Similar to Psoralea pinnata L., but differs in being a resprouter with massed short shoots from a woody rootstock (versus much-branched reseeder with single stem in P. pinnata); grooved 3-foliolate leaves (versus 7−9-foliolate); flowers 1−3 per axil (versus 1−6).

SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape, Oudtshoorn (−3322), Northern foothills of Outeniqua mountains, Camferskloof (–CD), 33°50'42.20"S, 22°25'8.93"E, 14 February 2014, A. Bello, A.M. Muasya, & C.H. Stirton 41 (holotype: BOL!; isotypes: K!, NBG!, PRE!).

Habit an erect shrub up to 2 m tall, resprouter. Stems 1–3, bare with bursts of seasonal shoots in upper parts, with wide internodes; brown, covered in white storied lenticels; young seasonal shoots green, glabrous, glandular; flowering shoots produced seasonally on old stems, leafy along their entire length; plants also produce numerous sterile “water” shoots up to 1 m tall giving the plant an untidy restioid appearance. Leaves 3-foliolate at the base of each seasonal shoot, reducing to 1-foliolate thereafter, glabrous; leaf size variable, larger on water shoots from the rootstock (30–45 mm long, 30–40 mm wide); petiole 2–3 mm long; terminal leaflet of flowering shoots longest (20–40 mm long), basal pair (25–35 mm long), all 1.0–1.3 mm wide; glabrous, dark green; grooved, apex acuminate, base rounded; stipules 2–3 mm long, fused for half their length to the petiole, rigid, triangular, semi-patent, those on water shoots are longer, green and arching, rapidly senescent on flowering shoots. Inflorescences axillary along the length of seasonal shoots; flowers 1−3 per axil; peduncles absent or <1 mm long, terminated by a tri-toothed cupulum; cupulum lower tooth longest, acuminate, upper two teeth fused for half their length, yellowish, rapidly senescent, 1.0–1.2 mm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long Flowers 10–12 mm long, mauve to purple and white, borne 1–3 in leaf axils along seasonal flowering shoots. Calyx 5–6 mm long, 4 mm wide, pale green; tube 4 mm long, glabrous, ribbed; teeth triangular, equal, shorter than the tube, 2 mm long, carinal tooth cucullate at apex; glandular, margins ciliate with black hairs, inner face of teeth densely black-haired. Standard petal broadly elliptic to broadly ovate, 9–10 mm long, 8–10 mm wide; claw 2–3 mm long; mauve to purple, nectar “guide” situated above the strongly developed free appendages above the apex of the claw and comprised of a basal white area from which emerges a trifid purple flash that bleeds off into purple veins. Wing petals 9–11 mm long, 4 mm wide; claw 3 mm long; locked into keel indentation but not fused with it; longer than the keel; petal sculpturing present, upper basal, comprising 7–8 transcostal parallel lamellae. Keel 6 mm long, 3 mm wide; claw 5 mm long; apex dark purple. Androecium 9 mm long; tenth stamen free; sheath split adaxially, fenestrate; nectarial ring present, 0.5 mm high. Pistil 9 mm long; ovary 1.5 mm long, stipitate, glabrous but sparsely covered near distal end in curved stalked glands; ovules 1; style thickened at point of flexure, height of curvature 2 mm; stigma erect, penicillate. Fruits unknown. Seeds unknown (Fig. 1, Plate 1).

This species occurs in a small area of arid fynbos on the acidic lithosol soils (Glenrosa and Mispah forms) of North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos vegetation (FFs 18; Rebelo et al. 2006). The plant grows along streams or near water in the valley bottom, but is also found higher up the lower slopes along seepages.

December to February.

Known from 620–667 m.

Psoralea diturnerae is narrowly endemic to the northern slopes of the Outeniqua mountains in the Camferskloof area, George, Western Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 3). Unlike other species of Psoralea (e.g. P. odoratissima Jacq., P. pinnata L., and P. speciosa Eckl. & Zeyh.) that are colonial, this species is occasional in the landscape across a wider area.

The specific epithet diturnerae honours Ms. Di Turner, ispotter (http://www.ispot.org.za/user/10170), the leader of the Outramps group of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wild flowers (C.R.E.W., South Africa) and her merry band of walkers who brought this species to our attention and sent us reference material and photographs. Her energy and drive has made her group the most active C.R.E.W. group in South Africa.

