Inulanthera thodei (Bolus)

Magoswana, S. L., Boatwright, J. S., Manning, J. C. & Magee, A. R., 2016, A taxonomic revision of Inulanthera (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) *, South African Journal of Botany 105, pp. 141-157 : 153-155

8. Inulanthera thodei (Bolus) KällersjÖ in Nord. J. Bot. 5 (6): 539 (1986).

Athanasia thodei Bolus in Trans. S. Afri. Phil. Soc. 16:387 (1906); Hilliard, Compositae in Natal: 338 (1977).

Type: South Africa, [KwaZulu-Natal], stony places near the summit of MontAux-Sources, Jan. 1896, Thode 23 (BOL! lecto., designated here; K – image!, isolecto.). [Syntype: South Africa, [Eastern Cape], Cape colony; district Barkly East, Doodman's-krantz Mt., [without date], Galpin 6707 (BOL). Note: The Thode collection at BOL is selected as lectotype as being determined in the author's handwriting as “ Typus auctoris! ”

Multi-stemmed shrub up 0.40–1.5 m, resprouting from a woody caudex, stems simple to densely branched in upper half, branches 4–7 mm diam., densely woolly to glabrous. Leaves sub-erect to spreading, linear, 10–45 × 2–3 mm, simple to trifid, lobes linear, 5–10 mm long, base cuneate, margins strongly revolute, densely whitish woolly, sometimes glabrescent, coriaceous; axillary shoots absent. Capitula in dense compound corymbs 20–40 mm across, branches 5–15 mm long, inflorescence bracts narrowly lanceolate, 5–10 × 1–2 mm. Involucre campanulate, 3–5 × 4–7 mm, cobwebby; outer bracts elliptic to lanceolate, 2–3 × 0.5–1.0 mm, acuminate, margins serrulate. Receptacle paleate. Florets 65 to 70. Pappus formed by cypsela ribs extended apically into horns 0.1–0.2 mm long. Cypselas obovoid, 1–2 × 0.5–1.0 mm, prominently 8- to 10-ribbed, glabrous. Fig. 14 .

Diagnostic characters

Inulanthera thodei is distinguished by its much-branched habit and linear or deeply 2- or 3-lobed leaves without axillary tufts ( Fig. 14 A-B2). The leaves are glabrous above but pubescent beneath with whip-like eglandular hairs in the grooves formed between the midrib and revolute margins. Anatomical investigation reveals the presence of resin canals in the mesophyll.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

This species is a high-altitude endemic of the Drakensberg Mountains, ranging from the northern parts of the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho, at altitudes above 2000 m, on basalt slopes along streams and drainage lines in montane scrub ( Fig. 15 ). The species flowers in March and April.

Inulanthera thodei has been reported to be used to fumigate huts after someone has died and is known by the following Sotho vernacular names; kgato, ledingwana and sehalahala se seputswa ( Moffett, 2010).

Additional specimens examined

South Africa. KWA‐ ZULU NATAL: 2829 (Harrismith): Bergville, Drakensberg (− CB), Esterhuysen 27817 (BOL). 2929 (Underberg): Moraine, catchment of south branch of Loteni river (− BC), Wright 850 (NU). EASTERN CAPE: 3027 (Lady Grey): lower south facing slopes of Mount Ben Macdhui (− DB), Roux 1162 (NBG), Hilliard and Burtt 16,421 (MO, NU); Mount Ben Macdhui north of Rhodes, alongside road at foot of mountain (− DB), Matthews 822 (NBG). 3028 (Matatiele): ascent to Naude's Nek (− CA), Hilliard and Burtt 6611 (MO, NBG, NU), Hilliard 3933 (BOL, NU, NH), Magoswana 9 (NBG); Barkly East, Drakensberg mountains (− CA), Galpin 6707 (BOL); Naude's Nek Pass (− CA), Bester 2374 (NH), Zietsman and Zietsman 1475 (PRE); Farm Bernina, about 30 km (direct) NW from Maclear, Elands Height (− CA), Bester 652 (NH); summit of Drakensberg beyond Naude's Nek (− DC), Hilliard 3933 (NH). 3029 (Kokstad): summit of Mount Currie (− AD), Tyson 1450 (BOL). 3127 (Lady Frere): Fetcani Pass (− BB), Hilliard and Burtt 12,330 (NU).

Lesotho. 2828 (Bethlehem): Maluti Mountains, 3 km from Oxbow Lodge to Butha-Buthe (− CC), Wright 1125 (MO); Botha-Botha District, Mota's Pass (− DA), Coetzee 373 (NBG); Mount-Aux-Sources area, Sinyati Gully (− DB), Esterhuysen 21,684 (BOL); summit of Mount-Aux-Sources (− DB) Galpin s.n. (BOL), Thode 6259, 6319, 7722 (NBG); 5 km from New Oxbow Inn on road leading south (− DC), Killick 4494 (MO), Killick 4496 (MO, PRE); 3 km from New Oxbow Inn on road to Moteng Pass (− DC), Killick 4475 (MO, NH, PRE); Butha-Buthe, Oxbow camp (− DC), Lubke 252 (PRE); Butha-Buthe, Tselenjane Valley (− DC), Roberts 3608 (PRE); Oxbow (− DC), Phillips s.n. (NU); Maluti Mountains, 3 km from Oxbow Lodge to Butha-Buthe (− DC), Panagos 15 (NH). 2927 (Maseru): 46 km from Mokhotlong on road to Sani top (− AC), Killick 4581 (PRE); Sehlabathebe National Park (− AC), Hoener 1744 (PRE); summit of Drakensberg near Giant's Castle Pass (− AD), Wright 1125 (NU, MO, PRE); Blue Mountain Pass (− BD), Hilliard and Burtt 12,108 (NU); 5 km from top of Kotisephola Pass to Sani (− CA), Killick 4595 (NH); Black Mountains (− CA), Hilliard and Burtt 8781 (NU); Sani Pass (− CB), Hilliard 8120 (NU); Sehlabathebe Reserve (− CC), Bayliss 50 (MO); Guillarmod, Getliffe and Mzamane 237 (MO); Bushman's Nek, Thamatuwe Pass (− CC), Hilliard and Burtt 8969 (NU, PRE), Bayliss 1297 (PRE), Matthews 968 (NBG), Hoener 1744 (NU); plateau near summit of Bushman's River Pass (− CC), Wright 499 (NU). Maskachane near Zebra Nek (− CD), Galpin s.n. (BOL), Galpin13900 (PRE). Thaba-Putsoa (− DB), Jacot-Guillarmod 1802 (PRE). 2928 (Marakabies): plateau near summit of Bushman's River Pass (− AA), Wright 499 (NH); ± 30 km from Semonkong on road to Maseru (− CC), Roux 2755 (NBG).

Figures

Fig. 14. Inulanthera thodei, Killick 4475 (NH).A. Flowering branch; B1 and B2. Leaf.C. Leaf tissue plan (Magee 1087, (NBG)). D. Involucral bracts. E. Palae. F.Floret.G.Cypsela.H. Style.I. Anthers. Arrow indicates midrib.Scales: A–B2: 10 mm; C–H: 1 mm. Artist:S.L. Magoswana.

Fig. 15. Known distribution of Inulanthera thodei.