Oedera virgata (N.E.Br) N.G.Bergh, 2018

Bergh, Nicola G., Bentley, Joanne & Verboom, George Anthony, 2018, Classification of the Relhania generic group (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) revisited using molecular phylogenetic analysis, Phytotaxa 344 (2), pp. 101-132 : 119

6. Oedera virgata (N.E.Br) N.G.Bergh , comb. nov.

Basionym: Nestlera virgata Brown (1895: 25) . Comborhiza virgata (N.E.Br.) Anderberg & Bremer (1991: 1070) ; Relhania tuberosa Bremer (1976a: 63) .—Type: SOUTH AFRICA, on the Drakensberg, 6000–7000 ft, Evans 50 (K, holotype!; Z, isotype).

Section V. Oedera sect. Calycinae N.G.Bergh , sect. nov.

— Lapeirousia Thunberg (1800b: 163) , nom. illeg., non Lapeyrousia Pourret (1788: 79) . Peyrousea Candolle (1838b: 76) , non Peyrousia Poirret (1826: 363) .— Type species: Relhania calycina (Linnaeus f.) L’Héritier

Type species: Oedera calycina (Linnaeus f.) N.G.Bergh ( Relhania calycina (Linnaeus f.) L’Héritier )

Diagnostic features: leaves acute to acuminate, frequently pungent, with involute margins, often with 3–9 abaxial veins; capitula solitary, (sub-) sessile, large; receptacle paleate.

Description: sparsely branched, frequently resprouting shrublets, branches erect, closely leafy; leaves imbricate, erect, or erect to spreading, recurved in one species, alternate or decussate; leaves brittle, sometimes rigid, leaf margins involute; leaf adaxial surface concave, sparsely to densely white-woolly; leaf abaxial surface rounded, glabrous to deciduously tomentose, mid-ribbed or with 3–9 distinct raised nerves; leaf apices acute to acuminate, often pungent. Capitula solitary, sessile or very shortly pedunculate, terminal, often partly covered by upper leaves; large (involucre broad and long); receptacle paleate; rays 14–45; disc florets 25–250; cypselas hairy, more so on ray florets; pappus of short, lacerate free scales.

Cytology: all examined species are diploids with 2n = 14 (Oe. decussata, Oe. pungens ssp. angustifolia, Oe. calycina ssp. calycina, Oe. calycina ssp. apiculata and Oe. speciosa ; Bremer, 1976a).