hanover): Seekoeirivier , Klein Tafelberg , Winterveld (– AD), Ecklon and Zeyher 127 ( SAM); Noupoort (– BB), Henrici 4446 ( PRE). Eastern Cape: 3125 (Steynsburg): Middelberg (– AC), Acocks 15324 ( PRE); Middelburg, Leeufontein (– AC), Theron 1055 ( PRE). 3224 (Graaff-Reinet): Sneeuwberg (– AA), Drège 45070 ( SAM); Sneeuwberg lowlands (– AA), Drège 59179 ( PRE), Drège s.n. ( S – two images) .

Figures

FIG. 4. Phymaspermum scoparium. A. Leaves. 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, B, E. Theron 1055 (PRE); C, D. Ecklon and Zeyher 127 (SAM). Scale: A–B = 4 mm; C–D = 1 mm; E = 500 μm.