Hilliardiella oligocephala var. oligocephala

Herman, Paul P. J., 2022, Hilliardiella elaeagnoides and H. oligocephala (Asteraceae, Vernonieae), two distinct species and the description of a new variety, Phytotaxa 570 (1), pp. 29-42 : 33-37

Hilliardiella oligocephala var. oligocephala

Slender perennial herb with few soft, annual, herbaceous stems from small underground rootstock. Rootstock also with narrow fusiform tubers. Annual stems 80–330, very rarely to 380, mm high, unbranched or rarely with one or two short side branches, faintly to distinctly ribbed, sparsely hairy to glabrescent basally, upwards densely silvery/ whitish hairy, hairs short-stalked, medifixed T-shaped with arms parallel to surface or very rarely sometimes with long-stalked, asymmetrically, Y-shaped hairs with arms shorter than stalk and stalk with reddish transverse cell walls. Leaves alternate, sessile or very shortly petiolate, densely set to more scattered, discolorous, ovate, broadly ovate, cordate or narrowly ovate, elliptic or broadly elliptic, lowest pair often orbicular, 10–28 × 3.5–20.0(–25.0) mm (including petiole), apex acute, attenuate, mucronate apiculate, acuminate, obtuse or rounded, often shortly cuspidate, base cuneate, attenuate, obtuse, cordate or subcordate, margin entire, often undulate and distantly, sparsely serrulate, prominently pinnately veined, these raised on abaxial surface, on adaxial surface faint or sunken, adaxial surface sparsely hairy or glabrescent, hairs scattered over surface or confined to veins, often glandular punctate towards the apex, very rarely sometimes on adaxial side near apex and along margins of apex with long-stalked, asymmetrically, Y-shaped hairs with arms shorter than stalk and stalk with reddish transverse cell walls, abaxial surface densely hairy, hairs silvery/whitish, hairs short-stalked, medifixed, T-shaped with arms parallel to surface, similar to those on stems. Capitula homogamous, discoid, very rarely heterogamous, discoid, few, on very short peduncles, arranged in dense, terminal, umbellate synflorescences or sometimes densely umbellate-racemosely arranged, rarely synflorescence more open and lax. Peduncle (2–)3–12(–15), very rarely to 28, mm long, densely hairy, often hidden by uppermost leaves. Involucre broadly obconical to campanulate, 5–9(–10) mm wide across upper part. Involucral bracts arranged in (4)5 rows, imbricate, outer shorter than inner, densely white or silvery hairy and glandular-punctate; outer row lineartriangular or very narrowly ovate, (2.2–)2.5–4.0 × 0.2–0.5 mm, apex attenuate, usually cuspidate, usually reddish, hairy, glabrous or glabrescent, upper part of margin sometimes reddish, surface densely silvery hairy and glandular punctate, main vein sometimes obvious; second row linear-triangular, very narrowly ovate or rarely very narrowly obovate, 3.0–4.5(–4.8) × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex acuminate or attenuate, cuspidate, usually reddish, hairy, glabrous or glabrescent, upper part of margin sometimes reddish, surface densely silvery hairy and glandular punctate, main vein sometimes obvious and sometimes keeled in lower part; third row narrowly triangular, very narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic or rarely narrowly obovate, (3.5–)4.0–5.4 × 0.5–1.4(–1.5) mm, apex attenuate or acuminate, cuspidate, usually reddish, sparsely hairy, glabrous or glabrescent, upper part of margin usually reddish or pink-purple; surface whitish hairy and glandular punctate, main vein usually visible, often keeled in lower half, inside surface with prominent main vein or sometimes 3-veined; fourth row narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic or rarely narrowly obovate, 4.2–5.5(–6.0) × 0.5–1.4(–1.5) mm, apex acuminate or attenuate, cuspidate, usually reddish, glabrous or glabrescent, upper part of margin reddish or pink-purple, surface whitish hairy and glandular punctate, main vein usually visible, often keeled in lower half, inside surface with prominent main vein or sometimes 3-veined; fifth row narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic or rarely narrowly obovate or narrowly oblong, (4.0–)4.5–5.5(–6.0) × 0.6–1.2 mm, apex attenuate, cuspidate, usually reddish, glabrous or glabrescent, upper part of margin reddish or pink-purple, surface sometimes reddish in upper part, whitish hairy and glandular punctate, main vein ± prominent and often keeled in lower half, inside surface with prominent main vein or sometimes 3-veined. Receptacle epaleate. Disc florets bisexual, fertile, sometimes few outer florets female, actinomorphic; corolla pinkish or purple, funnelform; tube 3.5–5.0(–5.5) mm long, upper part of tube with few sessile glands and T-shaped hairs, 5-lobed; lobes (1.5–)2.0–3.5(–4.0) mm long, apex acute, with sessile glands and T-shaped hairs but around apex with unicellular hairs. Anthers (1.5–)1.8–2.2(–2.5) mm long, with (narrowly) ovate apical appendages, bases caudate. Style (4.0–)4.5–6.5(–8.5) mm long, exserted, bifurcate; style branches pinkish purple, filiform, 1.0– 1.8 mm long, recurved, with acute hairs on outside of branches and onto the shaft below furcation, total inner surface stigmatic. Ovary/cypsela brown, ± obconical, 1.0– 1.5 mm long, ribbed, densely twin hairy and glandular punctate, with distinct carpopodium. Pappus dimorphic, an outer row of laciniate scales, 0.5–1.0 mm long and inner row of barbellate bristles, 3.5–5.0(–5.5) mm long. Flowering time: July to December with one record each for January, February and April. ( Figs 3 , 4A, B, E ).

