NewStreptocarpusspecies (Gesneriaceae) from South Africa

2008/12/01 by T.J. Edwards, TREVOR EDWARDS, Mark Hughes +5 · 6 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Biology #Botany #Cape #Ecology #Gesneriaceae #Morphology (biology) #Plant Diversity and Evolution #Plant Parasitism and Resistance #Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions #Sympatric speciation #Zoology

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00934.x

published in Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 158(4), 743-748 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2008/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Two new rosulate species of Streptocarpus are described from the eastern seaboard of South Africa. The first is endemic to Mpumalanga Province. This species has almost actinomorphic corollas with small cylindrical tubes and was previously included within Streptocarpus parviflorus. However, molecular and morphological data and habitat preference do not support this classification. The second species is from the Msikaba River Gorge in the Eastern Cape Province. It adds to the already impressive list of endemic plant species from this region and is allied to other rosulate species of the Eastern Cape. It approaches Streptocarpus rexii in flower size but differs in its much shorter corolla tubes, which lack purple nectar guides. In addition, the corolla floors are marked with yellow bars reminiscent of Streptocarpus cyaneus and also seen in sympatric populations of the small-flowered Streptocarpus modestus.

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