&lt;i&gt;Ethesia tanquana&lt;/i&gt; (Ornithogaloideae, Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the Tanqua Karoo (South Africa), with notes on &lt;i&gt;E. haalenbergensis&lt;/i&gt;

Mario Martínez-Azorín,Manuel B Crespo

doi:10.3989/ajbm.2311

Abstract

Martinez-Azorin, M. & Crespo, M.B. 2012. Ethesia tanquana (Ornithogaloideae, Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the Tanqua Karoo (South Africa), with notes on E. haalenbergensis. Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 69(2): 201-208. As a part of a taxonomic revision of Ethesia Raf., a new species, E. tanquana Mart.-Azorin & M.B.Crespo, is described from the Tanqua Karoo in South Africa. This new species is at first sight similar to E. haalenbergensis (U.Mull.-Doblies & D.Mull.-Doblies) Mart.-Azorin, M.B.Crespo & Juan and also E. xanthochlora (Baker) Mart.-Azorin, M.B.Crespo & Juan, but it differs in floral and vegetative characters as well as in its ecology and isolated distribution. A complete description, data on biology, habitat, and distribution of the new species are presented. An identification key for Ethesia and new data on the rare Namibian E. haalenbergensis are also given.

Highlights

Hyacinthaceae includes about 700-900 species of bulbous plants that are mainly distributed throughout Europe, Africa and SW Asia, with a single small genus in South America (Speta, 1998; APG II, 2002)
The study of living populations and herbarium collections of Ethesia from southern Africa reveals the existence of clear morphological differences that allow the description of a new species, Ethesia tanquana Mart.-Azorín & M.B.Crespo
Galtonia is differentiated from Ethesia by the large leaves sheathing the stem; racemose inflorescence, with flowers nodding; tepals fused into a campanulate tube for about half of their length; filaments cylindrical, adnate, and included; and capsule oblong-cylindrical and acute, usually longer than wide

Summary

Introduction

Hyacinthaceae includes about 700-900 species of bulbous plants that are mainly distributed throughout Europe, Africa and SW Asia, with a single small genus in South America (Speta, 1998; APG II, 2002). South Africa.’ Ethesia was related to Loncomelos Raf., the latter including the species traditionally placed in Ornithogalum subg.

Results

Conclusion