Diagnostic characters:— Hilliardiella oligocephala var. oligocephala is a slender plant up to about 350 mm high, with only a few soft, herbaceous, slender stems from the underground rootstock, with narrowly or broadly ovate, cordate, elliptic or broadly elliptic, prominent pinnately veined, leaves and a few capitula arranged in dense terminal umbellate synflorescences. H. elaeagnoides is a rigid, robust plant up to 1 m high, with clumps of many rigid, erect stems from the underground rootstock, with many capitula in large, open corymbose synflorescences. Some specimens were seen with capitula more densely arranged in almost umbellate synflorescences, but their stems are still quite hard and rigid.

Distribution:— Hilliardiella oligocephala var. oligocephala is endemic to South Africa and occurs in a small area around Barberton (Mpumalanga), through KwaZulu-Natal and into the Eastern Cape ( Fig. 5 ). Not as common as H. elaeagnoides and usually overlooked because of its smaller stature.

Additional specimens examined

SOUTH AFRICA. Mpumalanga: Barberton District, ca. 9.8 km directly SW of Barberton, Farm Schultzenhorst 718JT, N facing mountain slope, grassland, 1618 m, (QDS: 2531CC Komatipoort), 9 December 2008, Bester 8832 (PRE). Mukwana Heights north of house, 2.4 km S of Barberton, burnt N facing mountain slope, 3700 ft [1128 m], (QDS: 2531CC Komatipoort), 18 August 1974, De Souza 434b (PRE). Barberton, Saddleback Mountain, 4000 ft [1219 m], (QDS: 2531CC Komatipoort), September 1889, Galpin 425 (PRE). Locality not found: “Brommers” – Mountains SE of Barberton, steep, rocky grassland, recently burnt, 10 July 1985, Onderstall 1247 (PRE).

KwaZulu-Natal: Louwsburg Distr., Itala Nature Reserve, Potwe, mountain, 3800 ft [1158 m], (QDS: 2731AC Louwsburg), 8 December 1975, Brown & Shapiro 34 (PRE). Ntonjaneni Distr., 3 ½ m [5.6 km] S of Ntonjaneni on road to Melmoth, dense grassveld, recently burnt, 3400 ft [1036 m], (QDS: 2831CB Nkandla), 8 October 1946, Codd 1796 (PRE). Ngoye Forest [Umgoye/Ongoye Forest], grassland between exposed rock faces, 1600 ft [488 m], (QDS: 2831DC Nkandla), 11 December 1973, Stirton 446 (PRE). Zululand, Hlabisa district, west of Charter’s Creek, amongst grasses in sandy soil near vlei, 100 ft [30 m], (QDS: 2832AB Mtubatuba), 5 December 1955, Ward 2847 (PRE). St Lucia, S of Lake, Dukuduku State forest, moist riverine forest/thicket, 20 m, (QDS: 2832AD Mtubatuba), 9 December 1989, Hobson 370 (PRE). Witbank, Balgowan, [Lion’s River Distr.], dolorite outcrop, grassland, 4800 ft [1463 m], (QDS: 2930AC Pietermaritzburg), 12 October 1964, Moll 1219 (PRE). Greytown, 3420 ft [1042 m], (QDS: 2930BA Pietermaritzburg), Oct-Nov 1931, Wylie s.n. TvlMus 33875 (PRE). Pietermaritzburg, Silverglen Nature Reserve, NE of Umlazi Nursery, recently burnt grassland, (QDS: 2930DD Pietermaritzburg), 21 October 1985, Ngwenya 181 (PRE). [Pinetown], Kloof, 1500 ft [457 m], (QDS: 2930DD Pietermaritzburg), 14 September 1893, Schlechter 3203 (PRE). Hill near Pinetown, 1500 ft [457 m], (QDS: 2930DD Pietermaritzburg), 29 August 1893, Wylie s.n. Nat. Herb. 495 (PRE, 2 specimens). Weza State Forest, foothills of Ngeli Mountain near Loveday [Lovedale?] lookout, grassland, (QDS: 3029DA Kokstad), 20 November 1986, Van Wyk 7561 (PRE). District Alexandra, Station Dumisa, Farm Friedenau, 600 m, (QDS: 3030AD Port Shepstone), 31 January 1908, Rudatis 235 (PRE). District Alexandra, Station Dumisa, Campbellton, 800 m, (QDS: 3030AD Port Shepstone), 8 November 1912, Rudatis 1745 (PRE). Dududu, 2 km W of the Cedars, gentle slope, recently burnt grassland, loamy soil, (QDS: 3030BA Port Shepstone), 5 November 1992, Sikhakhane 268 (PRE). Port Edward, Clearwater, (QDS: 3130AA Port Edward), 22 August 1982, Abbott 241 (PRE). Just outside Port Edward on road to Bizana, hillside, grassland, recently burned, (QDS: 3130AA Port Edward), 20 September 1996, Germishuizen 8659 (PRE).

