Aptenia × vascosilvae (A. cordifolia × A. haeckeliana) (Aizoaceae), the new nothospecies from which the horticulturally popular cultivar Aptenia ‘ Red Apple’ was derived Smith, Gideon F. Laguna, Emilio Verloove, Filip Ferrer-Gallego, P. Pablo Phytotaxa 2020 2020-05-04 441 2 221 224 Gideon F.Sm., E.Laguna, F.Verloove & P.P.Ferrer Gideon F. Sm., E. Laguna, F. Verloove & P. P. Ferrer 2020 [136,909,1781,1806] Magnoliopsida Aizoaceae Aptenia GBIF true Plantae Caryophyllales 0 221 Tracheophyta species vascosilvae sp. nov.  [  A. cordifolia(L.f.) Schwantes×  A. haeckeliana(A.Berger) Bittrich ex Gerbaulet].   Type:—  SPAIN. Valencia: El Saler, próximo La Kasba, 30SYJ3159,  2 ma.s.l.,  10 February 2020,  Lagunas.n.( holotype VAL!,  isotype ABH! 1).   Diagnosis:—  Aptenia× vascosilvaeis a long- and weak-stemmed, soil-hugging creeper that remains prostrate or will scramble into surrounding plants. The stems are thin and brittle and break rather easily. The leaves of  A. × vascosilvaeare usually basally cuneate as in  A. haeckeliana, not cordate as in  A. cordifolia, and a light to mid-green colour. The flowers of  A. × vascosilvaeare bright strawberry red and not bright pinkish purple as in  A. cordifolia, nor yellowish as in  A. haeckeliana( Fig. 1).   Description:—Perennial, prostrate, freely branching, leaf succulent. Rootsfibrous. Stemsand branchesto 100 cmlong, creeping, rooting at nodes, four-angled to slightly cylindrical, light green when young, aging light greyish brown; internodes 1–5 cmlong. Leaves± 25 × 20 mm, light to mid-green, sometimes creamy- to white-variegated, flat, soft-fleshy, opposite sometimes becoming alternate, broadly to somewhat ovate; bladesurface shimmering-shiny as a result of the presence of minute bladder cells; basecuneate, more rarely flattened, sometimes asymmetrical, not cordate; petiole± 10 mmlong. Flowers1.5–2.0 cm in diameter, daisy-like in appearance, usually solitary, pedicels short; sepals± free, 2–5 mmlong; ‘ petals’ bright strawberry red; ovaryinferior. Fruit4-celled capsules to 15 mmin diameter, usually smaller.  Chromosome number:—unknown.   Etymology:—The epithet  vascosilvaehonours Vasco Manuel Almeida da Silva ( 2 July 1978, Évora, Portugal-) who studied at the Universidade de Évora, and is currently reading for a PhD degree at the Centre for Applied Ecology Prof. Baeta Neves, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. He is based in Cascais west of Lisbon, from where he provides scientific and technical consulting services, including floristic surveys, habitat assessments, and vegetation monitoring and management plans. Vasco has a longstanding interest in the indigenous and exotic floras of Portugal, including in succulent plants. He has published nomenclatural novelties under ‘Vasco Silva’.   Phenology:—Main flowering time is February‒August, whereas fruiting time is July‒October (northern hemisphere). In South Africa  Aptenia× vascosilvaehas been observed to sporadically flower, often profusely, throughout the year, but usually with a peak in spring and early summer.   Specimens examined ( paratypes):—    Aptenia× vascosilvae:—  SOUTH AFRICA. Gauteng province. 2528 ( Pretoria): ex hort. domestic gardens, (–CB), as  Aptenia‘Red Apple’,  10 March 2019(both specimens),  Smith& Figueiredo71 & 72( PRU).   SPAIN. Castellón, Orpesa, bc. de Bellver, 31TBE5239,  18 December 2004,  Herrero-Borgoñóns.n.( VAL190843);  Valencia, Sot de Chera, fuente del Pocillo, 30SXJ7987,  320 m,  09 May 2004,  Torres Gómezs.n.( VAL217650);  Valencia, Chelva, hacia La Playeta, 30SXK7001,  420 m,  01 November 2006,  Torres Gómezs.n.( VAL217796);  Valencia, Godelleta, Camino de Buñol, 30SXJ9966,  260 m,  05 November 2013,  Campestres.n.( VAL220027).   Notes:—Some of the leaves on a specimen collected by Villaescusa & Tiradovary from lanceolate to sublanceolate, whereas other ones are cordate or even subhastate, as is commonly found in  Aptenia cordifolia. In addition, in terms of shape, size, and consistency, the sepals of this specimen more closely resemble those as found in  A. cordifolia, and not those of  A. × vascosilvae. Finally, this specimen was collected on 20 October 1990, whereas  A. × vascosilvaewas for the first time observed as a cultivated plant that escaped into natural vegetation in Spainby the end of the 1990s, some 10 years later, therefore.   Specimen excluded:—  Aptenia cordifolia:—Castellón, Alcalà de Xivert, Platja Romana, 31TBE 65, 2 m, 20 October 1990, Villaescusa & Tirado s.n. (VAL-26320). 5157376306 [215,1372,1856,1878] 2020-02-10 VAL Laguna Spain 0 proximo La Kasba El Saler 0 221 1 Valencia holotype 5157376307 2020-02-10 ABH Laguna Spain 0 proximo La Kasba El Saler 0 221 1 Valencia isotype 5157376302 2019-03-10 2019-03-10 2004-12-18 PRU Smith & Figueiredo South Africa ex hort. domestic gardens Pretoria 2 223 1 Gauteng province 5157376301 [220,1447,555,579] 2004-12-18 2019-03-10 2004-12-18 VAL Herrero-Borgonon Spain bc. de Bellver Orpesa 2 223 VAL190843 1 Castellon 5157376304 [136,1341,591,616] 2004-05-09 VAL Torres Gomez South Africa 0 fuente del Pocillo Sot de Chera 2 223 VAL217650 1 Valencia 5157376303 2006-11-01 VAL Torres Gomez South Africa 0 hacia La Playeta Chelva 2 223 VAL217796 1 Valencia 5157376305 2013-11-05 VAL Campestre South Africa 0 Camino de Bunol Godelleta 2 223 VAL220027 1 Valencia