3. Pteronia cederbergensis Bello, Magee & Boatwr. sp. nov.

Type: South Africa. Western Cape, Wuppertal (3219): Knolfontein, Swartruggens 60 km north-east of Ceres (–DC), Jardine 1762 (NBG, holo.!).

Pteronia camphorata L. var. laevigata Harv. in Harv. & Sond. Fl. Cap. 3: 110 (1865); Hutch. & Phillips in Ann. S. African Mus.9: 298 (1917), syn. nov. Type: South Africa. Piquetberg, near 24- Rivers, Zeyher 810 (TCD!, lecto., here designated; SAM!, isolecto.). [Note: Harvey cites only the Zeyher 810 collection in the protologue. The specimen from Harvey's own collection at TCD is selected here].

Evergreen perennial shrubs, 0.3–1.0 m high; much branched, branches glabrous. Leaves opposite, becoming sub-opposite towards the inflorescence, diffuse, spreading, simple, linear, 6.0–13.0 × ±1.0 mm, subterete, somewhat succulent, glabrous; mucronate, margins entire, fascicula te. Capitula homogamous, discoid, 10- to 20-flowered, terminal, solitary or sometimes in clusters of 2 to 8. Involucre campanulate to obconical, 10–15 × 15–20 mm, 3-seriate; involucral bracts glabrous, stereome prominent; margins shortly serrate, narrowly scarious; outermost bracts ovate to lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, apex acute; middle bracts lanceolate, 5–6 mm long, apex acute; innermost bracts lanceolate, 8–10 mm long, apex acute to acuminate. Florets bisexual, 10 to 20; corolla bright yellow, tubular, 9–11 mm long, limb 5-lobed, gradually widening upward, tube glabrous; anthers 3–4 mm long, apex acute, base terete; style branched, 13–14 mm long, branches flattened, about 3.6 mm long, densely stigmatic-papillate. Pappus 2-seriate, bristles, connate at base, 6–10 mm long, slightly shorter than florets at fruiting stage, straw-coloured. Cypselas obclavate, 6–7 mm × 1.5–2.0 mm, dorsoventrally flattened, marginal ribs not prominent, usually contracted into a neck at apex, glabrous, brown, shiny. Fig. 9.

Diagnostic characters

Pteronia cederbergensis is readily distinguished by the glabrous branches, diffuse, opposite, somewhat succulent leaves (Fig. 9A) that lack glands, glabrous corolla tube, 2-seriate pappus and the longer, obclavate cypselas (6–7 mm long) (Fig. 9D).

Distribution and ecology

This species is restricted to the Cederberg and Koue Bokkeveld Mountains in the Western Cape (Fig. 10). It favours rocky soils from 100 to 1590 m. Flowering is in spring and mid-summer (September to January).

Specimens examined

South Africa. WESTERN CAPE: 3218 (Clanwilliam): Cederberg: Sederhoutkop, upper slopes (– BB), Taylor 10778 (NBG, PRE). 3219 (Wuppertal): North Cederberg: Summit of Krakadouw Peak (– AA), Taylor 10887 (NBG); Boontjieskloof, North Cederberg (– AA), Taylor 7479 (PRE); Middelberg Plateau, Cederberg (– AC), Bond 1334 (NBG), Kerfoot 6175 (NBG), Esterhuysen 2474 (PRE); Cederberg Wilderness area, Groot Koupoort (– AC), Haynes 1301 (NBG, PRE); Algeria State Forest, near Hoogvertoon (– AC), Viviers 22 (PRE); Clanwilliam Division, Cederberg into Middelberg (– AC), Esterhuysen 1264 (PRE); Cold Bokkeveld, East end of Elandskloof, ca 33 km south of Citrusdal (– CA), Goldblatt 5242 (PRE); Knolfontein, Swartruggens 60 km north-east of Ceres (–DC), Jardine & Jardine 299, 1007, 1029 (NBG). 3319 (Wocester): West road between Rosendalfontein & Visgat (– AA), Pillans 9682 (NBG, PRE); Gydouw Pass (–AB), Compton 10062 (NBG); Cold Bokkeveld, Rocklands Peak in Skurweberg, West slopes (–AB), Oliver 9069 (NBG); On the Groot River road from Cold Bokkeveld to Cederberg (–AB), Taylor 6124 (PRE, NBG); Mountain above Ceres Peak (– AD), Barker 9109 (NBG); Prince Alfred Hamlet, south-west top of Gydouw Pass (– AD), Bayer 6328 (PRE); Ceres Division, Visgat, upper Olifants River valley, rocky river bank (– AD), Esterhuysen 13402 (BOL); Baviaansberg, Ceres Division (– BA), Stokoe s.n. (BOL); Lakenvlei (– BC), Compton 12072 (NBG); Ceres Division, Conical Peak (– BC), Stokoe 59951 (PRE); Worcester Division, between Darling bridges, Roman's River (– CB), Isaac s.n. (BOL); Elandskloof, Ceres Division (–CD), Levyns 5101 (BOL).