Marie Jordaan

SYSTEMATIC STUDIES IN SUBFAMILY CELASTROIDEAE (CELASTRACEAE) IN SOUTHERN AFRICA : REINSTATEMENT OF THE GENUS GYMNOSPORIA

Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook. f., nom . conserv ., is recognised as a genus on its own, comprising all the spiny members currently included in the genus Maytenus Molina s . l . Diagnostic characters of Gymnoporia include the presence of brachyblasts and spines, leaves in fascicles on older branches or alternate on young ones, inflorescence a monochasium, subdichasium or dichasium, and flowers mostly unisexual. Gymnosporia is an Old World genus comprising about 80 species and subspecies, occurring in most of Africa, Madagascar and adjacent islands, southern Spain, the near Middle East, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, extending to the Far East, Malesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Queensland (Australia) and the Polynesian Islands. An amplified generic description is provided Differences and similarities between the spiny genera of Celastroideae [ Putterlickia Endl., Gloveria M.Jordaan, Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook. f. and Moya Griseb.] are tabulated.

Systematic studies in subfamily Celastroideae (Celastraceae) in southern Africa: The genus Putterlickia

The genus Putterlickia Endl. is confined to the moister eastern coastal parts of southern Africa, from the Western Cape in the south to southern Mozambique in the north, with one disjunct species in the arid interior of the Northern Cape. Four species are recognised: P. pyracantha (L.) Szyszyl., P. verrucosa (E. Mey. ex Sond.) Szyszyl., P. retrospinosa Van Wyk & Mostert and P. saxatilis (Burch.) M. Jordaan. The nomenclature, including concise synonymy and typification, descriptions of the genus and species, key for identification, notes on habitat and relationships, history and distribution maps, as well as notes on leaf anatomy are supplied for each species. An illustration of P. verrucosa is provided.

Sectional classification of Gymnosporia (Celastraceae), with notes on the nomenclatural and taxonomic history of the genus

Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook. f. (Celastraceae) is an Old World genus of about 99 species and 19 infraspecific taxa. A historical review of the genus and its conserved status are given. Sectional subdivision of Gymnosporia into eight sections is based mainly on characters from fruit morphology and leaf anatomy. Taxonomically useful characters at section level include: presence or absence of leaf and fruit indumentum, number of valves in the fruit, aril colour and the degree to which it covers the seed. Diagnostic leaf anatomical characters are epidermis cell size, presence or absence of a hypodermis, uni- or multi-seriate epidermis, dorsiventral or isobilateral mesophyll and presence or absence of trichomes or papillae. The newly described sections (species/infraspecific taxa in brackets) are Buxifoliae (29); Capitatae (1); Gymnosporia (6/3); Mossambicenses (11/4); Vaccinifoliae (1/2); Pubescentes (1); Putterlickioides (1/2) and Tenuispinae (49/8). A key to the sections and a list of species in each section are provided. Morphological as well as leaf anatomical characters to assist in the identification of sections are tabulated. Eleven new name combinations, three new ranks and two new names are proposed.

Systematic studies in subfamily Celastroideae (Celastraceae) in southern Africa: two new species of Gymnosporia from the Maputaland Centre of Endemism

Gymnosporia arenicola M. Jordaan and G. markwardii M.Jordaan, two new species, are described and illustrated. Both species are largely confined to the coastal sand dunes of northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique (Maputaland Centre of Endemtsm) They are allied to the widespread G. buxifolia (L.) Szyszyl and G. senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. G. markwardii is more restricted In its distribution and does not occur south of Richards Bay, whereas G. arenicola extends southwards as far as Hibberdene, Port Shepstone District. Because of their sympatric distribution and the fact that in both species the stamens in the male flowers and style in the female flowers protrude well beyond the petals, they have often been confused with one another in the past. Material of both taxa was included in the protologue of Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson subsp. arenaria N. Robson. G. arenicola is a shrub or small tree up to 7 m tall. It has thick leathery leaves with indurate margins and 3-valved capsules. The verrucose surface of the capsules is a unique character among species of the genus. G. markwardii is one of the few suffrutex species in the genus. The leaves are alternate rather than fasciculate and the fruits are small, smooth, dark red or purplish capsules which are always 2-valved.

A taxonomic revision of the Gymnosporia mossambicensis group (Celastraceae: Celastroideae)

The monophyletic Gymnosporia mossambicensis group occurs in eastern tropical and southern Africa, nearby Indian Ocean Islands and on Madagascar. Members are characterised, among other characters, by 3-locular capsules andseeds completely enveloped by an orange or bright yellow aril. Eleven species and four subspecies are recognised. Diagnostic characters to differentiate among species include growth form, hairiness of leaves, branches and peduncles, orientation of spines, presence and shape of stipules, colour of the flowers (white or red) and the shape of the capsules. Two species and one subspecies from Tanzania are newly described (G. livingstonei, G. schliebenii and (G. gracilis subsp. usambarensis). G. harveyana Loes. [previously considered conspecific with Maytenus mossambicensis (Klotzsch) Blakelock)] is reinstated as a distinct species. Maytenus mossambicensis var. stolzii N. Robson is treated as a subspecies of G. harveyana. G. bachmannii Loes., G. mossambicensis sensu stricto and G. nemorosa (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Szyszyl. retain their specific status in Gymnosporia. Maytenus drummondii N. Robson & Sebsebe, M. vanwykii R. H. Archer, M. mossambicensis var. gurueensis N. Robson and var. ruber (Harv.) Blakelock are transferred to Gymnosporia and the latter two varieties raised to species level. Maytenus mossambicensis var. ambonensis (Loes.) N. Robson is transferred to Gymnosporia and becomes G. gracilis Loes. subsp. gracilis. Two neotypes and two lectotypes are selected. A key to species and subspecies, distribution maps, and illustrations of all the taxa are provided.

Systematic studies in subfamily Celastroideae (Celastraceae) in southern Africa: Gloveria, a new monotypic genus

Gloveria , a new genus based on Gymnosporia integrifolia , is described and illustrated Gloveria integrifolia (L.f) M. Jordaan is endemic to the Little Karoo and Namaqualand. It is distinguished by spines which have more than one node with leaves, small, glaucous, entire leaves with inconspicuous venation, a mottled disc, three to six ovules per locule and a pinkish aril. Gloveria is closely related to Putterlickia Endl. and Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook.f These three genera form a natural assemblage in subfamily Celastroideae (Celastraceae)

Systematic studies in subfamily Celastroideae (Celastraceae) in southern Africa: two new species of Gymnosporia from KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Gymnosporia devenishii M.Jordaan and G. macrocarpa M.Jordaan two new species previously included in the Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N.Robson species complex, are described, illustrated and compared with G. mossambiceπsis (Klotzsch) Loes, and G. buxifolia (L.) Szyszyl. Both species have diagnostic fruit characters: small, more or less sulcaie capsules in G. devenishii and large woody capsules with a rugose surface in G. macrocarpa. G. devenishii is a rare species restricted to the temperate Afromontane forests of KwaZulu-Natal and the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape, G, macrocarpa has a very limited range and is confined io the hot, arid valley bushveld of the Tugela River Basin.