Inulanthera dregeana (DC.)

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 : 146-149

3. Inulanthera dregeana (DC.) KällersjÖ in Nord. J. Bot. 5 (6): 539 (1986).

Hymenolepis dregeana DC., Prodr. 6: 85 (1838). Athanasia dregeana (DC.) Harv. in Fl. cap. 3: 191 (1865); Hutch. in Burtt Davy and Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew: 83 (1936); Hilliard, Compositae in Natal: 338 (1977).

Type: South Africa, [Eastern Cape], between Umsikaba and Umzimvubu rivers, [without date], Drège 5038 (G-DC, holo. – image!; S – image!, iso.)

Hymenolepis punctata DC., Prodr. 6: 85 (1838). Athanasia punctata (DC.) Harv. in Fl. cap. 3: 190 (1865), nom. illeg. non Berg. (1767).

Type: South Africa, [Eastern Cape], ‘Kroemrivier’ [Kromrivier], Drège 3982 (G-DC, lecto –image!, designated here; P –image!, SAM!, isolecto). [Syntypes: South Africa, [Western Cape], ‘ad fl. Gauritz [Gourits], without date, Burchell 5055 (G-DC); South Africa, [Eastern Cape], ‘terr. Cesso et Cafrorum’, [without date], Ecklon s.n. (G-DC)]. Note: We select the Drège syntype as lectotype as being represented also at P and SAM.

Athanasia dregeana va r. sessilis Burtt Davy in Burtt Davy and Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew: 83 (1936).

Type: South Africa, [Mpumalanga], Lydenburg, [without date] McLea 5730 (BOL, holo.!).

Athanasia calva Hutch. in Burtt Davy and Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew: 83 (1936), syn. nov.; Hilliard, Compositae in Natal: 338 (1977). Inulanthera calva (Hutch.) KällersjÖ in Nord. J. Bot. 5 (6): 539 (1986).

Type: South Africa, [Mpumalanga], Barberton District, Saddleback Mountain, Mar. 1891, Galpin 1312 (K, holo.; BOL!, NH – image!, PRE!, iso.).

Multi-stemmed shrub 1–2 m, resprouting from a woody caudex, stems simple or sparsely branched in upper half, branches 3–6 mm diam., grey lanate to glabrescent. Leaves spreading to recurved, oblong to narrowly ovate, 8–45 × 3–5 mm, lobes 3 to 5, linear to lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, base tapering or cuneate, margins entire to serrulate, thickened, ± discolorous, upper surface sparsely pubescent or glabrous, lower surface thinly and unevenly cobwebbed, sometimes glabrescent, coriaceous; axillary shoots developed in upper leaves. Capitula in dense compound corymbs 35–130 mm across, primary branches 20–40 mm long, secondary branches 10–20 mm long; inflorescence bracts narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 1–5 × 1–2 mm. Involucre campanulate to subglobose, 3–5 × 3–6 mm, cobwebbed or glabrous; outer bracts ovate to elliptic, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, acuminate, margins serrulate. Receptacle paleate. Florets 25 to 30. Pappus formed by cypsela ribs extended apically into horns 0.2–0.3 mm long, sometimes becoming broadly membranous and forming scales, partially fused into a coroniform structure. Cypselas obconic, 1–2 x ± 0.5, prominently 8- to 10-ribbed, glabrous to scabrid, sometimes with sessile glands between ribs. Fig. 6 .

Diagnostic characters

Inulanthera dregeana can easily be confused with I. montana , with which it shares simple or variously lobed leaves, but can be distinguished by its narrowly oblong to narrowly ovate, lobed leaves ( Fig. 6B 1-B 2 ), 3–5 mm wide, versus lanceolate to obovate leaves 4–10 mm wide in I. montana . The pappus is either an extension of the ribs into prominent horns or broader membranous scales ± fused below into a crown-like structure ( Fig. 6F ). The cypselas are usually glabrous but sessile glands may be present between the ribs.

