Callilepis leptophylla Harvey (1865: 136)

Herman, Paul P. J., 2022, A taxonomic revision of the genus Callilepis (Asteraceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 563 (1), pp. 1-62 : 19-24

. Callilepis leptophylla Harvey (1865: 136) ; Claassen (1969: t. 1554); Hilliard (1977: 288); Retief & Herman (1997: 297).

Type: — SOUTH AFRICA. ‘Betchuanaland’, Machalisberg [North-West, Magaliesberg ], (QDS: 2527DC Rustenburg ), October 1841, Zeyher 1043 (lectotype SAM /NBG barcode SAM0038644-1 , image, designated here ; isolectotypes K barcode K000410210 , P barcodes P00063646 , P00063647 , S barcode S14-14636 , SAM/NBG barcodes SAM0038644-2 , SAM0038644-3 , all images) .

Note:—On the SAM specimen (barcode SAM0038644-2) the number 164.10 is written in pencil. According to Glen & Germishuizen (2010), this number denotes the locality where the specimen was collected and the month of collection; the year also given by Glen & Germishuizen (2010).

Erect, perennial herbs with tufts of annual stems from underground rootstock, 200–600 mm, rarely up to 1 m, high. Stems unbranched or branched, becoming pedunculoid upwards, ribbed, glabrous or sparsely to densely hairy, usually with hair tufts in leaf axils. Leaves subopposite, alternate or spirally arranged, sometimes some lowest leaves opposite, sessile, linear or filiform, rarely very narrowly obovate or linear-elliptic, decreasing in size upwards and passing into peduncular bracts, (5–)10–80 × ≤ 0.5–1.5(–2.0) mm, margin entire, sometimes sparsely and minutely serrulate in upper part, sometimes whitish or paler than rest of leaf blade, glabrous or with occasional hair or more hairy, blade glabrous, with occasional hair or more hairy, with prominent single main vein or in broader leaves sometimes with 2 faint side veins parallel to main vein. Capitula solitary, heterogamous, radiate. Involucre hemispherical or broadly campanulate, (12–)15–25(–30) mm wide. Involucral bracts in 3 or 4 rows, subequal, inner grading into outer (ray) paleae; outer row linear-triangular, narrowly triangular or rarely narrowly ovate-acuminate, 5–10 × 0.5–1.5(rarely up to 2.5) mm, margin sometimes very narrowly membranous, sometimes sparsely and minutely pectinate, glabrous or sometimes with few short hairs or rarely long hairs, surface glabrous, rarely with few hairs basally; second row narrowly triangular or narrowly to very narrowly ovate, acuminate to long acuminate, 5–10 × 0.8–1.8 mm, margin often very narrowly membranous, sometimes sparsely and minutely pectinate, glabrous or sometimes with few short hairs or rarely long hairs, surface glabrous, rarely with few hairs basally; third row narrowly ovate to ovate, 5–10 × 1.0– 2.5 mm, apex acuminate to long acuminate, margin narrowly membranous in lower half or all along, sparsely and minutely pectinate, glabrous or sometimes with few short hairs or rarely long hairs, surface glabrous, rarely with few hairs basally; fourth row/inner ray palea narrowly ovate, (long) acuminate, 5–10 × 1.5–2.0 mm, sometimes 2- or 3-lobed apically, margin