A new serotinous species of Cliffortia (Rosaceae) from the southwestern Cape with notes on Cliffortia arborea

Abstract

A remarkable new species,  Cliffortia conifera E.G.H. Oliv. & Fellingham, from the Anysberg, Ladismith District, is described and compared to its closest ally in the genus, Cliffortia arborea Marloth, which is widespread along the escarpment of the Great Kanxt from ( alvinia in the north to Beaufort West in the southeast. It is unique in the genus for its serotinous cone-like synflorescences which are borne on determinate lateral branchlets occurring in zones on the main branches. A similar serotinous condition exists in  C. arborea. but the inflorescence axis is the main branch. The serotinous inflorescences are complex synflorescences consisting ol numerous, highly condensed, double racemes (homoeothetic dibotrya). To date serotinous inflorescences have not been recorded in Cliffortia. C. arborea and C. conifera are included in section Arboreae, the description of which is emended here.