A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE OTHONNA BULBOSA GROUP (ASTERACEAE: SENECIONEAE: OTHONNINAE)
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Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press
Abstract
Othonna L. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae) is a genus of some 120 species concentrated in the Greater Cape Floristic
Region (GCFR) of South Africa, with a few species extending into southern Namibia, Angola, and Zimbabwe. The South African
species of Othonna were last revised more than a century ago, and many species, particularly from the southern African winter
rainfall region, remain poorly understood. This study focused on the geophytic species comprising the O. bulbosa group,
distinguished by their tuberous rootstock and annual, leafy, aerial stems. A comprehensive taxonomic treatment is presented,
including descriptions, complete nomenclature and typification, illustrations, and geographical distribution. Twenty-five species
are recognized, of which four are newly described (O. lilacina Magoswana & J. C. Manning, O. nigromontana Magoswana & J. C.
Manning, O. revoluta Magoswana & J. C. Manning, and O. sinuata Magoswana & J. C. Manning), and 18 names are reduced to
synonymy. The species differ in habit, shape and incision of foliage, capitulum type (radiate vs. disciform), number of involucral
bracts, pappus length, and cypselae (myxogenic vs. nonmyxogenic). We place the species into four morphologically diagnosable
series (series Heterophyllae Magoswana & J. C. Manning, series Disciformes Magoswana & J. C. Manning, series Perfoliatae
Magoswana & J. C. Manning, and series Undulosae Magoswana & J. C. Manning) based on habit and capitulum type.
Description
Keywords
Asteraceae, Compositae, geophytic, Greater Cape Floristic Region, nomenclature, Othonna, southern Africa
Citation
Magoswana, S. L., Boatwright, J. S., Magee, A. R., & Manning, J. C. (2019). A Taxonomic Revision of the Othonna bulbosa Group (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 104(4), 515–562. https://doi.org/10.3417/2019340