New and poorly known taxa of Indigofera (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae, Indigofereae) from the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, South Africa: Part 2

Abstract

This second paper describes and clarifies new and poorly known Indigofera species, belonging to sect. Pinnatae (E.Mey.) Harv., from the Pondoland Centre of Endemism and associated neighbouring areas in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, South Africa. Five new species (one with two infraspecific taxa) are recognized: Indigofera abbottii Schrire and K.W.Grieve, I. hillburttii Schrire and K.W.Grieve, I. tysonii Schrire and K.W.Grieve, I. herrstreyi Schrire and K.W.Grieve var. herrstreyi and I. herrstreyi var. helodes K.W.Grieve and Schrire, and I. ngwenyana Schrire and K.W.Grieve. Descriptions are provided for the poorly known I. corniculata E.Mey. and I. gerrardiana Harv., taxa rarely taken up in the literature and both having been mostly synonymised under I. dregeana E.Mey. that occurs outside the area of the present study. The name I. tenuissima E.Mey. was found to be the earliest, correct, name for the widespread species I. longipes N.E.Br. ex Baker f., leaving the coastal Zululand taxon – currently named I. tenuissima E.Mey. – requiring further evaluation.