Vague locality: Zululand, 1–2000 ft [305–610 m], April 1895, Wylie / Medley Wood 5755 (PRE).

Eastern Cape: Griqualand East, near Clydesdale, Mount Malowe, grassy slopes, 3500 ft [1069 m], (QDS: 3029BD Kokstad), November 1885, Tyson 2148 (PRE, 2 specimens). Bizana Commonage, grassveld, 2500 ft [762 m], (QDS: 3029DD Kokstad), 22 November 1945, Acocks 12257 (PRE). Bizana District, flats 0.5 miles [0.8 km] W of town, sour grassveld, 762 m, (QDS: 3029DD Kokstad), 22 November 1945, Story 587 (PRE). Ntsubane Forest Station near Lusikisiki, grassy plains, (QDS: 3129BC Port St Johns), 2 February 1929, Galpin 10993 (PRE). Transkei, Mkambati Nature Reserve, burnt grassland, 230 m, (QDS: 3129BD Port St Johns), 19 February 1985, Shackleton 228 (PRE). Transkei, 1.3 myl [2.1 km] vanaf die kantore by Mkambati op pad na die hospitaal, in onlangs gebrande grasveld [2.1 km from the offices at Mkambati on the way to the hospital, in recently burnt grassveld], (QDS: 3129BD Port St Johns), 9 July 1976, Van Wyk 1555 (PRE). Flora of Coffee Bay, Tembuland, on grassy slopes, (QDS: 3129CC Port St Johns), November 1919, Tyson s.n. PRE44465 (PRE). Bizana District, Umtentu mouth, open grassveld, 100 ft [30 m], (QDS: 3130AA Port Edward), 17 August 1953, Story 4171 (PRE). District Kentani, margin of woods, 1500 ft [457 m], (QDS: 3228CB Butterworth), 1901, Pegler 64 (PRE). Kentani, (QDS: 3228CB Butterworth), November 1906, Pegler s.n. TvlMus4126 (PRE).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Scan of Hilliardiella oligocephala var. oligocephala specimen (Koekemoer 4695, PRE) to show the slender habit and fewflowered, umbellate synflorescences.

FIGURE 4. Leaves and involucral bracts of Hilliardiella oligocephala. A. Abaxial surface of leaves of H. oligocephala var. oligocephala (Bester 8832, PRE) showing the pinnate veins(Nikondigital camera,photographer P.Herman).B.Abaxial surface of leaf of H.oligocephala var. oligocephala (Medley Wood 5755, PRE) showing the dense hairs and pinnate veins (Olympus digital microscope). C.Abaxial surface of the leaf of H. oligocephala var. besteri (Smuts & Gillett 2406, PRE) showing the 3 main veins (Nikon digital camera, photographer P. Herman). D. Abaxial surface of the leaf of H. oligocephala var. besteri (Smuts & Gillett 2406, PRE) showing the dense hairs and the 3 main veins (Olympus digital microscope). E. Inner surface of the inner involucral bract of H. oligocephala var. oligocephala (Codd 1796, PRE) showing the 3 main veins (Olympus digital microscope). F. Inner surface of the inner involucral bract of H. oligocephala var. besteri (Compton 26095, PRE) showing the 3 main veins (Olympus digital microscope).

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of Hilliardiella oligocephala var. oligocephala in South Africa.