Achyranthemum af fi ne (Less.) N.G.Bergh

Bergh, N. G. & Manning, J. C., 2019, Achyranthemum N. G. Bergh, a new genus segregated from Syncarpha DC. (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) *, South African Journal of Botany 125, pp. 434-456 : 448-451

4.5. Achyranthemum af fi ne (Less.) N.G.Bergh , comb. nov.

Helichrysum affi ne Less., Syn. Comp.: 293 (1832), non H. af fi ne D.Don ex Loud., Hort. Brit., ed. 3.suppl. 2: 640 (1839), nom. illeg.

Type: Cap. Bonae-Spei, Krebs s.n., B†. Neotype: Port Elizabeth , Bethelsdorp, (–CD), 10 Jul 1954, Hall 932 ( NBG0022323 ), designated here

Low shrublet, branching from near the base, height unknown, branches woody, nodes relatively widely spaced, stems below synflorescences sparsely leafy and leaves becoming apically smaller, more erect and more widely spaced, stems grey-felted. Leaves oblanceolate with a distinctly narrowed base, basally apressed and decurrent, lamina flat or slightly folded or conduplicate, incurved, also often slightly recurved apically, mid-rib prominent abaxially, leaf surface with faint longitudinal folds, 15–30 mm long × 2.0–8.0 mm wide, A. argenteum apex bluntly acute, sometimes recurved, leaf firm-textured, both surfaces lanate with long (1–2 mm or longer), fine, dark silvery-grey arachnoid hairs cohering to form a thin but dense, tightly appressed antrorsely oriented irregularly reticulating indumentum. Capitula terminal, (1–) 2 to 5 in corymbs, depressed-globose, 12–15 mm long and 12–15 mm wide, peduncles 6–50 mm long, densely pale-grey felted with a few small lanceolate bracteoles; involucral bracts white, outer bracts also usually tinged rose pink above, ±65, in ±6–9 series, outermost erect, broadly lanceolate, 7–8 mm long × 2.5–3 mm wide, lamina apically acute, white tinged rose-pink above, smooth, most bracts in middle series, erect, linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 10–12 × 3–4.5 mm, stereome ± 2 mm long, few bracts in innermost series, linear, 4–5 × 1.0– 1.2 mm, stereome 3–3.5 mm long, cartilaginous with a patch of white hairs on the abaxial apex, lamina white, very short with obtuse apex. Receptacle 5.5 mm in diameter. Florets ± 55–80, yellow, 6.5 × 0.7 mm; anther apical appendage caudiculate. Cypselae cylindrical, 1.5 × 0.8 mm, dark reddish-brown. Pappus bristles united at the base into a smooth ring, scabrid with very slender, regular barbs that are longer and more sparsely and irregularly arranged towards the apex, apices slender, acute. Flowering time: specimens in flower from all months, but most flowering specimens collected between April and November ( Fig. 7 ).

Distribution and ecology: Occurs on the coastal plain and low coastal mountains in the eastern part of the Cape Floristic Region, in grassy A. affine fynbos. The westernmost collection is from the northern slopes of the Outeniqua mountains near George (Hitchcock 3025 [NBG]); this locality may represent a disjunction as almost all the remaining collections are in the vicinity of Port Elizabeth, from Cape St. Francis in the west, inland to the mountains at the eastern end of the Baviaanskloof, and extending to the coastal plain now occupied by the Port Elizabeth CBD.The species is likely to extend eastwards and inland from Port Elizabeth, as there is a single collection of unspecified locality from Grahamstown (Marloth 6129 [NBG]).

Diagnosis: This species has been much confused with A. argenteum , under which name it is usually found in herbaria.In rare cases where the involucral bracts of specimens of A. af fi ne have faded or are pure white without the pink tinge, that species is indeed difficult to distinguish from A. argenteum . However, in A. af fi ne the stems below the synflorescences are nude or sparsely leafy, while in A. argenteum the stems are densely leafy right up to the branching point of the peduncles. While A. argenteum has distinctly recurved leaves with a twisted, recurved apex and a thin lamina, A. af fi ne has leaves that are incurved and only slightly recurved apically, with a firm-textured lamina.In addition, the leaves of A. af fi ne become smaller and more widely spaced distally on the flowering branches, which is not usually the case in A. argenteum . The leaf hairs in both species are similar, but those in A. argenteum are somewhat longer, finer and more slender, and are paler in colour, while the indumentum of A. af fi ne is darker and very closely felted. The heads of A. argenteum are never pink-tinged, and are also larger, with a receptacle ± 7 mm diam. and 80–150 florets, compared with a receptacle of ± 5.5 mm diam and 60–80 florets in A. af fi ne. Finally, the two species differ in habitat, with A. argenteum being a strictly sea-side, sandy coastal dune species while A. af fi ne occurs on the coastal plain or inland mountains. Achyranthemum af fi ne could also be confused with A. paniculatum , especially when specimens of the latter are young with a pink flush to the involucre, but the leaf indumenta are distinctive.

