Rubus ×fultus A.Beek, 2021

Beek, Abraham Van De, 2021, Rubi Capenses: a further contribution to the knowledge of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 515 (1), pp. 1-71 : 59-60

33. Rubus ×fultus A.Beek nothosp. nov.

( R. affinis × pinnatus ?)

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Knysna, road to Uniondale , at the end of the town, 17 October 2018, Beek 2018.102 (holotype L; isotype NBG). ( Figs 25A– B )

Diagnosis: —Leaves with strong anthocyanin colouring when young, digitate-pinnate 4- to 5-foliolate, abaxially with only few short hairs on main veins; inflorescence large, broad, with only few simple leaves at base, with numerous strong hooked prickles, thinly hairy; petals 10–13 mm long, light pink to almost white, broad ovate to suborbicular, longer than sepals. Sterile.

Primocane ( Fig. 25C–D ) arching, diam. 3–5 mm, (bluntly) angular, eglandular or with few very scattered sessile glands, glabrous; prickles 4–10 per 5 cm, from 2–4 mm wide base compressed, curved, up to 5–7 mm long; stipules 8–13 mm, linear, with some hairs and short stipitate glands. Leaves with strong anthocyanin colouring when young ( Fig. 25E ), digitate-pinnate 4- to 5-foliolate, sometimes intermixed with trifoliolate one, or with extra leaflet at base, adaxially glabrous, abaxially ( Fig. 25F ) with only few short hairs on main veins; serrature moderate, rather regular, with somewhat obtuse triangular mucronate teeth, straight; petiole 3–6 cm long, with some hairs, few subsessile glands, 6–9 curved or hooked prickles; basal leaflets 2–4 mm stalked; central leaflet from rounded or slightly attenuate base 59–93 mm long, in main form elliptical , tending to (ob-)ovate or rhombic, gradually attenuate into rather long tip, width–length index (0.50–)0.60–0.67(–0.78), length of petiolule (11–)16–29% of length of leaflet. Flowering branch ( Figs 25G–H ) angular, in basal part (almost) glabrous, apically with some long hairs and (sub-)sessile glands; prickles 4–5 per 5 cm, from 2–5 mm broad base, strongly curved or hooked, up to 5–6 mm long. Leaves 3-foliolate, apical ones simple; hairs and serrature as for primocane leaves. Inflorescence ( Fig. 25I ) large, broad, with only few simple leaves at base, with ascendant peduncles, numerous strong hooked prickles, thinly hairy; pedicels up to 15 mm, thinly tomentose and with appressed long hairs, with 5–10 curved pricklets and few sessile glands. Flowers: sepals loosely reflexed to patent, 3–4 × 7–12 mm, gradually attenuate into long tip, short greyish green tomentose and hairy, with some sessile glands; petals ( Fig. 25J ) 10–13 mm long, light pink to almost white, broad ovate to suborbicular, sometimes with emarginate tip, longer than sepals; stamens longer than styles; anthers glabrous; styles red; ovaries almost glabrous or with short hairs; receptacle hairy. Sterile.

Ecology: —Forests.

Distribution: —On scattered localities in the Western Cape, South Africa; much along the road from Knysna to Uniondale.

Specimens:— SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape: Road from Kirstenbos to Houtbaai , corner of road to Alphen , 12 October 2018, Beek 2018.86 ( L) ; Kirstenbosch , 8 June 1976, Stirton 5842 ( PRE) ; Knysna, road to Uniondale , just after transition to gravel, 17 October 2018, Beek 2018.101 ( L) .

Note: — Rubus ×fultus is most probably a hybrid of R. pinnatus and R. affinis . It has the colour of R. pinnatus and the leaves have abaxially only few hairs; the inflorescence is also more glabrous and the prickles are more slender than with R. ×bergianus .

Figures

FIGURE 25. Rubus ×fultus. A. Holotype, primocane. B. Holotype, inflorescence. C. Primocane with leaves. D. Primocane. E. Young leaves. F. Leaf abaxially. G. Flowering branch. H. Flowering branch. I. Inflorescence. J. Flowers. Photographs:A. van de Beek.