Psoralea diturnerae is very rare and has only been found in the Camferskloof area on the northern slopes of Outeniqua mountains. So far only eight live individuals have been recorded in its habitat which is in a privately protected area but under possible threat from the nearby alien pine plantations. It is, however, possible that other individuals will emerge after the next fire as the plants we saw were old and leggy. Further surveys are being planned to find more individuals. We therefore assess this species to be Vulnerable under the South African Red List categories and criteria (VU D2, von Staden et al. 2009, IUCN 3.1, 2012a, 2012b).

Psoralea diturnerae is a recent discovery and is part of the Psoralea pinnata complex. It is a suffrutex with a restioid appearance of massed short shoots arising from a woody rootstock and from which emerge 1–3 long shoots that branch in their upper parts. It also has grooved 3-foliolate clasping glabrous needle-like leaves with the terminal leaflet longest. It bears rigid, triangular, semi-patent, rapidly senescent stipules, 1–3-flowered axillary inflorescences produced for long lengths of the flowering shoot and a white to purple standard petal with a white trifid central flash above the strongly developed auricles. It can also be recognised by its glabrous pale green calyx with purple flushes. Psoralea pinnata by contrast is a much-branched reseeding shrub to small tree up to 5 m tall with 7–9-foliolate linear, villoso-pubescent spreading leaves with the terminal leaflet shortest; has subulate recurved persistent stipules that become woody when leaves are shed, pale mauve or pale blue flowers borne along flowering shoots in pseudo-inflorescences, hidden within the subtending leaves, and the yellowish green, white (mostly) and black-haired calyces (Table 1). The species are allopatric.

Camferskloof, northern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountains, 33°50'56.9"S, 22°24'54.7"E (3322CD), Sandstone Fynbos, 622 m, 14 February 2014, A. Bello, C.H. Stirton & A.M. Muasya 43 (BOL).

Camferskloof, northern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountains, 33°51'07.2"S, 22°25'04.7"E (3322CD), Sandstone Fynbos, 667 m, 23 January 2013, Nicky van Berkel 1120 (BOL).

Figure 1. 

Psoralea diturnerae A. Bello, C.H. Stirt. & Muasya A flowering branch B leaf C transverse section of the leaflets D flower side view E standard petal F wing petal G keel petal H androecium I gynoecium showing the stigma J outer surface of calyx opened out K trifid cupulum L bud. Scale bars: A, B=1 cm; D–K=1 mm. Line drawing by Abubakar Bello from voucher A. Bello, C.H. Stirton & A.M. Muasya 41 (BOL).

Plate 1. 

Psoralea diturnerae A. Bello, C.H. Stirt. & Muasya A front view of flower B side view of flower C apex of flowering shoot D seasonal flowering shoot E habit with C.H. Stirton F leaf G short flowering shoot. Photographs Nicky van Berkel (A−C, F & G), Abubakar Bello (D) and Sandra Falanga (E). Voucher A. Bello, A.M. Muasya & C.H. Stirton 41 (BOL).

Similar to Psoralea pinnata L., but differs in being a short (less than 1 m) resprouter with sprawling and mounding habit (versus tall reseeder to 5 m with single stem in P. pinnata); short 5-foliolate leaves (versus 7−9-foliolate); flowers solitary per axil (versus 1−6).

SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape, Knysna (−3423), Robberg Coastal Corridor, Fynbos Private Nature Reserve (–AB), 34°05'51.72"S, 23°17'5.82"E, 134 m, 18 October 2013, N. van Berkel 1118 (holotype: BOL!; isotypes: GRA!, K!, NBG!, SCHG!, PRE!).