membranous in lower part, slightly or distinctly folded inwards, upwards narrowly membranous, faintly pectinate and glabrous or with few short hairs, surface glabrous. Receptacle conical, paleate; paleae boat-shaped, 4–7 mm long with 0.5–2.5 mm long acute to apiculate, dark apex, glabrous, enveloping inner ray and disc florets, often persistent for some time after florets have been shed. Ray florets zygomorphic, female, fertile, arranged in 1 to 3 rows; corolla white, cream, creamy white or yellowish; tube 0.5–2.5(–3.0) mm long, usually with 1 to 5 staminodes, 1.0– 2.5 mm long; limb (8–)10–15(–20) × 2–6(–8) mm, unlobed or minutely 2- or 3-, rarely 4-, lobed. Styles 2–5 mm long, exserted, bifurcate, branches sometimes unequal, rarely unlobed; style branches oblong, obtuse, 0.5–1.5 mm long, with broad marginal stigmatic areas, confluent apically or entire inner face stigmatic. Ray ovaries obovate, trigonous, 2–5 mm long, glabrous, with membranous wing on side of longest pappus awn or sometimes on all three angles and continuing up into pappus awns but shape and wings not always distinguishable in very young ovaries. Ray cypselae usually asymmetrically obovate, trigonous, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, ribbed, glabrous, cypsela of inner ray florets often laterally compressed, similar to those of disc florets. Ray pappus dimorphic, of awns and scales; longest awn (2.5–)3.0–4.0(–5.5) mm long, opposite ray limb, 2 shorter awns (1.5–)2.0–3.0(–4.0) mm long, rarely only one short awn or 3 short awns, with elliptic-obtuse lacerate scales among awns, ± 1 mm long. Disc florets actinomorphic, bisexual, fertile, many; corolla purple, violet or blackish, rarely white; tube 3–5 mm long, tubular below, with parallel sides basally, between basal and upper part often with ring-like thickening and from there widening narrowly funnelshaped upwards, 5-lobed; lobes 1–2 mm long, narrowly ovate, acute, recurved. Anthers 5, exserted; 1.5–2.0 mm long, with narrowly ovate apical appendages, 0.5–1.0 mm long, bases caudate and calcarate, tails 0.5–1.0 mm long, ciliate. Styles 2.5–5.0(–5.5) mm long, bifurcate; style branches oblong, 0.5–1.5(–2.0) mm long, apex conical or obtuse with ring of acute hairs outside at base of cone, with broad marginal stigmatic areas confluent apically or entire inner face stigmatic. Disc ovaries obovate, 2.5–5.0 mm long, laterally compressed, glabrous, with membranous wing on side of longest pappus awn and continuing up on it. Disc cypselae asymmetrically obovate, 4.0–5.5 × 2.0– 3.5 mm, laterally compressed, glabrous, ribbed, margins elongated upwards into pappus awns. Disc pappus dimorphic, of awns and scales; inner pappus awn longest, (2.5–)3.0–4.0(–5.0) mm long, opposite acute or apiculate palea apex, one shorter awn (1.5–)2.0–3.5(–4.5) mm long, sometimes 2 shorter awns; with scales in between awns, acute to obtuse, ± 1(2) mm long, apices lacerate. Flowering time August to January, May and June, with peak in October and November. Figs 1B, C, 2B, 6A, 7C, 8A, B, 9B, 13.

