Callilepis laureola var. paucicephala P.P.J.Herman, 2022

Herman, Paul P. J., 2022, A taxonomic revision of the genus Callilepis (Asteraceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 563 (1), pp. 1-62 : 49-51

b. Callilepis laureola var. paucicephala P.P.J.Herman , var. nov.

Similar to C. laureola var. laureola but can be distinguished by its few-headed corymbose synflorescences in contrast to the solitary capitula of C. laureola var. laureola . It differs from C. retiefiae , which also has few-headed corymbose synflorescences, by its narrowly ovate leaves. Callilepis retiefiae has linear-elliptic leaves. It differs from the other taxa with corymbose synflorescences by its narrow, subequal involucral bracts in contrast to the broader, imbricate involucral bracts of the taxa with corymbosely arranged synflorescences.

Type: — SWAZILAND [eSWATINI]. Stegi District [ Siteki ], Namahasha Road , burnt area, 1500 ft [457 m], (QDS: 2631BD Mbabane), 4 May 1959, Compton 28849 (holotype PRE ( PRE703289 ) ; isotypes NBG image, PRE ( PRE189390 ). Fig. 30 .

Etymology:— paucicephala = few-headed.

Erect, perennial herbs with tufts of annual stems from underground rootstock, up to ± 560 mm high. Stems unbranched or sparsely branched, branching corymbosely upwards, ribbed, glabrous, with occasional hair or sparsely to densely villose, with hair tufts in leaf axils. Leaves sessile, lowest opposite or subopposite, alternate upwards, ovate to narrowly ovate or broadly ovate, decreasing in size upwards and passing into peduncular bracts, (20–)25–55(–78) × 6–25(–38) mm, apex acute or acuminate, base subcordate and semi-amplexicaul in broader/lower leaves, in upper/narrower leaves cuneate or broadly cuneate, margin whitish or paler than rest of blade, entire or sparsely and minutely serrulate in upper part of leaf, glabrous, with occasional hair or sparsely to more densely villose, blade glabrous, with occasional hair or sparsely villous, 3(5)-veined from base. Capitula heterogamous, radiate, in open, few-headed corymbs. Involucre hemispherical, (10–)15–20(–22) mm wide. Involucral bracts in 2 to 4(5) rows, subequal, inner grading into outer paleae; outer row narrowly triangular or narrowly ovate, (3.5–)4.0–6.0(–7.0) × (0.8–)1.0– 1.5 mm, apex acute to acuminate, margin sometimes membranous, glabrous or sometimes hairy near base (overflow from peduncle), surface glabrous; second row narrowly triangular, ovate or narrowly ovate, 4.0–4.5(–8.0) × (1.0–)1.5–2.0 mm, apex acute to acuminate, margin sometimes very narrowly membranous, glabrous, pectinate or hairy, surface glabrous; third row triangular, ovate or narrowly ovate, 5–7 × (1.5–)2.0(–2.2) mm, apex acuminate, margin very narrowly membranous, glabrous or faintly and sparsely pectinate in lower part, blade glabrous; fourth and fifth row/ray paleae ovate or narrowly ovate, 4.0–8.5 × (1.0–)2.0 mm, apex acuminate, margin membranous in lower part, often pectinate and often folded inwards, surface glabrous. Receptacle paleate, paleae boat-shaped, (5.0–)6.0– 7.5 mm long with 1.0– 1.5 mm long, acute to apiculate, dark apex, glabrous. Ray florets zygomorphic, female, fertile, arranged in 1 or 2 rows; corolla white or cream; tube 1.5–2.0(–4.0) mm long, limb (10.0–)12.0–17.5 × (3.0–)4.0–4.5(–6.0) mm, unlobed or minutely 2-lobed; staminodes apparently absent. Styles (1.5–)3.0 mm long, bifurcate, rarely undivided, exserted; style branches (0.5–)1.0 mm long, with broad marginal stigmatic areas, basally separated but apically confluent in broad band or entire inner surface stigmatic. Ray ovaries obconical-trigonous, 2–3(–4) mm long, glabrous. Ray cypselae usually obconical-trigonous, 2.5–4.0 × (1.5–) 1.8 mm, glabrous, ribbed, cypselae of inner ray florets often laterally compressed, similar to those of disc florets. Ray pappus dimorphic, consisting of one long awn, (2.5–)3.0–4.5(–5.0) mm long, two (three) shorter awns, (1.5–)2.0–3.0 mm long, and few smaller oblong, obtuse scales in between, ± 1 mm long. Disc florets actinomorphic, bisexual, fertile, many; corolla dark (purplish), tubular below, slightly widening upwards towards lobes; tube 3–4 mm long, glabrous, 5-lobed; lobes narrowly ovate, 1.5–2.0 mm long, acute, recurved. Anthers 5, exserted, 1.5–2.0(–2.5) mm long, apical appendages narrowly ovate, 0.5(–0.8) mm long, bases caudate and calcarate, tails 0.5–1.0 mm long, ciliate. Styles 3–4(–5) mm long, bifurcate, sometimes exserted; style branches oblong, (0.8–)1.0– 1.2 mm long, apex (shallowly) broadly conical or obtuse, with acute hairs on outside at base of cone, with broad marginal stigmatic areas, confluent apically in broad band or entire inner surface stigmatic. Disc ovaries obovate, 3.0–3.5(–4.8) mm long, laterally compressed, glabrous. Disc cypselae obovate, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, laterally compressed, ribbed, glabrous. Disc pappus dimorphic, consisting of one long awn, 3–4 mm long, one(two) shorter awn(-s), 1.8–3.0 mm long, rarely two additional linear awns in between, 1.0– 1.5 mm long and smaller, obtuse scales in between, (0.5–)1.0 mm long. Flowering time: recorded from November to as late as June, but usually after veld fires.

