Highlights:
• Four species new to science are described.
• Detailed photographic plates and distribution maps are included.
• Conservation assessments are provided for all four species.
Abstract
Four new Indigofera species are described from the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR). Indigofera barkeri is a new annual from the Richtersveld, with small flowers, 3.5–4.0 mm long, pinnately trifoliolate leaves and laterally flattened seeds. Indigofera dodii is endemic to the area around Cape Town, growing on granite and shaly slopes. It has apically congested racemes, flowers 6.0–6.5 mm long, digitately trifoliolate leaves, fruit with a hispid indumentum and tuberculate seed testas. Indigofera gariepensis, endemic to dry riverbeds in the eastern Richtersveld, is recognized by its alternate, silky-velutinous leaflets and calyx lobes ± equal in length to its 5.5–6.5 mm long magenta flowers. Indigofera tanquana is known from only two collections and is endemic to the western Tanqua Karoo. It is easily recognized by its broad old grey stems, spinescent branches, simple grey-canescent leaves that aggregate on woody brachyblasts and reddish-magenta flowers. Detailed morphological descriptions are presented with composite photographic plates for each species. Notes on ecology, detailed diagnoses comparing with closely related species, a distribution map and an IUCN red list conservation assessment for each species is also provided.
Keywords: Conservation, Desert, Fynbos, GCFR, Leguminosae, Namibia, Richtersveld, South Africa, Taxonomy
Indigofera barkeri Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov.
Indigofera dodii Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov.
Indigofera gariepensis Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov.
Indigofera tanquana Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov.
B. du Preez, B.D. Schrire, L.L. Dreyer, C.H. Stirton, S.B.M. Chimphango and A.M. Muasya. 2023. Four New Indigofera (Fabaceae: Indigofereae) Species from the Greater Cape Floristic Region. South African Journal of Botany. 162; 680-687. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2023.10.003