Lithospermum sylvestre (Boraginaceae): A new species from the Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape, South Africa

James I Cohen,Doug Euston-Brown,John C Manning

doi:10.4102/abc.v49i1.2411

Abstract

Background: Recent field work in the Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape, resulted in several collections of an unknown species of Lithospermum (Boraginaceae), a genus that is taxonomically relatively poorly understood in southern Africa.Objectives: To describe the Baviaanskloof collections and characterise them against currently known species of Lithospermum.Method: Relevant literature was surveyed and herbarium and fresh material was examined.Results: Recent collections of Lithospermum from the Baviaanskloof Mountains in Eastern Cape represent an undescribed species.Conclusion: Lithospermum sylvestre J.Cohen J.C.Manning is a new species recognised by its well-branched stems with adpressed-scabrid pubescence, and relatively long-tubed flowers with long styles that are ± as long as the corolla tube and only shortly included within it.

Highlights

Lithospermum L. (Boraginaceae) is a genus of ± 70 species of perennial herbs or subshrubs widely distributed across both hemispheres, mainly in temperate latitudes, and it is diverse in Mexico and the USA (Cohen 2018; Johnston 1952, 1954; Verdcourt 1991)
Recent regional treatments exist for the Flora of Tropical East Africa (Martins 1990) and Flora Zambesiaca (Verdcourt 1991), these differ in their circumscription of the widespread African species L. afromontanum Weim., which is broadly distributed through the temperate grasslands of tropical and subtropical sub-Saharan Africa
Most of the recognised southern African species are characterised by stems with a pubescence of patent or spreading hairs, and relatively small flowers with corolla tubes less than 6 mm in length and styles ± one-third the length of the corolla tube (Johnston 1952, 1954; Martins 1990; Verdcourt 1991)

Summary

Conclusion

Lithospermum sylvestre J.Cohen & J.C.Manning is a new species recognised by its well-branched stems with adpressed-scabrid pubescence, and relatively long-tubed flowers with long styles that are ± as long as the corolla tube and only shortly included within it.

Introduction

Materials and methods

Data availability statement