Distinguishing characters:— Callilepis laureola var. paucicephala can be distinguished by its mostly narrowly ovate to ovate, prominently 3-veined leaves with acuminate or attenuate, sometimes acute apex and subcordate, rounded or obtuse base, stems, leaf margins and leaf surfaces sparsely to more densely villous, rarely glabrous, fewheaded corymbose synflorescences with narrow, subequal involucral bracts, white or creamy ray florets, purplish or blackish disc florets, and glabrous cypselae.

Distribution:— Callilepis laureola var. paucicephala occurs in eSwatini (Fig. 31) and also in Mozambique. It seems the two varieties can grow together in the same locality as can be seen from the Compton 31143 collection: there are two specimens with this number housed in PRE, the one specimen is C. laureola var. laureola (barcode PRE189391-0) and the other var. paucicephala (barcode PRE703288). The image of the Compton 31143 specimen in NBG (barcode NBG0055712-0) is C. laureola var. paucicephala .

Additional specimens examined

SWAZILAND [eSWATINI]. Mliba, Low Veld, growing on dry rocks by streamside, 2000 ft [610 m], (QDS: 2631BA Mbabane), 9 January 1970, Barrett 474 ( PRE). Manzini District, Mpisi, 1500 ft [457 m], (QDS: 2631BC Mbabane), 20 December 1961, Compton 31143 (NBG barcode NBG0055712-0, image, PRE barcode PRE 703288). Stegi District [Siteki], 5 miles [8 km] S of Stegi, 2500 ft [762 m], (QDS: 2631BD Mbabane), 25 November 1958, Compton 28384 (NBG image, PRE (2 sheets)). Blue Jay Ranch, 2 miles [3.2 km] SE of W entrance to Umbuluzi Gorge, Lubombo Mountains, open grassveld, 1300 ft [396 m], (QDS: 2632AA Bela Vista), 10 April 1977, Culverwell 747 ( PRE). E of Siteki towards S tributary of the Mnzimyane River near the Mtonjane dip tank on farm of Mr Carmaichael, gentle hill slope, grassland, 433 m, (QDS: 2632AC Bela Vista), 2 December 2006, Koekemoer 3411 ( PRE). Stegi District [Siteki], Palata, 2000 ft [610 m], (QDS: 2632CA Bela Vista), 11 January 1962, Compton 31206 (NBG image, PRE).

Vague locality: between Black Mbelusi and Komatie, 21 June 1911, Burtt-Davy 10665 ( PRE 4991) ( PRE).

Figures

FIGURE 30. Scanned image of the holotype of Callilepis laureola var. paucicephala (Compton 28849, PRE).