Phymaspermum parvifolium, (DC.) Benth. and Hook. f. ex B. D. Jacks., Index Kew.

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 : 437-439

2. PHYMASPERMUM PARVIFOLIUM (DC.) Benth. and Hook. f. ex B.D. Jacks., Index Kew. 1: 37 (1893); 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).

Adenachaena parvifolia DC., Prodr. 6: 50 (1838); Harv. and Sond., Fl. Cap. 3: 161 (1864).

— TYPE: SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth (3325): ‘ Uitenhage’ ,1835, Ecklon 1845 (holotype: G –DC–image!; isotype: S –image!). [Note: This is the only specimen of this species in de Candolle’ s collection at G–DC.]

Adenachaena pubescens DC. , Prodr. 1: 49 (1838), syn. nov.

Phymaspermum pubescens (DC.) Kuntze , Revis. Gen. pl. 3: 167 (1898); 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).

— TYPE: SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape, Aliwal North (3026): ‘ Nieuwe Hantom’ (–CC), February 1835, Drège 6135 (lectotype: G –DC sheet G 00455508–image!, designated here; isolectotypes: E –image!, G –DC two sheets–image!, HBG –image) . [Note: There are three specimens from the same collection by Drège (Drège locality 1,b,2) in G –DC, only one bears the original collection label with the locality and is designated here.]

Single-stemmed, densely leafy shrublet, 0.15–0.4 m high. Stem strongly-branched; branches erect to spreading, glabrous to densely silvery pubescent; fascicles sometimes present in leaf axils. Leaves alternate, spreading to rarely reflexed, 3.0–15.0 × 0.8 mm, linear to oblong, mucronate, entire to trifid, sometimes narrowed into petiole-like base, sometimes with secondary basal lobes, glabrous to silvery pubescent on both surfaces, fleshy; basal swelling present, continuous with stem ribs; lobes 2 or 3, 0.2–3.0 × 0.8 mm, oblong, mucronate. Capitula radiate, heterogamous, terminal, solitary, with up to 3 additional capitula from leaf axils below, pedunculate; peduncles 5.0–45.0 mm long, glabrous to silvery pubescent. Involucre 2.5–5.0 × 2.5–6.0 mm, narrowly campanulate (rarely hemispherical), tapering at the base; involucral bracts 4-seriate, tightly arranged, margins and apices scarious, membranous apices of all bracts 0.3–0.6 mm long, usually with fimbriate margins, glabrous to hairy (rarely beyond margins), brown margins absent, median resin canals present; outer bracts deltoid, 1.0– 1.6 mm long, acute to attenuate; middle bracts deltoid, 1.5–1.8 mm long, acute to attenuate; inner bracts oblong, 2.2–2.5 mm long, acute to rounded; innermost bracts oblong, 2.8–3.1 mm long, acute to rounded. Receptacle convex; paleae in marginal series, oblong to linear, 2.6–3.0 mm long, rounded, rigid with scarious margins and apices, scarious apices 0.2–0.3 mm long. Ray florets ±7; tube 1.0– 1.2 mm long; limb obovate, 4.5–5.3 × 2.3–3.0 mm, apically 3-dentate, white. Disc florets 10–15, without resin canals; corolla 1.6–2.2 mm long, with only glandular trichomes, yellow to purple; tube 1.0– 1.2 mm long; limb campanulate, 0.6–1.0 mm long (excluding lobes); lobes spreading, 0.6–0.7 mm long, triangular. Anthers 2.3–2.8 mm long (including apical appendage); apical appendage ovate. Style 1.7–2.3 mm long (excluding branches); branches 0.5–0.6 mm long. Cypselas 2.0 × 1.0 mm, narrowly to broadly obovate, 10- to 14-ribbed, apical rim thickened, slightly dentate, glandular trichomes present, dense, scattered, mucilaginous when soaked, discontinuous resin canals in ribs absent. Figure 5 .

Diagnostic Characters — Phymaspermum parvifolium is a compact shrub, less than 0.4 m tall, with a close branching habit and radiate heads. It can sometimes be confused with P. thymelaeoides but can be distinguished by its compact growth ( P. thymelaeoides is an open branched shrub, usually more than 0.8 m tall), the linear to oblong leaves (spathulate in P. thymelaeoides ), glabrous disc florets (often hairy in P. thymelaeoides ) and glabrous to sparsely hairy (rarely beyond margins) involucral bracts (densely villous in P. thymelaeoides ).

