Massonia elandsmontana (Hyacinthaceae: Scilloideae), a new species from the Swartland of Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Massonia elandsmontana is described for a population of plants from Elandsberg Nature Reserve at the western foot of the Elandskloof Mountains near Hermon in the Swartland of Western Cape, South Africa. The hypocrateriform white flowers with tepals lacking sigmoid basal coiling, unequal filaments with dark anthers, and small capsules, are shared with a small group of species from the West Coast and adjacent interior of Western Cape. The new species is distinguished from these and others by its foliage, the adaxial surface pubescent with soft erect hairs, 0.5–1.0 mm long and the margins densely ciliolate with minute bristles. It is one of several geophytic taxa endemic to Swartland Alluvial Fynbos vegetation on Elandsberg Nature Reserve.