Pteronia onobromoides DC.

Kolberg, H. & van Slageren, M. 2014. A synopsis of the genus Pteronia (Compositae: Astereae) in Namibia including the resurrection of Pteronia quadrifaria. Kew Bulletin 69: 9488. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-014-9488-y

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, glabrous, flat, linear-oblong, distinctly 1- veined beneath, to 20 – 40 × 3 – 5 mm; apex obtuse or subacute; base truncate; margins stiffly white ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula solitary, terminal, obconical, 35 × 15 – 25 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle honeycombed and fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Phyllaries

Phyllaries multiseriate, gradate, orbicular to ovate to linear-oblong (inner), to 8 mm long, greenish, glabrous, coriaceous; without midrib; apex truncate or obtuse; margins coriaceous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets c. 15; corollas to 20 mm long, glabrous, yellow; lobes linear-lanceolate, acute; tube slender, ribbed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes compressed oblanceolate, densely golden sessile glandular, not hairy, to 7 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Pappus

Pappus multiseriate, barbellate, to 15 mm long, golden-brown.

Distribution

Africa: Namibia, South Africa. Map 14.

Ecology

Sandy slopes, coastal steppe dominated by succulent species; no altitudinal data are present on the examined collections.

Conservation

The South African threat status is Least Concern (LC) (SANBI 2011). There are very few collections from Namibia, suggesting that it is rare but the limited information available does not allow an evaluation at this stage, and it must be assigned Data Deficient (DD) status in Namibia (IUCN 2001).

Phenology

Fruiting: March.

Note

This coastal species has been collected only twice in Namibia (only one of which was seen by us), likely caused by being in the access-restricted diamond mining area in the south-west of the country. Elsewhere it is common along the coast of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.

Type

Type: South Africa, Western Cape Prov., Olifantrivier W (of “West”?), Drège s.n. [5660] (lectotype G-DC, no. G-00322353!, selected here; isolectotype P-027233! (sub nom. P. mucronata but with “Ebenezar” and [5660] added); other isolectotypes may exist — see Notes).

Morphology General Habit

Shrub, to 50 cm tall

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous, smooth, pale grey-white