Distribution and Ecology — Phymaspermum parvifolium is widely distributed in the largely arid areas of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape as well as the Free State at an altitude of 300–1,500 m ( Fig. 5G ). Flowering is throughout the year but peaks from March to May. This species is an important fodder plant for sheep and is commonly known as the “swart karoo,” “vaal karoo,” “wit heuning karoo,” and “good karoo” ( Smith 1966; Powrie 2004).

Additional Specimens Examined — SOUTH AFRICA. Freestate: 2925 ( Jagersfontein ): Bloemfontein , Hagesdam farm near Hagesdam (–BD), Zietsman 4070 ( PRE) ; Fauresmith (– CB), Macloylhin 94 ( BOL), Hofman s.n. ( PRE), Verdoorn 2093 ( PRE) ; Fauresmith, veld reserve (– CB), Pappendorf 700 ( PRE) ; Fauresmith (– CB), van Breda SKF521 ( PRE) ; Fauresmith, farm Bakbank , crest of small hill behind homestead (–DC), Smith 3997 ( PRE) ; Fauresmith, farm Bakbank , small plateau on hill behind farm house (–DC), Smith 4005 ( PRE) ; farm Bakbank, in veld near gate (–DC), Smith 5549 ( PRE). 2926 ( Bloemfontein ): Bloemfontein (– AA), Pole-Evans 1678 ( PRE). 3025 ( Colesburg ): 17 km from Bethulie on road to Philippolis (– BC), Reid 238 ( PRE). 3026 ( Aliwal North ): Low lying area at base of Boesmansberg (– AA), Reid 223 ( PRE two sheets) ; Grootfontein along the road to Inhoek (– AC), Muller 960 ( PRE) ; Eland’ s Hoek (–DC), Bolus 267 ( BOL). Northern Cape: 2822 (Glen Lyon): Hay sandveld at Bermolli (–BD), Acocks and Hafström H 1082 ( PRE), Wilman 2426 ( BOL) ; Hay, Floradale (–BD), Esterhuysen 2303 ( BOL). 2823 ( Griekwastad ): 21 miles ESE of Postmasburg (– CA), Leistner 1653 ( NBG). 2922 ( Prieska ): Niekerk’ s Hoop , Griqualand West (–BD), Wilman 17105 ( BOL) ; Boesmanland, farm Doonies-Pan 106, 13, 3 km NNW of Coppertown (– CC), Le Roux and Lloyd 137 ( PRE) ; Prieska (–DA), Bryant J 254 ( PRE). 2923 (Douglas): Swarthaakveld at Lanyon vale (– AA), Acocks 1949 ( PRE). 3023 (Britstown): De Aar, Quaggafontein (–DB), Acocks 12609 ( PRE). 3121 (Fraserburg): Grootfontein farm, about 42 km N of Williston , 6 km W from farmhouse (– AA), Germishuizen 6364 ( BOL) ; Spioenberg, on road from Droëputs to Fraserburg (– BC), Germishuizen 6498 ( PRE). 3123 ( Victoria West ): 36 km from Victoria West on main road to Britstown , farm Rietpoort (– AA), Herman 1157 ( PRE) ; Groot Bosmanspoortberg, NE of Victoria West (– AC), Hugo 310 ( PRE). Western Cape: 3221 (Merweville): Grootfontein, Fraserburg , Layton , Spitskop (– BC), Shearing 74 ( PRE) ; Fraserburg district, Layton , kloof bottom, Spitskop , (– BC), Shearing 161 ( PRE). 3222 ( Beaufort West ): Karoo National Park , NE border of the farm Brandewynsgat , rivercourse with steep cliffs (– AA), Bester 6152 ( NBG) ; Karoo National Park, koppie next to road (– BC), Bohnen 6552 ( NBG). 