Distinguishing characters:— Callilepis leptophylla is easily recognisable by its linear or filiform leaves with a prominent single main vein, solitary capitula with subequal, narrow involucral bracts, white ray florets and mostly dark purplish or rarely white disc florets, and glabrous cypselae. Growing in grassland, it is one of the first spring flowers to appear.

In the following specimens white or paler disc florets were recorded: white ray and disc florets (Bester 16667, PRE); disc florets pink (Koekemoer 2534, PRE); rays white, discs maroon in bud, white when open, ageing dark brown to black (Reddy et al. 609, PRE).

Distribution:— Callilepis leptophylla is near endemic in northern and eastern South Africa and is widely distributed from Limpopo, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, eSwatini and KwaZulu-Natal (Fig. 14). According to Victor (2016), the Red List Status of C. leptophylla is Least Concern.

Additional specimens examined

SWAZILAND [eSWATINI]. Near Sandlane Border Post on road to Bhunya, grassland, gentle slope, well-drained, 1416 m, (QDS: 2630DB Carolina), 20 November 2002, Koekemoer 2534 ( PRE). Inter Dalriach et Forbe’s Reef, in colle saxoso, in terra “High Veld” dicta, 6500 ped. [between Dalriach and Forbes Reef, on rocky hills, in area called “High Veld”, 1981 m], (QDS: 2631AA/AC Mbabane), December 1905, Bolus 12001 ( PRE). Mbabane District, Dalriach, 4000 ft [1219 m], (QDS: 2631AC Mbabane), 25 October 1957, Compton 27142 (NBG image, PRE). Mbabane District, Ukutula, 4000 ft [1219 m], (QDS: 2631AC Mbabane), 13 November 1955, Compton 25250 (NBG image, PRE). Mbabane District, Ukutula, 4000 ft [1219 m], (flowering after fire in March), (QDS: 2631AC Mbabane), 17 June 1958, Compton 27884 ( PRE). Mbabane District, Poliniane River, 4000 ft [1219 m], (QDS: 2631AC Mbabane), 27 September 1962, Dlamini s.n. PRE 702612 ( PRE). Mbabane District, Black Mbuluzi Valley, 4000 ft [1219 m], (QDS: 2631AC Mbabane), 1 October 1958, Compton 28069 (NBG image, PRE). Mbabane District, Black Mbuluzi Valley, burnt area, 3500 ft [1067 m], (QDS: 2631AC Mbabane), 22 September 1959, Compton 29077 ( PRE).

SOUTH AFRICA. Limpopo: Pietersburg Division, hillside at Haenertsburg, (QDS: 2329DD Pietersburg), 20 October 1938, Hafström & Acocks 1545 ( PRE). Grassland westl. von Haenertsburg (Nähe Str. R 71) [W of Haenertsburg, near R 71, grassland], 1500 m, (QDS: 2329DD Pietersburg), 15 November 1991, Leverkusen RSA 16691 ( PRE). Haenertsburg, (QDS: 2329DD Pietersburg), November 1913, Pott s.n. TvlMus13295 ( PRE). Woodbush State Forest, Wegränder [roadside], 1600 m, (QDS: 2329DD Pietersburg), 15 November 1991, Leverkusen RSA 16791 ( PRE). Woodbush (N Tvl), Mountain Home Farm, common on grassland ridges, 5100 ft [1554 m], (QDS: 2329DD Pietersburg), 18 December 1935, Mogg 14702 ( PRE). Woodbush Forest Station, (QDS: 2329DD Pietersburg), December 1924, Van Dam s.n. PRE 59624 ( PRE). Woodbush, Pypkop, mountain slope, grassland, 1821 m, (QDS: 2330CC Tzaneen), 4 November 2010, Kremer-Kohne 34 ( PRE). Near Tzaneen, open rocky grassland, (QDS: 2330CC Tzaneen), 24 November 1985, Onderstall 1278 ( PRE). Geelhoutkop, (QDS: 2428AD Nylstroom), January 1918, Breyer s.n. TvlMus18014 ( PRE). Potgietersrus District, Sterkrivier Dam [Doorndraaidam?], deep sandy soil, (QDS: 2428BD Nylstroom), 21 October 1972, Van Vuuren 1840 ( PRE). Warmbad, Gedeelte 19 van Gedeelte F van die plaas Cyferfontein Nr 434 [section 19 of section F of the farm Cyferfontein Nr 434], (QDS: 2428CC Nylstroom), 14 October 1972, Hanekom 1880 ( PRE). Waterberg District, Nylstroom area, ± 100 m after Kranskop turn-off to Nylstroom along N1 highway, gentle E facing hill slope, savanna, sandy loam soil, 1391 m, (QDS: 2428CD Nylstroom), 4 October 2000, Burgoyne & Klapwijk 4 ( PRE). Warmbaths, (QDS: 2428CD Nylstroom), 21 October 1909, Leendertz s.n. TvlMus7586 ( PRE). Potgietersrust, ad urbem P., in steppo aperto [at the town Potgietersrust, in open grassland], (QDS: 2429AA Zebediela), 16 October 1930, Fries, Norlindh & Weimarck 1944 ( PRE), Fries, Norlindh & Weimarck 1944a ( PRE). Pyramid Estate near Potgietersrust, mountain tops, 5600 ft [1707 m], (QDS: 2429AA Zebediela), 27 October 1922, Galpin 9145 ( PRE). Zebediela, Percy Fyfe Nature Reserve, savanna, sandy granitic soil, 4500 ft [1372 m], (QDS: 2429AA Zebediela), 28 January 1968, Huntley 1086 ( PRE). Pietersburg, Wolkberg Plateau, 16 miles [25.7 km] S of Boyne, sandy soil, (QDS: 2429BB Zebediela), 5 February 1961, Van Vuuren 1307 ( PRE). The Downs 34 KT, slight NE facing slope, short sparse woodland, dark brown sand, 1481 m, (QDS: 2430AA Pilgrim’s Rest), 20 May 1986, Krynauw 1234 ( PRE). The Downs, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, slight N facing slope, well-drained sandy soil, (QDS: 2430AA Pilgrim’s Rest), 8 October 1984, Stalmans 194 ( PRE). Serala Peak, Farm Wolkberg 634 LT, open short montane grassland, slight NE facing slope, grey-brown sandy loam soil, 1760 m, (QDS: 2430AA Pilgrim’s Rest), 10 September 1985, Venter 10887 ( PRE).

