Original Research

Taxonomy of the genus Ehrharta (Poaceae) in southern Africa: the Setacea group

G. E. Gibbs Russell
Bothalia | Vol 17, No 1 | a1016 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v17i1.1016 | © 1987 G. E. Gibbs Russell | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 October 1987 | Published: 23 October 1987

About the author(s)

G. E. Gibbs Russell, Botanical Research Institute, Department of Agriculture and Water Supply, South Africa

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Abstract

The Setacea species group in the genus Ehrharta Thunb. is differentiated morphologically by the short first sterile lemma and by inflorescences of fewer than 20 spikelets. The Setacea group is composed of two species, each with subspecies linked by intraspecific intermediates: E. rupestris Nees ex Trin. subsp.  rupestris; subsp.  tricostata (Stapf) Gibbs Russell; subsp.  dodii (Stapf) Gibbs Russell and E. setacea Nees subsp.  setacea; subsp.  scabra (Stapf) Gibbs Russell; subsp. uniflora (Burch, ex Stapf) Gibbs Russell; subsp.  disticha Gibbs Russell. All taxa are endemic to the Fynbos vegetation of the south-western Cape Province, with distribution centred in the Caledon degree grid (3419). Parallel trends for plant size and habit, leaf blade width and position, and spikelet size are demonstrated in both species, with similar plant types occurring in similar geographical areas.


Keywords

Fynbos; Capensis; Ehrharta; Poaceae; taxonomy

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Crossref Citations

1. PHYLOGENETICS OF THE GRASS GENUS EHRHARTA: EVIDENCE FOR RADIATION IN THE SUMMER-ARID ZONE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAPE
G. Anthony Verboom, H. Peter Linder, William D. Stock
Evolution  vol: 57  issue: 5  first page: 1008  year: 2003  
doi: 10.1554/0014-3820(2003)057[1008:POTGGE]2.0.CO;2