Drosanthemopsis kwaganapensis
Drosanthemopsis kwaganapensis in S. African J. Bot. 116: 78. 2018 sec. Klak & al. 20181 wfo-0001435342
- Type: "South Africa, Northern Cape, Kwaganap River, between Port Nolloth and Grootmis (2917 AC), 14 Jul. 2014, 150 m, <i>Klak 2379</i> (BOL, holo.; NBG, iso.)." [fide Klak & al. 20182]
- 1. Klak, C., Hanáček, P. & Bruyns, P. V. 2018: A recircumscription of Jacobsenia (Aizoaceae): Re-instating Drosanthemopsis, with two new quartz-endemics from Namaqualand, South Africa and sinking Knersia. – South African Journal of Botany 116: 67-81, 2. Klak, C., Hanáček, P. & Bruyns, P. V. 2018: A recircumscription of Jacobsenia (Aizoaceae): Re-instating Drosanthemopsis, with two new quartz-endemics from Namaqualand, South Africa and sinking Knersia. – South African Journal of Botany 116: 67-81
Notes
In D. kwaganapensis and D. vaginata the antler-like protrusions on the epidermal surface are particularly prominent and they are branches, whereas they are mostly unbranched and shorter in the other two species of Drosanthemopsis. Drosanthemopsis kwaganapensis is the only species with an erect, densely branched habit, combined with thick, dirty green, succulent leaves.A
Conservation
The species is known from two quartz patches between Port Nolloth and Grootmis. At both localities about 20 plants were seen. We propose an IUCN category of vulnerable (VU) in line with that for D. vaginata.A
Description
Erect, densely branched succulent perennial shrublet 150 (−200) mm tall, to 200 mm diam., young internodes brown, stems woody, distinction between long shoots and short shoots small, long internodesto 15 mm long, young internodes indistinctly papillate becoming smooth with age. Leaves dirty green, only slightly reddish suffused, boat-shaped, spreading, top flat, keels indistinct, leaf-pairs isophyllous, basally connate for c. 1/3 of their length; sheeth 5–8 mm long, free parts 9–11 mm long, 5–7 mm broad and thick; epidermis with large bladder cells with thickened outer walls, cells 0.075–0.1 mm, ± circular to polygonal, bladder cells with flat top covered with many antler-like protrusions, especially along the margin of the top. Flowers solitary, terminal, petaloid staminodes white, filamentous staminodes absent or very few, filaments white, 30–35 mm diam., pedicels c. 5 mm long; sepals number unknown, succulent; flowering time August to September. Fruit a hygrochastic capsule, old capsules gray, capsule as seen from above ± circular, 5–8 mm diam., top almost flat, rims very low, lower part funnel-shaped; locules 7 or 8; borderline between expanding keels and expanding sheet distinct, keels broad and only slightly diverging; covering membranes thin, and without any additional closing devices, covering ¾ of the locule, closing body absent, valve wings broad. Seeds ochre, almost smooth, c. 0.7 × 0.5 mm.A
Etymology
The epithet “kwaganapensis” refers to the type locality at the Kwaganap River in Namaqualand.A