De Liliifloris Notulae – 7. De decuria altera specierum novarum generis Androcymbium (Colchicaceae) in Africa Australi s.l.

Abstract

In a previous paper (Müller‐Doblies 1998) we established a taxonomic framework for Androcymbium sect. Androcymbium by subdividing it into two subsections with two and six series respectively, comprising altogether 34 species. Apart from one monotypic series, the other seven series were foreseen to comprise 3–13 species, and the second largest series A. ser. Gradatocymbia was subdivided into four subseries.Encouraged by the molecular results of Caujapé Castells et al. (1999, 2001), we upgraded the two subsections of A. sect. Androcymbium to sectional level: A. subsect. Gradatocymbium became A. sect. Kunkeliocymbium with 16 spp. and the emended A. sect. Androcymbium s.str. now has 30 spp.The largest series A. ser. Eghimocymbia was already earmarked for a subdivision into subseries, a plan which is realized in the present paper. For another 10 new species (numbered # 11–# 20 in the present paper) diagnoses and drawings are given. Furthermore the postponed drawings of five new Androcymbium species described in Müller‐Doblies (1998) are added here. Eight of the present new spp. were collected alive in the field for cultivation, whereas each of the remaining two are only known from a herbarium specimen.For the presentation of distribution data, the geographic table for Southern Africa developed by Müller‐Doblies (1996) (refined by Müller‐Doblies et al. 2001) is used in Tables 5–7. After the inclusion of two Androcymbium species and one subspecies described by Pedrola Montfort et al. (1999a, b), the three distribution tables of Androcymbium in Southern Africa comprise 50 species [retaining the numbering 05–48 of Müller‐Doblies (1998) for Androcymbium sect. Androcymbium and including the new Pedrola species for the time being as 13A and 14A]. Thus, the current list of Southern African Androcymbium species embraces a total of 50 spp. in 11 series.Only two of the 50 Southern African Androcymbium species do not occur in the Republic of South Africa (RSA): i.e. the Namibian endemics A. etesionamibense and A. buchubergense. Of the remaining 48 Androcymbium species 38 are endemic to RSA. The 10 non‐endemic species occur in addition to RSA also in Namibia, or in Lesotho and/or Swaziland. The highest concentration of Androcymbium species is found in the Northern and the Western Cape: in each of them more than 50% of the 48 South African species occur (28 and 26 spp. respectively including 12 and 10 endemic spp.), whereas in the other seven provinces only 0–6 spp. occur of which only two species are endemic to Kwazulu‐Natal.

A nomenclatural correction in Colchicum L. (Colchicaceae: Colchiceae) in southern Africa: two new combinations for C. coloratum J.C.Manning & Vinn., nom. superfl.

“…Androcymbium burchellii Baker and A. latifolium Schinz (= A. pulchrum Schltr. ex K.Krause) were treated as two distinct species in A. series Therocymbia U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll-Doblies (Müller-Doblies & Müller-Doblies 1998, 2002. The two taxa appear to differ, however, solely in the colouring of the foliage leaves and the bracts, and A. latifolium was subsequently treated as a subspecies of A. burchelli under the name A. burchellii subsp.…”

Biogeographical Patterns and Phenological Changes in Lapiedra martineziiLag. Related to Its Alkaloid Diversity

“…For this reason, the phenological stages were estimated using data from the Iberian flora database (ANTHOS), from different North African and Spanish flora [10] [18] [39] [48], and from other botanical works [5] [6] [11]. Lapiedra is an uncommon Amaryllidaceae genus, in which leaves appear at a different time than the flowers and fruits.…”

“…Hannonia and Vagaria sorting took place after the separation of Galantheae and Narcisseae, but they still retain a mosaic of ancestral haplotypes [4] [9]. However, Lapiedra have complete sagittate anthers [5] [10], a very rare character in Amaryllidaceae that is only shared with the Chilean Traubia, and is almost differentiated in Vagaria and Acis [11]. Vagaria and Lapiedra have lorate leaves with an adaxial whitish midrib stripe and a floral tube that is obsolete or very short.…”

“…In contrast, only lycorine and homolycorine chemotypes have been found in L. martinezii. The biosynthesis of lycorenine (15) proceeds via O-methylnorbelladine and norpluviine (11). Lycorine (20), in fact, is one of the most distributed alkaloids in the family, due to its unique and multitarget biological activities.…”

“…The current distribution of L. martinezii extends to the external Baetic mountains, nearby areas, and perhaps a few populations occurring in North Africa, around the Spanish city of Melilla [10] [11] [18] [40]. Nevertheless, why does L. martinezii not show a greater distribution area like other related plants, e.g., Pancratium, or a major taxonomic diversification like Narcissus, in the western Mediterranean?…”