Rubus ×bergianus A.Beek, 2021

Beek, Abraham Van De, 2021, Rubi Capenses: a further contribution to the knowledge of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 515 (1), pp. 1-71 : 58-59

32. Rubus ×bergianus A.Beek nothosp. nov.

( R. affinis × chrysocarpus ?).

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Stellenbosch, Helshoogte , opposite entrance Hillcrest , corner of the road to Kylemore , 14 October 2018, Beek 2018.92 (holotype L, isotype, NBG). ( Figs 24A–B )

Diagnosis: —Strong plants with prickles from 2–8 mm wide base, compressed, declining or slightly curved, up to 5–11 mm long; leaves 3-foliolate, palmate 5-foliolate or with divided central leaflet 6- to 7-foliolate, abaxially short greenish grey to white tomentose; petals pink, ovate or elliptical, 8–14 mm long, longer than sepals; (almost) sterile.

Primocane ( Figs 24C–D ) arching, diam. 3–8 mm, angular, with some or rather dense long stellate and simple hairs and few to many subsessile glands; prickles 2–15 per 5 cm, from 2–8 mm wide base compressed, declining or slightly curved, up to 5–11 mm long; stipules 8–15 mm, linear or lanceolate, with some hairs and short stipitate glands. Leaves 3-foliolate, palmate 5-foliolate or with divided central leaflet 6- to 7-foliolate, adaxially glabrous, abaxially ( Fig. 24E ) short greenish grey to white tomentose; serrature rather fine to mediocre and sharp, somewhat irregular, sometimes shallowly periodical, with mucronate teeth; petiole 4–8 cm long, with long hairs, subsessile glands and 6–25 curved or hooked prickles; basal leaflets 0–3 mm, stalked; central leaflet from broad, rounded to cordate base 47–76 mm long, ovate or orbicular, gradually attenuate, acute or with short to moderate sometimes curved tip, often lobate, width–length index 0.70–1.00, length of petiolule 26–47% of length of leaflet. Flowering branch ( Fig. 24F ) angular, somewhat hairy, with subsessile glands; leaves 3-foliolate, with hairs and serrature similar as for primocane leaves; prickles 2–10 per 5 cm, from 2–4 mm broad base declining or curved, up to 6–9 mm long. Inflorescence pyramidal with truncated apex, with only few simple leaves at base or leafy in basal part, with ascendant peduncles and rather numerous strong declining or curved prickles, moderately hairy; pedicels up to 15 mm, tomentose and with long hairs, with 3–6 pricklets and rather numerous subsessile or short stipitate glands. Flowers: sepals patent or loosely reflexed, 4 × 6–11 mm, gradually attenuate into long tip, short grey tomentose and hairy, with some sessile glands; petals ( Fig. 24G ) (reddish) pink, ovate or elliptical, 8–14 mm long, longer than sepals; stamens longer than or as long as styles; anthers glabrous or with some hairs; styles red; ovaries glabrous or with short hairs; receptacle hairy. (Almost) sterile.

Ecology: —Roadsides, grasslands, forest margins.

Distribution: —Locally abundant in the Western Cape, South Africa, especially in the western part.

Specimens:— SOUTH AFRICA. C. b. sp., Pappe s.n. (‘ R. pinnatus × plicatus’) ( BREM) . Western Cape: Wupperthal, Matjiesrivier , 29 August 1976, Stirton 5911 ( PRE) ; 10 km from Algeria to Clanwilliam , 30 August 1976, Stirton 5925 ( PRE) ; Paarlberg , 13 June 1962, Van der Merwe 1100 ( PRE) ; Paarlberg (locality code III A e 24, 27) , Drège s.n. ( HBG 503839 ) ; Paarl , 16 November 1896, Schlechter 1343 ( PRE) ; Vredenburg Farm, Stellenbosch , 17 December 1985, Morris 1 ( NBG) ; Idas Valley dam, 13 August 1923, Kok H29 ( NBG) ; Zevenrivierenpad (Calenit corner), Banhoek , 17 December 1985, Morris 2 ( NBG, PRE) ; Belvidere , 12 January 1924, Duthie 863 ( NBG) ; Dwarsriviershoek Farm, Banhoek, on road to Kylemore School , 17 December 1985, Morris 3 ( PRE) ; Stellenbosch, Helshoogte, entrance of Hillcrest , 24 February 2018, Beek 2018.15 ( L) ; Theewaterskloof Dam, along the R 45 , just before the beginning of the Franschhoek Pass , south side of the road, 24 February 2018, Beek 2018.19 ( L) ; Elgin Valley , 10 km NNE of Kleinmond, 22 March 2017, Sochor & Manning RSA 30 /17 ( NBG) ; Kleinmond, Arabella , at road 44, 22 March 2017, Sochor & Manning RSA 28 /17 ( NBG) ; Genadendal , crossroad south-west of the town, 29 March 2017, Sochor & Manning RSA 32 /17 ( NBG) ; At the road between Genadendal and Helderstroom , 29 March 2017, Sochor & Manning RSA 44 /17 ( NBG) ; Just outside Swellendam on the road to Bonnievale , rivercrossing, 4 December 1991, Henderson 1045 ( PRE) ; Swellendam, road to Bonnievale, near the bridge over the Kliprivier , 15 October 2018, Beek 2018.94 ( L) ; Bontebok National Park , 6 December 1983, MacDonald 6 ( PRE) ; Buffelsjagrivier , 24 September 1976, Stirton 6168 ( PRE) ; Riversdale, between Platkloof and Kortefontein , 21 January 1991, Henderson 1116 ( PRE) ; Mosselbaai , 19 October 1990, Henderson 1092 ( PRE) ; Near the farm Kykoe on the road from George to Uniondale , 17 October 1990, Henderson 1086 ( PRE) ; Knysna, 1933, Duthie s.n. ( PRE) ; Leermansdriftrivier , 12 November 1979, Hugo 2100 ( NBG) . Eastern Cape: Humansdorp, Rosenhof , 4 March 1990, Henderson 1073 ( PRE) ; Kaprivier, Martindale , 23 December 1956, Taylor 5185 ( NBG) .

Note: — Rubus ×bergianus is clearly a hybrid of R. affinis with one of the indigenous discolorous species. Because the leaves abaxially are not very tomentose and some short glands are present the most probable candidate is R. chrysocarpus , though this does not explain the strong habit of R. ×bergianus . However, there is no good alternative.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Rubus×bergianus. A. Holotype, primocane. B. Holotype, inflorescence. C. Habit. D. Primocane. E. Leaf, abaxially. F. Flowering branch. G. Flowers. Photographs:A. van de Beek.