Indigoferawenholdiae (Indigofereae, Fabaceae), a new species from the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Brian Du Preez,Brian D Schrire,A Muthama Muasya,Leanne L Dreyer,Charles H Stirton

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.182.72170

Abstract

In this study, Indigoferawenholdiae, a new species of Fabaceae from the Agulhas Plain Region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa, is described. A composite photographic plate is included along with a distribution map, description of habitat and ecology and proposed IUCN conservation status. Indigoferawenholdiae is unique in the I.brachystachya group by having digitately compound (vs. pinnately compound) leaves, white and unscented flowers (vs. pink and sweetly scented flowers) and grows on sandstone hillsides (vs. coastal limestone plains and outcrops).

Highlights

Fabaceae represents the second largest plant family in the Cape Floristic Core Cape Region (CCR), approaching 800 species (Manning and Goldblatt 2012)
Unlike the three main tropical clades that have members dispersed across multiple continents, the Cape Clade is endemic to South Africa and especially within the winter-rainfall area (Schrire et al 2009; Schrire in Manning and Goldblatt 2012)
Members of Indigofera Section Brachypodae, the I. brachystachya group (I. brachystachya (DC.) E.Mey. and I. hamulosa Schltr.), are especially diverse in this region, with several putative undescribed taxa related to I. brachystachya, noted from recent field studies (Schrire and du Preez, unpublished data)

Summary

Introduction

Fabaceae represents the second largest plant family in the Cape Floristic Core Cape Region (CCR), approaching 800 species (Manning and Goldblatt 2012). Indigofera species in the CCR are largely part of a monophyletic clade referred to as the Cape Clade by Schrire et al (2009).

Results

Conclusion