3320 ( Montagu ): Anysberg Nature Reserve , just past Vrede homestead on way to man made dam (– BC), Germishuizen 6746 ( PRE) ; Kruisrivier farm, 4 km S of Bloutoring , near old Ladismith railway (– CB), Hilton-Taylor 2054 ( NBG) ; Ladismith , about 2 km N of entrance to farm Hoek-Van-Den-Berg (– CB), Viviers and Vlok 410 ( PRE). Eastern Cape: 3025 (Colesburg): Verwoerd Dam Nature Reserve (– CB), Muller 1785 ( PRE) ; Oviston Nature Reserve (–DA), Fourie 455 ( PRE). 3026 ( Aliwal North ): Excelsior farm (closely adjacent to Cliftonvale farm) 20 km SE of Bethulie (– CA), Burrows 2407 ( PRE) ; Farm “ Die Hoek ” 20 km W of Burgersdorp (– CC), Schieber 22 ( PRE) ; Winnaars baken, Burghersdorp (– CC), Thorne 51899 ( SAM). 3124 ( Hanover ): Doornberg hoek near windmill (–CD), Acocks 8651 ( PRE) ; farm Blue Gum house, stream bank in front of farmhouse (– DD), Retief and Reid 545 ( PRE). 3125 ( Steynsburg ): Middelburg (– AC), Hutchinson 3106 ( BOL), Leistner 631 ( NBG) ; Grootfontein, Middelburg (– AC), Gill 230 ( BOL), Verdoorn 1481 ( PRE), Theron 552 ( PRE) ; 4 miles from Middelburg on Rietpoort road (– AC), Commins 724 ( PRE) ; Middelburg Road railway station (– AC), Flanagan 1384 ( PRE, BOL, SAM), Tyson 45065 ( SAM) ; near Springfontein (– BA), Rogers 1000 ( BOL) ; farm Palmskop (– BB), Retief and Germishuizen 294 ( PRE) ; Middelburg district, Erin (– CA), Acocks 24565 ( PRE). 3126 ( Queenstown ): Albert (– AA), Cooper 1360 ( BOL), Drège s.n. ( K –image) ; SE of Burgersdorp, off Stormberg plateau (–AB), Victor 1415 ( PRE). 3223 ( Rietbron ): Concordia (– CC), Dean 894 ( BOL). 3224 ( Graaff-Reinet ): Graaff-Reinet (– BC), Galpin 10587 ( PRE two sheets) ; 30 miles S of Graaff-Reinet (– BC), Bolus 1864 ( BOL). 3225 ( Mahlobyanini East ): E slopes of Rietpoort Mountain (– AA), Acocks 11952 ( PRE) ; Cradock (– BA), Zeyher and Burke 981 ( SAM) ; 33 miles from Cradock (– BA), Maguire 706 ( NBG). 3323 ( Willowmore ): Lower north facing slopes of Witteberg near Rietfontein (– BB), Viviers and Vlok 161 ( PRE) ; 25 miles E of Willowmore (– BC), Compton 19640 ( NBG). 3325 ( Port Elizabeth ): Winterhoeksberg (– CA), Ecklon and Zeyher s.n. ( S –image). 3326 ( Grahamstown ): Albany (– AC), Acock 15733 ( BOL) ; Albany, Plutos Vale (– BC), Compton 13104 ( NBG) ; Hunt Hoek (– BC), Forward A 1750 ( PRE) ; Ecca Pass, 26 km from Grahamstown on R 67 to Fort Beaufort (– BC), Koekemoer 2322 ( PRE) ; Albany , Trumpeters Drift (–BD), Story 2182 ( PRE) .

PRECISE LOCALITY UNKNOWN: Bonga farm, Middelberg, Bolus 14076 ( BOL).

Figures

FIG. 5. Phymaspermum parvifolium. A. Leaves. B. Capitula. C. Involucral bracts (outermost to innermost series, from left) and single palea (far right). D. Ray florets. E. Disc floret. F. Cypselas. G. Known geographical distribution. Vouchers: A1, A6, B1, C4. Bester 6152 (NBG); A2–A3, A5, C1, D1, E, F1. Koekemoer 2322 (PRE); A4, A7. Reid 223 (PRE); B2. Compton 2031 (NBG); C2, D2, F2. Viviers and Vlok 410 (PRE); C3. Leistner 1653 (NBG). Scale: A–B = 4 mm; C–D = 1 mm; E = 500 μm.