Inulanthera coronopifolia (Harv.)

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 : 146

2. Inulanthera coronopifolia (Harv.) KällersjÖ in Nord. J. Bot. 5 (6): 539 (1986).

Athanasia coronopifolia Harv. in Fl. cap. 3: 191 (1865); Hilliard, Compositae in Natal: 338 (1977).

Type: South Africa, [KwaZulu-Natal], between [Pieter] Maritzburg and Ladysmith, [without date], Gerrard and M ' Ken 279 (TCD, holo – image!; S – image!, iso.).

Multi-stemmed shrub 0.45–1.0 m, resprouting from a woody caudex, stems simple to sparsely branched in upper half, branches 2–3 mm diam., villous to glabrescent. Leaves sub-erect to recurved, elliptic, 2–8 × 1–2 mm, pinnatisect, lobes 4 to 6, linear to lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, base cuneate, margins revolute, villous or sometimes glabrescent, coriaceous; axillary shoots developed in lower leaves. Capitula in sparse compound corymbs 35–65 mm across, branches 8–20 mm long; inflorescence bracts lanceolate, 2–5 × 1–2 mm. Involucre campanulate to subglobose, 3–6 × 4–9 mm, cobwebby to glabrescent; outer bracts lanceolate, 2–3 × 1–2 mm, acuminate, margins serrulate. Receptacle paleate. Florets 65 to 70. Pappus formed by cypsela ribs extended apically into horns 0.3–0.5 mm long. Cypselas obovoid, 1–2 × 0.5–1.0, prominently 8- to 10-ribbed, glabrous. Fig. 4 .

Diagnostic characters

Inulanthera coronopifolia shares glabrous involucral bracts with the simple-leaved species I. leucoclada and I. montana but is readily distinguished by its slender stems ( Fig. 4A ) with axillary shoots in the nodes of the lower leaves, small (<10 mm long) pinnatisect leaves, and relatively few heads (<30) in a simple or compound corymb vs. the larger corymbs, usually more than 30 mm in diameter in both I. leucoclada and I. montana , and compound corymbs with numerous heads, more than 30 in I. montana and up to 70 in I. leucoclada .

Distribution, ecology and phenology

This species occurs along the foothills of the Drakensberg from Nottingham Road and Giant's Caste in southern KwaZulu-Natal to Ugie in Eastern Cape, on rocky slopes in grassland above 1700 m ( Fig. 5 ). Flowering is from March to April.

Additional specimens examined

South Africa. KWA‐ ZULU NATAL: 2929 (Underberg): Giant's Castle Game Reserve (Headquarters) (− AB), Trauseld 745 (NU); Ntabamhlophe (− BA), Hilliard 1471 (NU); Mulungane above Carter's Nek, Farm ‘Surprise’ (− BC), Hilliard 8231 (NU); Gladstone's Nose (− BC), Wright s.n. (NU); Coleford Nature Reserve, Sunnyside (− CD), Hilliard and Burtt 9548 (NU); Glengariff, Prosperity, Marwaga (− DC), Rennie 380 (NU); Nduduma, ‘Glengariff’ (− DC), Rennie s.n. (NU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): top of hill near Curry's Post (− AC), Wood 4457 (NH); Lion's River District, Fort Nottingham commonage (− AC), Hilliard and Burtt 10338 (MO, NU); Nottingham road (− AC), Maclear 810 (MO, NH). EASTERN CAPE: 3127 (Lady Frere): Barkly East, Saalboom Nek, S of Clifford (− AB), Hilliard and Burtt 12267 (NU). 3128 (Umtata): Maclear, Farm Cromarty, ± 18 km west of Ugie (− AA), Bester 2711 (NU); Baziya Mountain (− CB), Hilliard and Burtt 13,893 (NU).

Figures

Fig. 4. Inulanthera coronopifolia, Bester 2711 (NU). A.Flowering branch.B1 and B2.Leaf.C.Involucral bracts.D.Palae.E.Floret.F.Cypsela.G.Style.H.Anthers.Scales:A and B:1 cm; C–H: 1 mm.Artist: S.L.Magoswana.

Fig. 5. Known distribution of Inulanthera coronopifolia.