North-West: Wolhuterskop, (QDS: 2527DA Rustenburg), August 1909, Crawley s.n. TvlMus10405 ( PRE).

Gauteng:Rustenburg, Uitkomst 499 JQ, naby suidwestelike hoekpaal, grasveld, effense konkawe noordfronthelling met dolomiet dagsome en sanderige leemgrond, 5000 ft [near south-western corner pole, grassveld, slight concave N facing slope with dolomite outcrops and sandy loam soil, 1524 m], (QDS: 2527DD Rustenburg), 19 November 1970, Coetzee 427 ( PRE, PRU). Pretoria District, Zoutpan [Tswaing Meteorite Crater], (QDS: 2528AC Pretoria), December 1911, Van Dam s.n. PRE 59601 ( PRE). Pretoria, Onderstepoort, (QDS: 2528CA Pretoria), 27 September 1912, Theiler 9199 [ PRE 740036] ( PRE). Pretoria, Rietondale flats, grassveldt, (QDS: 2528CA Pretoria), November 1934, Leemann s.n. PRE 43264 ( PRE). Pretoria, Swartspruit, (QDS: 2528CA Pretoria), 27 October 1917, Pole-Evans 401 ( PRE). Pretoria, 4800 ft [1463 m], (QDS: 2528CA Pretoria), 15 November 1893, Schlechter 3697 ( PRE, 2 sheets; PRU); TvlMus1950 ( PRE). Pretoria, National Botanical Garden, grassland N and NW from Education Building, welldrained sandy soil, recently burned, 1364 m, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 4 November 2003, Bester 4324 ( PRE). Pretoria, National Botanical Garden, grassland S of road to nursery, sandy red soil, burnt in winter, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 1 December 1993, Hobson 1970 ( PRE, PRU). Pretoria, Botanical Research Institute, open grassland, occurs naturally in area, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 28 November 1986, Joffe 147 ( PRE). Pretoria, wild National Botanical Garden, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 9 October 1967, Collett 61 / Killick s.n.?(3836 [FPA]) PRE 30281 ( PRE). Pretoria, BRI PNBG [Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria National Botanical Garden], recently mown grassland, well-drained loam soil, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 2 October 1984, Turner 232 ( PRE). Pretoria, Silverton, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 27 October 1959, Schlieben & Strey SKF834 ( PRE). Pretoria, Silverton, on bank alongside fence along Premier Mine Road, (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 28 October 1925, Smith 1085 ( PRE). Pretoria Distrik, Roodeplaatdamnatuurreservaat, goedgedreineerde sandgrond [Pretoria District, Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve, well-drained sandy soil], (QDS: 2528CB Pretoria), 15 October 1979, Van Rooyen 1941 ( PRE, PRU). Pretoria District, open veld E of Christoburg and S of Laudium, gentle S facing hill slope, grassland, recently burned, 1431 m, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 29 October 2021, Bester 16667 ( PRE). Pretoria, Pinedene near Irene, shallow gravelly soil, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 27 October 1904, Burtt-Davy 2309 ( PRE). Irene, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 30 October 1906, Leendertz s.n. TvlMus(909)8704 ( PRE). Pretoria, Klapperkop, S valleys, 4500 ft [1372 m], (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 8 October 1928, Mogg 15418 ( PRE). Pretoria, Fountains, hillside, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), November 1928, Munro P.S. 164 ( PRE). Pretoria District, Irene, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), October 