 |
| Sebaea solaris Kissling, in Kissling et Zeltner, 2019. |
Highlights
• A new species of Sebaea has been discovered and is here described.
Abstract
Sebaea solaris (Gentianaceae) is here described as a new species from the Overberg region, Western Cape, South Africa. This new species is at first glance very distinct from all others in the genus mainly due to its relative large yellow flowers of c. 2.5 cm diameter with oblanceolate to obdeltoid erose corolla lobes. The petal ornamentation with several orange lines indicating the flower centre (versus two lines per petal for a few other Sebaea species) and a conspicuous undulated calyx wing are also unique in the genus. Furthermore, the position of large secondary stigmas above the middle of the style (versus at the base of the style for its morphologically closest relative: S. exacoides) possibly indicates differences in pollination strategies.
Keywords: Africa, Cape floristic region, Taxonomy
 |
| Sebaea solaris Kissling: (A) aerial parts; (B) flower from above; (C) calyx with conspicuous undulated wings; (D) pistil; (E) open flower, showing the respective position of the anthers and pistil; (F) anther furnished with apical and basal glands; (G) anther's basal gland enlarged. Drawn from Kissling and Zeltner 214. Artist: Lena Ihringer. |
Sebaea solaris Kissling, species nova
Diagnosis: Sebaea solaris is a pentamerous annual herb 5–20 cm tall, which differs from all other Sebaea species by its oblanceolate to obdeltoid erose corolla lobes; its petal ornamentation with several orange lines per petal indicating the flower centre (versus two lines per petal for a few other Sebaea species) and a conspicuous undulated calyx wing (Fig. 1). The morphologically closest related species to S. solaris is S. exacoides (L.) Schinz. Sebaea solaris, in addition to the above-mentioned characters, differs from S. exacoides by the orangish outer epidermis of the corolla tube and lobes crossed by conspicuous green veins (versus no conspicuous veins); pistil with secondary stigmas situated at the midst of the style – at the anthers level (versus secondary stigmas situated at the base of the style much below the anthers level).
J. Kissling and L. Zeltner. 2019. Sebaea solaris (Gentianaceae), A New Species from the Western cape of South Africa. South African Journal of Botany. 123; 20-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2019.02.002
