Euphorbia schinzii subsp. schinzioides Bruyns, 2020

Bruyns, Peter V., Klak, Cornelia & Hanáček, Pavel, 2020, A review of the Euphorbia schinzii-complex (Euphorbiaceae) in southern Africa, Phytotaxa 436 (3), pp. 201-221 : 215-216

8c. Euphorbia schinzii subsp. schinzioides Bruyns , subsp. nov.

This new subspecies differs from subsp. limpopoana by the rhizomatous outer branches and usually also by the more slender branches, the shorter spines and the shorter stipular prickles. From subsp. schinzii it differs by the broader darker spine-shields and the shorter stipular prickles.

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Gauteng: Pretoria distr., Horn’s Nek near Hartebeespoort Dam, 27 August 1949, Prosser 1011 (holotype NBG!, isotypes BM!, K!, PRE!).

Bisexual succulent 0.05–0.15(–0.3) × 0.15–0.3 m, often with rhizomatous branches, stem often somewhat swollen underground. Branches 50–150 × 7–15(–20) mm, smooth, bluish green; tubercles in decussate pairs fused into 4 angles with surface flat to slightly concave between angles, with spine-shields 5–8(–10) mm long, 1–2 × 2–3 mm above spines and 4–6(–8) mm long and slender below spines (remaining well separated from next), spines 6–10(–17) mm long; leaf-rudiments 1–1.5 × 0.7–1.5 mm, with irregularly shaped brown stipular prickles 0.5–1 mm long. Styles branched to slightly below middle.

Distribution & Habitat: — Subsp. schinzioides is found in the mountainous and hilly country of the former Transvaal, South Africa, from the Magaliesberg around Pretoria westwards to near Gaberone in Botswana. To the north of Pretoria it is known in the Waterberg and along its northern base ( Fig. 6 ).

Discussion: — Subsp. schinzioides is characterized by its somewhat variably rhizomatous habit, 4-angled branches that are 7–15 (rarely to 20) mm thick, dark spine-shields decurrent for 4−6 mm below the spines, spines 6–10 (rarely to 17) mm long and the minute stipular prickles 0.5–1 mm long.

Additional specimens examined: — BOTSWANA. Ramotswa (2425DD), 1040 m, Bruyns 12291 (UPS). 9 miles south of Ramotswa (2425DD), Leach & Noel 218 (M). SOUTH AFRICA. Weidhoek (2327CD), 1130 m, Bruyns 12085 (BOL). Goedgedacht, Ellisras (2327DC), Becker & Möller 1433 (UNIN). Marulafontein (2327DC), 970 m, Bruyns 12426 (BOL). Marken, Rapedi village (2328DA), Becker & Möller 1428 (UNIN). Ga-Monare, road from Baltimore, on western corner at Bakenberg-Marken T-junction (2328DA), Becker & Möller 1331 (UNIN). Supingstad (2426CC), 1150 m, Bruyns 12079 (BOL). 17.5 km NE of Oslo PO towards Hermansdoorns (2427BB), Codd 4000 (K). Buffelsfontein, Waterberg (2427BB), Bredenkamp & Siebert 6088 (PRU). North of Oslo P.O. (2427BB), Erens 2111 (K). 2 km north of Middelwit, west of Northam (2427CC), 1150 m, Van den Meulen 869 (PRE). Heinrihan, Lephalala (2428AB), 1450 m, Burgoyne 1772 (PRE). Sterkwater (2428BB), Smuts 1996 (PRE). Warmbaths (2428CD), 3000‘, Gerstner (BOL). Zeerust (2526CA), Thode A1500 (NH, PRE); Van der Merwe 11 (PRE). Groot Marico (2526CB), Holland sub NBG 351/27 (BOL). Swartruggens (2526DA), 4100’, Sutton 745 (PRE). Boshoek, Rustenburg (2527AC), Rose Innes 68 (J, PRE). Near Buffelspoort (2527BA), Bruce 108 (PRE). Rustenburg (2527CA), Galpin 11562 (BOL, K, PRE). Near Rustenburg (2527CA), Pegler 933 (BOL). Rustenburg Nat. Res. (2527CA), 5000’, Jacobsen 983 (PRE). Waldheim above Kroondal (2527CB), Young 3018 (K, PRE). Broederstroom (2527DD), Munday 986 (J). Daspoort, Magaliesberg (2528CA), 1500 m, Burgoyne 1763 (PRE). Hartebeespoort Dam (2528CA), Dyer 4297 (K, PRE); Mogg s.n. (PRE); Schlieben 7057 (K, M). Magaliesberg above Wonderboom Res. (2528CA), Repton 1814 (K, PRE). Meintjieskop (2528CA), 4600’, Reinecke 2 (PRE); Burtt-Davy 2469 (PRE). Meintjieskop, summit (2528CA), Burtt-Davy 538 (K). Pretoria (2528CA), 4500’, Leendertz 168 (BOL, GRA, K, NH, PRE); Moss 6761 (Z); Meebold 14466 (M); Moran sub BOL 16609 (BOL); Pole Evans 1915 sub Marloth 6059 (PRE). Wonderboompoort (2528CA), Galpin 6974 (K, PRE). Zoo Koppie (2528CA), Schweickerdt 986 (NBG, PRE). Koedoespoort range, Pretoria (2528CB), 4500’, Cronje 6 (PRE). Koedoespoort, Pretoria (2528CB), Howlett sub BOL 15650 (BOL). Silverton (2528CB), 4500’, mith 2850 (PRE). Pretoria, hill between new hospital and Zoo (2528CB), 4650’, Smith & Ward 15 (PRE). The Willows, near Pretoria (2528CB), 4500’, Burtt-Davy 9836 (K). Arcadia (2528CC), 4550’, C.A.Smith 2843 (PRE). Groenkloof, Pretoria (2528CC), Mogg 15159a (PRE). Muckleneuk (2528CC), Goosens 77 (PRE); Stent sub Nat. Herb. 15117 (PRE). Krugersdorp (2627BB), Phillips 3 (PRE). Santa Barbara, ‘Timbavati’, Rustenburg distr., Mogg 36354 (J).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Distribution of Euphorbia schinzii (inverted triangle = subsp. schinzii, circle = subsp. bechuanica, upright triangle = subsp. schinzioides).