1929, Obermeyer 92 (TvlMus27715) ( PRE). Pretoria, Groenkloof, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 9 October 1924, Pole-Evans 464 ( PRE, 2 sheets). Pretoria, Fountains, hillside in grass, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 22 October 1928, Repton 37 ( PRE). Pretoria, N slope of Klapperkop, ± halfway up the hillside, 4520 ft [1378 m], (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 13 September 1925, Smith 584 ( PRE). Pretoria, Waterkloof, hill slope, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 18 November 1919, Verdoorn 46 ( PRE). Pretoria, [?Fountains Valley—not on original label], hill slopes, (QDS: 2528CC Pretoria), 22 October 1928, Verdoorn 529 ( PRE). Pretoria, between Government House and Old Fort on Hill Crest, amongst grasses, 4550 ft [1387 m], (QDS: 2528CA/CC Pretoria), 14 November 1926, Smith 3339 ( PRE). Pretoria, Pretoria University Farm, near wireless masts, dense grassveld, (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 6 October 1946, Codd 1764 ( PRE). Pretoria, University Farm, (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 1 November 1947, Robertson 6 ( PRE). Pretoria, 10 miles [16 km] SE of Pretoria on Delmas road, grassveld, (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 1956, Letty 355 ( PRE). Pretoria, Garstfontein, open grassveld among rock outcrop, (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 24 October 1937, Repton 1122 ( PRE). Pretoria District, Rietvlei Reserve, grass hillslopes, E of vlei, red soil, 4500 ft [1372 m], (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 9 October 1947, Repton 3434 ( PRE). Pretoria, La Montagne, rant N van Chambord W/S [hill N of Chambord flats], (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 30 September 1978, Van Wyk 2411 ( PRE, PRU). Pretoria, Faerie Glen, langs Moreletta spruit, vleigrond [along Moreletta spruit, clayey soil], (QDS: 2528CD Pretoria), 3 December 1984, Van Wyk 6855 ( PRE). Bronkhorstspruit, Ogies, Goedvertroudt, Farm 499 JR, gentle mountain slope, welldrained sandy loam soil, grassland, 1554 m, (QDS: 2528DD Pretoria), 6 November 2009, Swelankomo 330 ( PRE). Krugersdorp, Zwartkrans Caves, (QDS: 2627BB Potchefstroom), October 1898, Gilfillan 7a ( PRE 2335) ( PRE). Johannesburg, kaal erwe langs Monkor en Jukskeiweg en omgewing in Kelland [empty plots along Monkor and Jukskei roads and surroundings in Kelland], (QDS: 2627BB Potchefstroom), 2 November 1976, Liebenberg 8495 ( PRE). Randburg District, Robindale, park on the corner of Bellairs Street and Gaiety Avenue, on basalt, base of ridge, 1800 m, (QDS: 2627BB Potchefstroom), 24 September 1997, Reddy, R. A., Reddy, K. B. & Reddy, P. 493 ( PRE). Roodepoort District, 2 km NE of WWR [Witwatersrand] Botanical Garden [Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden], Stallion Road, Ruimsig Entomological Reserve, on basalt, flat grassland, 1630 m, (QDS: 2627BB Potchefstroom), 3 October 1997, Reddy, R. A., Reddy K. B. & Reddy P. 609 ( PRE). Johannesburg, ad pagum Rosebank [in Rosebank area], (QDS: 2628AA Johannesburg), 25 October 1930, Fries 5382 [? 115] ( PRE). Johannesburg, (QDS: 2628AA Johannesburg), December 1908, Leendertz s.n. TvlMus6086 ( PRE). Doornfontein 24 farm, Johannesburg, rocky hillside, (QDS: 2628AA Johannesburg), 13 November 1948, Prosser P 1131 ( PRE).