Plants with horn-like rib extensions were segregated until now as I. calva , and plants with scale-like pappus were recognised as I. dregeana . Additional characters cited by Hilliard (1977) for I. calva were the ± minutely scabrid ribs, sometimes with sessile glands between them. Other than this, the plants are indistinguishable from typical I. dregeana . We have examined several populations in the field in southern KwaZulu-Natal [Nottingham commonage (Pietermaritzburg), Royal Natal National Park (Pietermaritzburg), Coleford Nature Reserve (Bergville), West of Ugie, Mt. Insizwa (Mt. Alyiff), Umkhambati Nature Reserve (Port St. Johns) and Naude's Nek (Matatiele)] and find that the two pappus types grade into one another without any clear distinction. The variation in pappus form has a geographic component: plants from the south Western Cape and Eastern Cape consistently have a pappus of scales fused at the base whereas those from further inland through KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga mostly have simple, horn-like pappus extensions, but some populations have both pappus forms plus intermediates between them.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

This species is widely distributed in eastern South Africa, from the Kammanassie Mountains in Western Cape through the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga to Limpopo and the Swaziland highlands, occurring in thick grassland and on forest margins above 1200 m ( Fig. 7 ). The species flowers from March to May.

Additional specimens examined

South Africa. LIMPOPO: 2230 (Messina): Sibasa District, Tate Vondo Forest (− CD), Hemm 126 (PRE). 2330 (Tzaneen): Wolkberg 634LT, near Kreek (− CC), Muller and Scheepers 194 (PRE). MPUMALANGA: 2430 (Pilgrim's Rest): Feëland just outside Graskop (− DD), Kluge 1840 (PRE); Pilgrim's Rest, Stanley Bush hill (− DD), Matthews 546 (MO). 2530 (Lydenburg): Sabie Valley, hillside (− AB), Galpin 12206 (BOL); Formosa Mountain, Long Tom Pass (− BA), Burrows and Burrows 7653 (PRE); Foot of Mount Formosa (− BA), Koekemoer 2283 (PRE); ‘Bakenkop’, approximately 20 km SE of Sabie (− BB), Deall 1976 (PRE); SW corner of Ameide Farm (− DD), Souza 514 (PRE); Carolina District, Stolzburg syncline, Farm Groenvaly 701JT. (− DD), Balkwill 8170 (MO). 2531 (Komatipoort): 14 km from Barberton on Havelock road, Saddleback ridge (− CC), Retief 2107 (PRE); Barberton, summit Saddleback Mountains (− CC), Galpin 1312 (BOL); Havelock, Pigg's Peak (− CD), Compton 28709, 30649 (NBG, PRE). 2630 (Carolina): Amsterdam, Athole Farm (− DA), Van Wyk 2270 (PRE); Piet Retief, Vlakkloof Estate (− DC), Sidey 1662 (PRE). 2729 (Volkrust): Graskop, mountain side on Old London Farm (− BB), Galpin 14434 (BOL, PRE); Volkrust highlands (− BB), Mogg 7514 (PRE). KWA-ZULU NATAL: 2730 (Vryheid): North hill on margin of wooden ravine on SE slope (− AC), Galpin 10016 (PRE); Wakkerstroom, Oshoek (− AC), Devenish 635 (PRE). 2731 (Louwsberg): Emyati mountains (− CC), Thode 2965 (NBG); 7 miles (11 Km) West of Ngome (− CD), Codd 9511 (MO), Codd 9587 (PRE). 2828 (Bethlehem): Witzieshoek (− DB), Thode 6307 (NBG); Royal Natal National Park, Mount-Aux Sources (− DB), Steyn 1057 (NBG, PRE); River bed at foot of Mount-Aux Sources (− DB), Evans 1355 (SAM). 2829 (Harrismith): near De Beers Pass (− AD), Wood 5968 (MO); Bergville, Cathedral Peak Forest Station (− BC), Killick 4060 (PRE); Seheletwane, 40 km NW of Bergville (− CA), Meyer 4949 (PRE); Olivier's Hoek, Little Switzerland, Farm Keswick (− CA), Zeyde 111 (NBG); Little Switzerland (− CB), Anderson 190 (PRE); Cathedral Peak Forest Research Station (− CC), Killick 1502 (BOL, PRE); Cathedral Peak area, sides of Umkambonja Valley (− CC), Levyns 8253 (BOL); Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve, Mike's Pass (− CD), Breytenbacht WB5066 (PRE); MacOwen 279, 3572 (BOL); Alexandria (− DA), Rudatis 1638 (MO). 2830 (Dundee): Pomeroy District, Jobeskop, on summit plateau (− CA), Venter 1812 (NH, PRE); Utrecht (− CB), Parkhouse s.n. (NBG); Bergville, Hlolelo, The Cave (− DB), L ' Ange 92 (NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Nkandla Forest Reserve (− CA), Van Wyk 7327 (NH); Ngoye (− DC), Wood 8513 (NBG). 