Erica inopina J. H. J. Vlok, 2025

Hoekstra, Rendert D., Musker, Seth D., Pirie, Michael D. & Vlok, Jan H. J., 2025, An integrative approach to alpha taxonomy in Erica L. (Ericaceae) with three new species from the Western Cape, South Africa, PhytoKeys 257, pp. 95-117 : 95-117

Erica inopina J. H. J. Vlok sp. nov.

Fig. 6

Link.

WFO: https://list.worldfloraonline.org/wfo-1000079208.

Type.

South Africa • Western Cape, 3320 BB (Laingsburg): Laingsburg district, about 20 km south-east of Touws River, on Lettaskraal Farm, Brandhoek section , 840 m, - 33.440°S, 20.373°E, 13 April 2021, J. H. J. Vlok 2988 ( NBG, holotype; BG, isotype [2088576]) .

Diagnosis.

Erica inopina is closely related and morphologically similar to E. subcapitata . It can be distinguished by its glabrous (as opposed to hairy) sepals, the presence of 3 (as opposed to 0) bracts on the pedicel, and its smooth (as opposed to verrucose) 3 - locular (as opposed to 1 - or 2 - locular) ovary.

Description.

Erect, densely branched, reseeding shrub to 50 cm tall. Branches erect, main branches with many secondary and tertiary flowering branches, pubescent when young with simple spreading hairs. Leaves 3 - nate, erect, imbricate, clasping stems, narrowly oblong, blades 2.0–2.5 × 0.6–0.7 mm, apex acute, sulcate, glabrous; petiole 0.3–0.5 mm long, not decurrent. Inflorescence of 1 - to 3 - nate flowers, mostly axillary in upper leaves, sometimes terminal at the tips of small branches; pedicel ± 0.3 mm long, green, glabrous; bracteoles 2, adnate to calyx, lanceolate, 0.5 × 0.4 mm, with ciliate margins; bract adnate to calyx, lanceolate, 1.5–1.7 × ± 0.4 mm, glabrous with ciliate margins. Calyx equally 4 - lobed; sepals adpressed to corolla, lanceolate, 0.7 × 0.4 mm, glabrous, green, margins entire. Corolla equally 4 - lobed, urceolate, 1.2–1.7 × ± 1.7 mm, glabrous, yellow green, fading reddish, lobes half to three-quarters the length of corolla, apex obtuse, margins irregular. Stamens 6, connate, partially exserted; anthers golden brown, almost sessile, muticous; pore tear-shaped. Ovary 3 - locular, often uniseriate septa, glabrous, smooth; 2 ovules per locule; style 2.0– 2.5 mm long, glabrous, stigma exserted, ± 0.3 mm diam., peltate. Fruit and seeds not seen. Flowering time: March to May.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is currently only known from the type locality, where it is locally abundant in deep sandy soil on the ecotone between Arid Fynbos and Renosterveld at the base of a south-facing slope.

Threat status.

Erica inopina is restricted to a single locality in the Laingsburg district, where fewer than 500 plants were observed with no immediate threats and no significant population decline expected. Based on this data, an IUCN (2012) category Vulnerable under criterion D is recommended.

Pollination syndrome.

The exserted style and peltate stigma, small, cup-shaped corolla and the absence of nectaries suggest anemophily.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the surprise to find an Erica of this group in an arid inland area.

Subgeneric classification.

Erica inopina falls within the Coccospermad group (section Ventiflora ) of Erica species that have a fully recaulescent bract and bracteoles ( Oliver 2000).

Notes on phylogeny and morphology.

The phylogenetic placement of E. inopina suggests E. subcapitata as its closest relative. These species are also morphologically similar but differ in several features clarified in the diagnosis above. Strict matching with the Erica ID aid yielded no results for E. inopina , irrespective of region and flowering times, and E. subcapitata featured low (32 nd) using the “ probability ” algorithm. This highlights the need to integrate multiple lines of evidence for alpha taxonomy in Erica .

Beyond the formal results, E. inopina is also morphologically similar to E. didymocarpa and E. parviporandra , from which it can be distinguished by its glabrous, 3 - locular ovary (2 - locular in E. didymocarpa ; hairy, 1 - locular in E. parviporandra ) glabrous sepals (hairy in E. didymocarpa ), 6 exserted anthers (8, mostly included anthers in E. didymocarpa ) and fully recaulescent bract and bracteoles ( E. didymocarpa is ebracteolate).

Figures

Figure 6. Erica inopina J. H. J. Vlok A flowering branch B single inflorescence. Voucher J. H. J. Vlok 2988 (NBG).