Taxonomic note: The confusion between A. af fi ne and A. argenteum dates to Candolle (1838). Prior to this, references to A. argenteum mentioned only ‘silver’ or ‘white’ involucral bracts ( Thunberg, 1800; Thunberg, 1823; Willdenow, 1803; Lessing, 1832). In his Prodromus (1838), Candolle described the bract colour as ‘invol. variant alba et extus purpurea’ and cited Burchell 4567, Drège and Ecklon ‘exs. Willd.’. We have viewed all available images for this species in the Candolle herbarium in Geneva; these include several of Ecklon and Drège (although none of them have any annotation indicating an association with previous authors) as well as Burchell 4567 and several other collections. We have also been able to examine a twig of Burchell 4567 in BOL. Nine of the ten specimens in G-DC, including Burchell 4567, are A. af fi ne, while Burchell 3736 is A. argenteum .

The confusion has been exacerbated by the fact that the two species occur in much the same region in the Eastern Cape, but they differ in micro-habitat. Achyranthemum argenteum is confined to sandy coastal dune habitats, very close to the sea. While A. af fi ne occurs close to the coast, its habitat is not actually on coastal dunes.

Conservation status: The conservation status of this species requires assessment, given that the main recorded distribution range is now covered by a major metropolitan area.

History: Lessing (1832) described the new species Helichrysum af fi ne citing specimens collected by Krebs and housed ‘in flora capensi herbarii regii berolinensis’ referring to the Berlin Herbarium, where Krebs’ main set of types and collections is lodged ( Stafleu and Cowan, 1979). Georg Krebs was a German naturalist who is known to have travelled in the Eastern Cape and sent specimens back to Europe, but this specimen is no longer extant in B and is presumed to have been destroyed in the fire of the Berlin Botanical Museum in 1943 (R. Vogt, pers. comm.). Although we have not seen the original type, Lessing’ s (1832) original Latin description is fairly detailed, describing this species as a wellbranched shrub with slender branches and a silver tomentum, with narrow oblong-obovate leaves recurved at the apices, leaves sparser below the capitula, the heads borne solitary or paired and the involucral bract colour as ‘niveum–incarnatum’ (white–flesh-coloured). Lessing (1832) obviously considered H. af fi ne to be very similar to other species of Achyranthemum , listing it in his treatment between H. argenteum (now Achyranthemum argenteum ) and H. recurvatum (now A. recurvatum ), and including descriptions of the differences between H. af fi ne and both H. argenteum and H. paniculatum . Lessing’ s (1832) description matches in all respects the specimens with pink and white bracts that were included by Candolle and subsequent workers under Helichrysum argenteum (and later, Syncarpha argentea ). Candolle (1838) listed H. af fi ne Less. in his treatment of these species, describing it as ‘very similar to H. argenteo ’ (i.e. Achyranthemum argenteum ). There is a specimen in G-DC (G00470511; R. Sweet s.n. collected in 1832) annotated in what appears to be Candolle’ s handwriting with ‘ H. af fi ne Less. n 29’. Although this specimen is a fairly small scrap and any pink in the involucral bracts has faded, it is likely to be conspecific with Achryanthemum af fi ne. We designate a specimen in NBG (Hall 932) as the neotype, because it is a typical specimen with abundant material.

The species has been very seldom collected in recent years, apart from the 2013 collection by Anthony Hitchcock, from the Outeniqua mountains far to the west of the previously known distribution. However, it is a common horticultural plant, available in garden centres and nurseries throughout South Africa, usually under the name Syncarpha argentea or ‘Emma everlasting’. It can be difficult to distinguish whether these garden plants are A. af fi ne or A. argenteum and it is possible that hybridisation has occurred.

