Indigofera magnifica is morphologically similar and most closely related to I. meyeriana Eckl. & Zeyh., but differs in its prostrate, compact, densely matted habit (vs. laxly spreading, less dense and diffuse habit), sparsely to moderately strigose becoming reddish-maroon and glabrescent stems (vs. green-grey to canescent), fewer flowers (±3–8) per raceme (vs. >8), brighter, more vivid pink flowers (vs. paler pink), and sparsely, appressed hairy pods (vs. spreading hairy pods). The overall colour of plants of I. magnifica is a darker green than the generally grey-green to grey appearance of I. meyeriana. Indigofera meyeriana is common and widespread in the Western Cape and western Northern Cape Provinces, and also occurs on the Sneeuberg.

South Africa, Western Cape Province, 3224AA, Plaas 113: summit plateau of the Koudeveldberge, Murraysburg District, Sneeuberg. 32°10'32"S, 24°01'41"E, 2134 m, 9 December 2011, Clark VR & Moholwa TT 206 (K, holotype; GRA, MO, NBG, NSW, PRE, S, isotypes).

Prostrate suffrutex 20–50 mm tall, densely to laxly matted, much branched. Stems slender, terete to ribbed, sparsely to moderately strigose with whitish biramous hairs, glabrescent later, reddish-maroon; stoloniferous, often rooting from nodes, arising from a woody rootstock. Leaves alternate, digitately trifoliolate, petiole 2–8 mm long, scattered with pearl bodies at base of leaflets. Stipules 1–2 mm long, up to 0.5 mm wide at base, lanceolate, attenuate, falcate, often recurved at apex, ± membranaceous, gland-tipped, reddish. Stipels absent. Terminal leaflet 1.5–5.5 mm × 1–3 mm, obovate, apex emarginate, truncate or rounded, base cuneate, upper surface glabrous or sparsely appressed strigose, paler than below; lower surface more densely strigose and slightly rugose; margins somewhat thickened, often appearing slightly involute, often reddish; lateral leaflets similar. Racemes (10)20–70 mm long, many times longer than the subtending leaf, including a peduncle of (6)11–55 mm, becoming flattened, appearing soft-tissued on drying; ±3–8 flowered; bracts 0.5–1.5 mm long, lanceolate-subulate, recurved at apex, caducous. Pedicels 0.75–1.5 mm long, becoming recurved in fruit. Flowers 4.5–6.5 mm long. Corolla vivid fuchsia-pink. Calyx 1.5–2.5 mm long, lobes triangular, 0.75–1.4 mm, ± equaling the tube, ± sparsely strigose appressed. Standard 5.5–6.5 mm long, up to 5 mm wide, broadly obovate, tapering to a short claw at the base; blade sharply reflexed upwards for distal half of length; apex rounded to emarginate; dorsal surface glabrous, often with translucent, short stripes. Wings 5–6 mm long, unguiculate, shortly clawed at base, asymmetrically obovate towards apex. Keel petals 5–6.5 mm long, valvately connate distally, lateral spurs to 1 mm long, distal margin curving upwards to base of the keel to an obtuse apex; claws ± 2 mm long, broadening from the base. Stamens 4–5 mm long, alternately long and short, the 9 fused stamens free for ± 1 mm distally; anthers uniform. Ovary densely strigilose laterally, glabrous along upper margin; stigma capitate. Pods (9)11–15 mm long, up to 3.5 mm wide, cylindrical, inflated, shiny, reddish-green becoming reddish-brown, sparsely strigose, explosively dehiscent with the valves twisting. Seeds 4–6, 1.5 × 1.5 mm, ± quadrate, dark green.

Figure 1. 

Analytical drawings of Indigofera magnifica Schrire & V.R. Clark, all drawn from the type collection (Clark VR & Moholwa TT 206) A growth habit B stoloniferous habit C trifoliolate leaf with stipules D terminal leaflet, underside E flower, front view F bud, side view G calyx H standard petal I wing petal J keel K staminal sheath L pistil M infructescence N pod O dehiscent pod P seed. Drawings by M. Tebbs.

Plate 1. 

Indigofera magnifica Schrire & V.R. Clark, plants in situ on the Koudeveldberge, Sneeuberg (Western Cape Province; Clark VR & Moholwa TT 206) A inflorescence B fruits C typical prostrate growth habit D mountain summit habitat. Photographs by V.R. Clark.

The specific epithet magnifica is derived from the Latin adjective magnicus –a –um (a. splendid, magnificent) and is named for the magnificent, showy, vivid fuchsia-pink flowers.

