Original Research

A new species of Euclea (Ebenaceae) from ultramafic soils in Sekhukhuneland, South Africa, with notes on its ecology

E. Retief, S. J. Siebert, A. E. van Wyk
Bothalia | Vol 38, No 1 | a258 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v38i1.258 | © 2008 E. Retief, S. J. Siebert, A. E. van Wyk | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 August 2008 | Published: 14 August 2008

About the author(s)

E. Retief, National Herbarium. South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa
S. J. Siebert, A.P Goossens Herbarium. School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, South Africa
A. E. van Wyk, H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium. Department of Botany, South Africa

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Abstract

Euclea sekhukhuniensis Retief, Siebert & A.E.van Wyk. a new species with a restricted range in Sekhukhuneland, South Africa, is described, illustrated and compared with other members of the genus. It is a gregarious geoxylic sufthitex forming large, much-branched colonies. The species is closely related to the small tree/shrub E. linearis Zeyh. ex Hiem from which it can be distinguished by its larger fruits, broader leaves and exclusively suffrutex growth form. Geographical range and habitat preference also differ between the two taxa. E. sekhukhuniensis is endemic to the Sekhukhuneland Centre of Plant Endemism, where it is confined to the calcareous, heavy-metal soils of the Steelpoort River Valley.


Keywords

Ebenaceae; Euclea Murray; ecology; new species; Sekhukhuneland; South Africa; summer rainfall region; taxonomy

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Crossref Citations

1. A new species of Polygala (Polygalaceae) from ultramafic soils in Sekhukhuneland, South Africa, with notes on its ecology
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South African Journal of Botany  vol: 76  issue: 2  first page: 345  year: 2010  
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2010.01.003