Additional specimens seen: South Africa. Eastern Cape. –3322 (George): Outeniqua Mountains, Waboomskraal – Kleindoring river hiking trail (– CC) , 7 Sep 2013, Hitchcock 3025 ( NBG, PRE) . – 3324 ( Steytlerville ): undulating country c. 100 (miles?) NW of Port Elizabeth, (– DA) , 16 Oct 1928, Gillett 2422 ( NBG) .– 3325 ( Port Elizabeth ): Vaal Vlei Estate (– CB) , 31 May 1919, Mogg 4674 ( NBG) ; in plain at foot of mountain near Van Stadensrivier, (– CC) , Oct, Zeyher s.n. ( SAM 38127 ) ; Van Staadesrivier , (– CC) , 1835, Drége 2165 (G-DC G00470563 ) ; Van Staadesrivier , (– CC) , 1835, Drége 2168 (G-DC G00470586 ) ; van Stadensberg (– CD) , 14 Nov 1928, Gillett 2388 ( NBG) ; van Stadesburg , (– CD) , Zeyher s.n. ( SAM 38126 ) ; Uitenhage (– CD) , Nov-Dec 1925, Thode 665 ( PRE) ; Uitenhage (– CD) , 4 Oct 1905, Jordon 2701 ( PRE) ; Uitenhague , (– CD) , 1835, Ecklon 404 (G-DC G00470466 ) ; Uitenhague , (– CD) , 5 Feb 1835, Ecklon 552 (G-DC G00470348 ) ; Uitenhague , (– CD) , 5 Oct 1835, Ecklon 935 (G-DC G00470237 ) ; Uitenhague , (– CD) , 4 Feb 1835, Ecklon 1107 (G-DC G00470434 ) ; Uitenhague , (– CD) , 5 Feb 1835, Ecklon 1570 (G-DC G00470315 ) ; Around Krakakamma (– CD) , 1832, Burchell 4567 (G-DC G00470592 , PRE, BOL) ; 10 miles from Uitenhage; on road from Uitenhage to van Stadens (– CD) , 21 Apr 1919, Schonland 3257 ( PRE) ; at edge of P.E. to Cape Town highway, 16 miles from Port Elizabeth (– CD) , 14 Apr 1970, Wright 980 ( NBG) ; Near Port Elizabeth (– DC) , 1 Feb 1927, Young 15,422 ( PRE) ; Newton Park (– DC) , Jan 1957, Sidey 3082 ( PRE) ; Golf course at Port Elizabeth (– DC) , Feb 1927, Moorshead s.n./ Moss Herb. 15746 ( PRE) ; Baakens River valley f. (– DC) , 2 April 1930, Galpin 9929 ( PRE) ; Downs, Cradock Place, near Port Elizabeth (– DC) , 12 May 1902, Galpin 6355 ( PRE) ; Port Elizabeth District, Vaal Vlei estate, (– DC) , 31 May 1919, Mogg 4674 ( NBG, PRE) ; Kabega Downs , western suburbs (– DC) , 6 Nov 1966, Dahlstrand s.n. ( PRE 204249 ) ; Walmer (– DC) , 2 Feb 1925, Archibald s.n./ Moss Herb. 15,188 ( PRE) ; Port Elizabeth , short scrub (– DC) , 29 June 1962, Batten 7- Pl 54 ( NBG) ; Walmer (– DC) , 17 Jun 1975, Walters 55 ( NBG) ; Port Elizabeth coastal grasslands (– DC) , 13 May 1965, Bayliss 2848 ( NBG) ; Port Elizabeth (– DC) , Tyson 2238 (NBG, SAM); Linton Grange ; patch of veld (– DC) , 17 Sep 1972, Troughton 405 ( NBG, PRE) ; Baakens River beyond Sunridge Park (– DC) , 19 Jul 1973, Olivier 709 ( NBG) ; – 3326 (Grahamstown): Grahamstown (– BC) , 1 Jul 1908, Marloth 6129 ( PRE) ; Kenton-on-Sea, Joan Muirhead Private Nature Reserve , coastal cliff, (– BC) , 12 Oct 1996, Mucina 6167/1 ( PRE) . – 3327 ( East London ): ‘ad nivellum maris ad ost flum. Visch rivier’, (– AC) , Nov 1919, MacOwan 1439 ( SAM) . – 3424 (Humansdorp): Kromme River (– BB) , June 1856, de Castelnau s.n. ( PRE) . – 3425 (Port Elizabeth): hills near Sea coast near Port Elizabeth , (– BA) , Mar 1866, Bolus 1672 ( BOL) . – Without precise locality: ‘in planitie ad ped. mont. pone van Stadensrivier & Port Elizabeth’ , Oct, Zeyher s.n. ( SAM 38127 ) ; ‘ ad sinum Algoa Africae Australis’, 1822, Forbes s.n. G00470585 ); ‘ In arenosis planitiebus prope Algoa Bay’, Aug, MacOwan 1439 ( SAM 38125 ) ; Zeyher s.n. PRE 43,788 ( PRE) ; ‘ prope Port Elizabeth’ , 24 Aug 1930, Fries, Norlindh & Weimarck s.n. ( BOL 46516 ) ; ‘ ad sinum Algoa Africae Sinensis’ , 1922, Forbes s.n. ( BOL 46519 ) ; hills nr. seacoast nr. Port Elizabeth , Mar 1866, Bolus 1672 ( BOL) , Tyson s.n. ( SAM 38128 ) .

Figures

Fig.7. Achyranthemum affine. A.Habit.B.Leaf indumentum (Wright 980, NBG).C.Pressedspecimen (Galpin 9929, PRE) showing leaf arrangement and stems becoming sparsely leafy below synflorescences.D.Capitula. E. Distribution.All photographs N.G. Bergh except A and D (S.Swanepoel https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11204589).