Indigofera magnifica is confined to the summit plateau of the Toorberg–Koudeveld–Meelberg in the western Sneeuberg, between 1700–2150 m. The species is occasional to abundant, found exclusively on the dolerite-derived loamy-clays and black turf soils typical of this plateau. The vegetation type is Karoo Escarpment Grassland (Gh1, Mucina and Rutherford 2006), typical of high altitudes in the Sneeuberg mountain complex, with the dominant grass species being Tenaxia (=Merxmuellera) disticha (Nees) N.P. Barker & H.P. Linder. Indigofera magnifica is particularly abundant on the highest parts of the plateau near the eastern and southern scarps, where it forms large colonies. It compliments a suite of several local endemics only found in the western Sneeuberg, including Acmadenia sp. nov., Erica passerinoides (Bolus) E.G.H. Oliv., Euryops dentatus B. Nord. and Faurea recondita Rourke & V.R. Clark (Clark et al. 2009, 2012, Rourke et al. 2013).

Figure 2. 

Known distributions of Indigofera magnifica Schrire & V.R. Clark (△) and I. asantasanensis Schrire & V.R. Clark (○).

While the extent of occurrence (EOO) of Indigofera magnifica is small (ca. 30 km²), it is common (probably >10 000 individuals) in its restricted area. There are no obvious risks from the current land-use of livestock grazing: plants do not show evidence of damage from foraging or trampling. The remote, rocky high-altitude habitat renders it relatively safe from other detrimental land-use. Already restricted to summit elevations, it is however potentially at risk from global climate change. Any potential wind farm proposals for the Toorberg–Koudeveld–Meelberg would place this species at serious risk. The category VULNERABLE (Vu D2) is thus recommended.

South Africa, Western Cape Province (straddling the provincial boundary with the Eastern Cape Province), 3223BB & 3224AA, Farms Plaas 113, Annex Koudeveld 114, Koudvelds Hoogte 117, Annex Onder Hoogde 116: summit plateau of the Koudeveldberge and Meelberg, Graaff-Reinet and Murraysburg Districts, Sneeuberg. ca. 32°10–11'S 23°59'E, ca. 2100 m, 25 November 2006, Clark VR & Te Water Naudé T 335 (GRA, K).

—Western Cape Province, 3224AA, Farm Quaggas Drift 108: Toorberg summit plateau, next to stream ca. 100 m from edge of escarpment, Murraysburg District, Sneeuberg. 32°08'46"S, 24°04'31"E, 1780 m, December 2007, Clark VR & Pienaar C 511 (GRA, K).

Indigofera asantasanensis is similar to I. alpina Eckl. & Zeyh., but differs in its (3)5–7 foliolate leaves (vs. consistently trifoliolate leaves), leaflets 1.5–3 mm wide (vs. 4–16 mm wide), and stipules 1–1.6 mm wide (vs. 2–10 mm). Indigofera asantasanensis may also be confused with I. burchellii DC., being similar in having digitately 5–7 foliolate leaves, but it has wider stipules (1–1.6 mm vs. < 0.5 mm). Indigofera alpina is mostly confined to the mountains of the Eastern Cape, while I. burchellii is almost exclusively a southern Great Escarment species, centred from the Roggeveldberge to the Eastern Cape Drakensberg; both of these species also occur in the Sneeuberg.

South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, 3225AC, Farm 360: mountain slopes above Suurkloof, behind the old town of Petersburg, east of the Nardousberg, now included in Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, Graaff-Reinet District, Sneeuberg. 32°15'18"S, 25°00'10"E, 1708 m, 10 December 2011, Clark VR & Moholwa TT 211 (K, holotype; GRA, MO, NBG, NSW, PRE, S, isotypes).

Decumbent to erect suffrutex 100–200 mm tall, much branched, densely leafy.

Stems slender, terete to strongly ribbed, angular, or longitudinally wrinkled, scattered with pearl bodies; moderately to densely strigose with spreading biramous hairs often crisped at the tips; reddish-brown, becoming woody below; a rhizomatous colony, diffusely branching from an indistinct woody rootstock. Leaves alternate, digitately (3)5–7-foliolate, petiole 1.5–5 mm long, deeply channelled above, scattered with pearl bodies at base of leaflets. Stipules 1.5–5 mm long, (0.75)1–1.6 mm wide, triangular to obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate; amplexicaule, leaving annular sheath around stems, ± membranaceous. Stipels absent. Terminal leaflet (2.5)4–10 mm × (1)1.5–3 mm, obovate to oblanceolate, apex rounded, apiculate, often complicate; sparsely to moderately spreading or appressed strigose on both surfaces, hairs often coarser above than below, secondary venation ± prominent below; margins somewhat thickened, often appearing slightly involute; lateral leaflets similar. Racemes 25–120 mm long, many times longer than the subtending leaf, including a peduncle of 15–50 mm, moderately to densely strigose, scattered with pearl bodies; ± 12–35 flowered; bracts 3–4 mm long × ca. 1.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, caducous. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm long, reflexed. Flowers 6–7.5 mm long. Corolla deep pink, darker wine-red in bud. Calyx 2–3 mm long, lobes triangular to lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, ± equaling to twice as long as the tube, ± sparsely to densely strigose. Standard 5.5–6 mm × 5.5–6.5 mm, broadly obovate, tapering to a short claw at the base; blade sharply reflexed upwards for distal half of length; apex round to emarginate, dorsal surface glabrous, often with translucent, short stripes. Wings 5.5–6.5 mm long, unguiculate, shortly clawed at base, asymmetrically obovate towards apex. Keel petals 5–6 mm long, valvately connate distally, lateral spurs to 1 mm long, distal margin curving upwards to base of the keel to an obtuse apex; claws ± 2 mm long, broadening from the base. Stamens 4.5–5.5 mm long, alternately long and short, the 9 fused stamens free for ± 1 mm distally; anthers uniform. Ovary glabrous, stigma capitate. Pods 17–25 mm long, up to 3.5 mm wide, cylindrical, reddish-brown, glabrous, explosively dehiscent with the valves twisting. Seeds 4–5, 3 × 2 mm, subcylindrical, green.