2929 (Underberg): Giant's Castle (− AB), Rycroft 3227 (NBG); Mulangane, above Carter's Nek, Farm ‘Surprise’ (− BC), Hilliard 8234 (PRE); Cobham Forest.Reserve, Upper Polela (− CB), Hilliard and Burtt 12547 (PRE); Wintershoek (− CD), Solomon 46 (NU); Coleford Nature Reserve, on road to Bulwer (− CD), Magoswana 17 (NBG); 3 miles (5 km) from Donnybrook on Ixopo road (− DD), Edwards 3099 (NH, NU, PRE); Ixopo, Farm ‘Lynn Avis’ on road to Donnybrook (− DD), Hilliard 10,133 (NU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Natal, Nottingham (− AC), MaClear 870 (MO, PRE); Greytown (− AC), Wylie s.n. (NH); 21 miles (34 km) from Howick on the road to Mount Alida, Karkloof range. (− AD), Ross 2086 (PRE); Greytown, De Rust (− BA), Thode 2961 (NBG); Greytown, upper slopes of mountain (− BA), Galpin s.n. (BOL); Near Richmond (− BD), Wood 9851 (BOL, PRE); Richmond (− CC), Galpin 12,017 (PRE); hill near Boston (− DA), Wood 4589 (PRE), Galpin 6698 (SAM); Inanda (− DB), Wood 1904 (BOL); Hammarsdale Area, Hector (Eskom) substation site (− DC), Ward 13,002 (NH, NU). 3029 (Kokstad): East Griqualand, ‘Vielsalm’ (− AC), Forbes 1138 (NH); Mount Currie (− AD), District Forest Of fi cer 582 (PRE); summit Mount Currie (− AD), Tyson 1485 (NBG, SAM); Zuurberg mountain (− BC), Long 1247 (PRE); Zuurberg mountains near Kokstad (− BC), Tyson 1162 (BOL, SAM); Zuurberg (− BC), Hilliard and Burtt 10,181 (NU); Mountains near Clydesdale (− BD), Tyson 2524, 1062, 2550, (BOL), Tyson 1062, 1260 (SAM); Umzimkulu, Farm ‘Ebuta’, Mount Malowe (− BD), Hilliard and Burtt 11227 (NU); Kokstad (− BD), Mogg 4944 (PRE); Emyembe Forest (− CB), Tyson 1061 (SAM); Ntabankulu mountain (− CD), Hilliard and Burtt 7347 (NU); Western end of contour path above Dollos Forest (− DA), Brand, Swart and Abbott 427 (MO); Ngele, below Eagles Nest (− DA), Abbott 5275 (NH); Harding, Farm ‘Rooivaal’ (− DB), Hilliard and Burtt 16,738 (NU). 3030 (Port Shepstone): Ixopo, Sutton Estates (− AA), Hilliard and Burtt 11,208 (NU); Umzinto, Ellesmere (− AD), Hilliard and Burtt 14,527 (NU, PRE); Umgaye Flats, Friedenau (− BC), Rudatis 141 (NBG); Izotsha Falls view site (− CB), Hilliard 1915 (NU); Umtamvuna River Reserve (− CC), Nicholson 1756 (PRE). 3130 (Port Edward): Umtamvuma Nature Reserve, Bulolo (− AA), Abbott 3065, 3559 (NH). WESTERN CAPE: 3322 (Oudtshoorn): Kammanasie mountains, Farm Molen River, Manetjiesberg, south slopes stream off main ravine, above road (− DB), Matthews 1039 (NBG). EASTERN CAPE: 3028 (Matatiele): Naude's Nek Pass (− CA), Bigalke 212 (PRE); Buffalo Nek, about 10 miles (16 km) NW of Mount Frere, slopes of Umgano (− DD), Lewis 4655 (NBG). 3127 (Lady Frère): near top of Satana's Pass, 7 miles (11 km) north of Engcobo (− DB), Lewis 4656 (NBG). 3128 (Umtata): Maclear, Prentjiesberg, Farm Fontana, ± 20 km NW of Ugie on Mapassa's Nek Pass (− AA), Bester 2545, 2566 (NH); Farm Cromarty, west of Ugie (− AA), Magoswana 6 (NBG); Kokstad, St. Cuthberts (− BC), Kelly s.n. (NBG). 3129 (Port St. Johns): Nkanga near Zibungu (− AC), Hutchings 1011 (NU); Magwa Falls, 12 miles (19 km) from Lusikisiki (− BC), Lewis s.n. (NBG); Sakombe forest (− BD), Edwards and Potgieter 2829 (NU); Nqadu Forest Reserve, on edge of southsloping ridge in tall grassland (− DA), Bean and Viviers 2313 (BOL). 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Katberg Pass, below pass on south side (− BC), Bayer and Puttock SAF 96232 (MO, PRE); Amatole Mountains, below Tor-Doone (− DB), Phillipson 1055 (MO). 3227 (Stutterheim): Summit of mountain above Toise River railway station (− AC), Flanagan 1894 (NBG); King William's Town Division, Kieskammahoek (− CA), Goulimis 22902 (BOL); Stutterheim, Dohne (− CB), Sim 19742 (NU). 3228 (Butterworth): Kentani [Centane] (− AD), Pegler 462 (BOL); Quora Mouth (− BC), Strey 11178 (NH, NU). 3323 (Willowmore): Die Hoek, N foot of Tsitsikamma mountains near Joubertina, Uniondale (− BD), Esterhuysen 19959 (BOL); Top of Prince Alfred's Pass (− CC), Lavranos 12921 (PRE); Edge of forest, Knysna (− CC), Keet s.n. (NBG); Many Waters Kloof, W of Lauterwater, Uniondale (− DC), Compton 5177 (BOL), 7128 (NBG); Die Hoek, N foot Tsitsikamma mountains, near Joubertina (− DC), Esterhuysen 16842 (BOL). 3325 (Port Elizabeth): Alfred district, Zuurberg (− BC), Hilliard and Burtt 10,192 (NU, MO); Groendal Wilderness Reserve, District Uitenhage, Chase's Kloof (− CB), Scharf 1334 (PRE); Kromrivier, Uitenhage (− CC), Drège 161916 (SAM). 3326 (Grahamstown): Albany District, Nature Reserve, Grahamstown 3.9 miles (6 km) from town (− BC), Booi s.n. (PRE); in grassy slopes near Grahamstown (− BD), MacOwan 279 (MO). Precise locality unknown: Natal, Cooper 1062 (BOL); Natal, South Coast. Sidey 4207 (PRE).