Mpumalanga: Pilgrimsrest, slope above Blijde River [Blyde River] at the lower end of the town, (QDS: 2430DD Pilgrim’s Rest), 18 November 1937, Galpin 14555 ( PRE). Pilgrim’s Rest, farm Ledovine 507 KT, closed grassland, slight E facing slope, dark brown clayey loam soil, 457 m, (QDS: 2430DD Pilgrim’s Rest), 18 November 1986, Raal & Raal 907 ( PRE). Witbank, Loskopdam, Nooitgedacht, sandgrond [sandy soil], (QDS: 2529AC Witbank), 21 October 1967, Theron 1579 ( PRE, PRU). Middelburg District, Loskopdam Nature Reserve, Bushveld, 3100–4500 ft [945–1372 m], (QDS: 2529AC/AD Witbank), 5 October 1959, Mogg 30546 ( PRE). Middelburg District, 10 km NNE of Roossenekal, Mapochs grounds, Farm Sterkstroom, gentle NW facing slope, savanna, recently burned, well-drained sandy soil, 1449 m, (QDS: 2529BB Witbank), 24 October 2010, Bester 10305 ( PRE). Middelburg, Tautesberg, side of kloof, dry and moist situations, (QDS: 2529BD Witbank), 9 November 1933, Young A 173 ( PRE). Middelburg District, ± 15 km N of Middelburg on road to Loskopdam, grassland, black turf soil, roadside, recently burned, 1576 m, (QDS: 2529CB Witbank), 26 October 2010, Bester 10338 ( PRE). Near Witbank Station, (QDS: 2529CC Witbank), December 1905, Gilfillan 7200 ( PRE). Middelburg, Pokwani, (QDS: 2529CD Witbank), October 1921, Rogers 24837 (TvlMus 24255) ( PRE). Farm Weltevrede 224, Witklip road, red brown clay soil, (QDS: 2530AD Lydenburg), 8 November 1984, Steyn 31 ( PRE). Carolina District, ± 11 km NNW of Badplaas, gentle NW facing hill slope, grassland, welldrained loam soil, 1192 m, (QDS: 2530DC Lydenburg), 27 November 2017, Bester 13889 (BNRH image, PRE). Witbank area, in the veld near Argent, (QDS: 2628BB Johannesburg), October 1930, Murray 643 (NBG image, PRE). Carolina, (QDS: 2630AA Carolina), September 1915, Roberts s.n. TvlMus15869 ( PRE). Zwischen Badplaas und Lochiel, Wegrander [Between Badplaas and Lochiel, roadside], (QDS: 2630BA Carolina), 7 December 1989, Luck RSA 15389 ( PRE). Songimvelo, Eerstehoek, grassland, (QDS: 2630BB Carolina), 21 October 1998, Brand 46 ( PRE, PRU). Piet Retief District, Iswepe, grassveld, (QDS: 2630DC Carolina), 14 August 1948, Sidey 1484 ( PRE). Piet Retief, (QDS: 2730BB Vryheid), January 1921, Shultz s.n. PRE 43273 ( PRE).

KwaZulu-Natal:Paulpietersburg, rocky grassy hillslope, (QDS:2730BD Vryheid), 23 October 1982, Germishuizen 2367 ( PRE). Louwsburg, near Itala Nature Reserve, sparse thornveld, (QDS: 2731CB Louwsburg), December 2001, Edwards & Beaumont 2169 (NU image, PRE). Ladysmith, (QDS: 2829DB Harrismith), November 1906, Rogers s.n. TvlMus5061 ( PRE). Port Shepstone, Gibraltar, grassland, (QDS: 3030CB Port Shepstone), 5 November 1972, Strey 11035 ( PRE).