Figure 3. 

Analytical drawings of Indigofera asantasanensis Schrire & V.R. Clark, all drawn from the type collection (Clark VR & Moholwa TT 211) A growth habit B digitately foliolate leaf with stipules C growth habit D stipule E calyx F standard petal G wing petal H keel I staminal sheath J pistil K infructescence L dehiscent pod M seed. Drawings by M. Tebbs.

Plate 2. 

Indigofera asantasanensis Schrire & V.R. Clark, plants in situ on the slopes above ‘Suurkloof’, Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, Sneeuberg (Eastern Cape Province; Clark VR & Moholwa TT 211) A inflorescence from the front B inflorescence from the side C infructescence D close up of a single pod E the digitately foliolate leaves F growth habit G Escarpment mountain habitat. Photographs by V.R. Clark.

The species is named for the Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, the owners and managers of which have been generous and instrumental in facilitating biodiversity research in the Sneeuberg. The known range of this species is almost entirely confined to this property.

Indigofera asantasanensis is currently only known from a small area in the eastern Sneeuberg from the Nardousberg to the Tandjiesberg–Coetszeesberg area behind the old town of Petersburg (now incorporated in the Asante Sana Private Game Reserve) and Pearston. The Tandjiesberg here is not to be confused with the more familiar Tandjiesberg (32°23'13"S, 24°42'13"E) of lower altitude and closer to Graaff-Reinet. Indigofera asantasanensis occurs from the mid-upper slopes to the summit plateau, ca. 1500–2200 m; it is locally abundant in Karoo Escarpment Grassland (Mucina and Rutherford 2006), dominated in this locality by inter aliaTenaxia disticha, Euryops trilobus Harv. and Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. Indigofera asantasanensis occurs in loamy, rocky soils derived from both dolerite and Beaufort Group sandstone substrates. It compliments several local endemics, including Euryops proteoides B. Nord. & V.R. Clark and E. exsudans B. Nord. & V.R. Clark (Nordenstam et al. 2009).

While the extent of occurrence (EOO) of I. asantasanensis is small (ca. 15 km²), it is abundant (probably >10 000 individuals) in its restricted area. There are no obvious risks from the current land-use of game farming. The remote, rocky high-altitude habitat renders it relatively safe from other detrimental land-use. Already restricted to the higher elevations, it is potentially at risk from global climate change. Local infestations of the highly invasive grass Nassella trichotoma (Nees) Hack. ex Arechav. on Asante Sana Private Game Reserve and adjacent properties do constitute a potential risk to the habitat of I. asantasanensis. The category Vulnerable (VU D2) is thus recommended.

South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, 3225AC, Farm 360: mountain slopes above Suurkloof, mountains behind the old town of Petersburg, east of the Nardousberg, now in Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, Graaff-Reinet District, Sneeuberg. 32°15'17"S, 25°01'04"E, 1853 m, 6 December 2005, Clark VR & Coombs G 208 (GRA, K).

—Farms Paardekom 5 and Annex Waterkloof 2: upper mountain slopes (Tandjiesberg-Coetszeesberg) ca. 15 km east of the Nardousberg (Sneeuberg), behind Pearston, Graaff-Reinet District. 32°16'47"S, 25°05'25"E, ca. 1950 m, 13 December 2006, Clark VR & Coombs G 635 (GRA).

—Farm 360: mountain slopes above Suurkloof, mountains behind the old town of Petersburg, east of the Nardousberg (Sneeuberg), now in Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, Graaff-Reinet District 32°15'40"S, 25°10'10"E, 1550–2000 m, 31 March 2008, Clark VR & Crause C 2 (GRA).

—3224BB, Upper Waterkloof 352: eastern end of Nardousberg ridge-line (Sneeuberg), Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, Graaff-Reinet District. 32°14'48"S, 24°55'58"E, 2171 m, 2 April 2008, Clark VR & Crause C 34 & 65 (GRA).