Swaziland. 2631 (Mbabane): Forbes Reef (− AA), Compton 30,023 (NBG); Dalriach (− AC), Dlamini s.n. (PRE); Duiker Busch (− AC), Compton 25,700 (NBG, PRE); Millen's falls (− AC), Compton 25857 (NBG); Ukuthula (− AC), Compton 25021 (NBG); Stroma forest edge (− AC), Compton 25829 (NBG); The Caves, Black Mbuluzi valley (− BC), Compton 27466. (PRE), Compton 26801 (NBG); Hlathikulu (− CD), Stewart 138 (SAM).

Figures

Fig. 6. Inulanthera dregeana, Steyn 1057 (NBG).A.Flowering branch.B1 and B2.Leaf.C.Leaf tissue plan (Magee 1077, (NBG)).D.Involucral bracts.E.Palae.F.Florets.G.Cypselas.H.Style.I. Anthers. Arrow indicates leaf midrib.Scales: A and B: 10 mm; C–H:1 mm.Artist: S.L.Magoswana.

Fig. 1. General morphology of Inulanthera. A.Habit of I. thodei showing twiggy branches.B.Habit of I.dregeana showing numerous leafy branches.C.The oblong to narrowly ovate leaves, and compound corymb of I. dregeana. D.Single-stemmed growth form of I. leucoclada. E. Corymb of I. leucoclada.

Fig. 2. Inulanthera brownii, Cours 5160 (P). A. Flowering branch. B1. Typical mature leaf. B2. Leaf near the synflorescence. C. Involucral bracts.D. Palae. E. Floret. F. Cypsela. G. Style. H. Anthers.Scales: A and B: 10 mm; C–H:1 mm.Artist: S.L.Magoswana.

Fig. 7. Known distribution of Inulanthera dregeana.