Habit a small sprawling and mounding shrub to 60 cm tall and up to 1.5 m wide, resprouter. Stems 1–10, branching in upper parts of stems; branches erect, rough, grey, mostly bare except for upper parts; young seasonal shoots rough, blackish, hairy. Leaves 9 mm long, 10 mm wide, pinnately 5-foliolate, linear oblong, petiolate, fleshy, basal leaves of seasonal shoots smallest, patent to semi-erect, surface bumpy, glabrous; glands raised, hyaline but drying reddish brown to black, rachis grooved; basal leaflet pair 10 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, equal to or slightly shorter than terminal leaflet; terminal leaflet 10−11 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, flat on adaxial surface with a distinct furrow; stipules 2 mm long, 1 mm wide, straight, fused, joined by a bridge of tissue, glabrescent, teeth broadly triangular, apex acute, fleshy, persistent, becoming prominent and woody when leaves are shed, hairy, hairs short and stubby, covered densely with large raised glands. Inflorescences axillary in upper nodes of short seasonal shoots; peduncle short, 2 mm long, hairy; peduncle bracts paired, minute; cupulum 1 mm long, pale green, trifid, shortly triangular, lobes equal, black-haired, covered in large glands, drying reddish brown; pedicel 2 mm long. Flowers 10−11 mm long, pale to intense mauve to blue, borne solitary per axil. Calyx 6 mm long, 4 mm wide; tube 4 mm long, ribbed; teeth equal, shorter than tube, 2 mm long, pale green, sparsely covered in small black flat hairs and densely encrusted with mixed sized glands on outside; margins of teeth densely black ciliate, inside of teeth densely stubby black-haired; vexillar teeth scarcely fused above tube. Standard petal 9−10 mm long, 7−8 mm wide; claw 2−3 mm long, flattened, erect; very broadly ovate, reflexed to 90 degrees, apex rounded; mauve but dark purple in central area above the M-shaped white nectar “guide”, venation purple; callosities above the claw absent. Wing petals 6−7 mm long, 3−4 mm wide; claw 4−5 mm long; longer than keel petals, strongly folded once along middle, slightly billowy near apex, held parallel to keel, strongly auriculate; sculpturing present, upper basal comprised of 4−5 transcostal lamellae. Keel 5−6 mm long, 3−4 mm wide; claw up to 5 mm long. Androecium 7 mm long; tenth stamen free; sheath split abaxially, fenestrate; nectarial ring present, 0.3 mm high. Pistil 7 mm long; ovary 2 mm long, stipitate, glabrous but sparsely covered in curved stalked glands across sides; ovules 1; stigma penicillate. Fruits 1, 5 mm long, 3 mm wide, papery, rugose, reticulate, brown. Seeds 4 mm long, 2.5 mm wide, oblong-elliptic, khaki with black mottles and flecks, hilum central (Fig. 2, Plate 2).

Endemic to South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos (FFs19, Rebelo et al. 2006). The vegetation type is a mixture of Eastern Fynbos and Renosterveld. It grows in full sun on sandy soils over Peninsula formation quartzite on a gentle slope. The area was subjected to a controlled burn in April 2008, so plants are becoming old and starting to die back.

August to November.

70−150 m.

Psoralea vanberkelae is a narrow endemic. It is known from some hundreds of individuals in an area of 500 × 500 m along the George to Knysna coastal stretch of the Indian Ocean and also from Cairnbrogie (Nicky van Berkel pers. comm., photographs) all in Western Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 3).

The specific epithet vanberkelae honours Ms. Nicky van Berkel, a C.R.E.W. volunteer and iSpotter (“Nicky”; http://www.ispot.org.za/user/10095), who brought this species to our attention and sent us reference material and photographs. Like many plant enthusiasts from C.R.E.W. she plays a valuable role in establishing the conservation status of plants in her area. The plant is a beautiful flagship species for a very threatened habitat.

Psoralea vanberkelae is locally abundant in its habitat and the main population is protected by private ownership (Fynbos Private Nature Reserve). It is, however, restricted by a narrow range of distribution (area less than 20 km²). The coastal stretches where the plants occur are all on private land with limited access. The cliff edges rise sharply from the sea and their escarpments are not easy to access. We therefore assess this species to be Vulnerable under the South African Red List categories and criteria (VU D2, von Staden et al. 2009, IUCN 3.1, 2012a, 2012b).

Psoralea vanberkelae is a recent discovery and is part of the Psoralea pinnata complex. It is a small, colonial, resprouting, sprawling and mounding shrub to 60 cm tall and up to 1.5 m wide. It has clasping, tightly packed, 10–11 mm long leaves on short shoots. It also has glabrous leaflets with large round impressed glands. Its terminal leaflet is in most cases longest. It has pale to intense mauve to blue flowers borne at the end of short flowering shoots in pseudo-inflorescences and held above the subtending leaves. Psoralea pinnata on the other hand is a taller much-branched reseeding shrub to small tree up to 5 m tall with 7–9-foliolate linear, 20–45 mm long, villoso-pubescent spreading leaves with the terminal leaflet shortest (Table 1).

Robberg Coastal Corridor, Fynbos Private Nature Reserve Section, Knysna, 34°05'53.84"S, 23°17'4.56"E (3423AB), South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos, 134 m, 14 February 2014, A. Bello, C.H. Stirton & A.M. Muasya 53 (BOL).

Figure 2. 

Psoralea vanberkelae C.H. Stirt., A. Bello & Muasya A flowering branch B leaf C stipule D flower viewed from the front E standard petal showing the M-shaped nectar patch F wing petal G keel petal H androecium I gynoecium showing the stigma J outer surface of calyx opened out K trifid cupulum L bud. Scale bars: A, B=1 cm; C–L=1 mm. Line drawing by Abubakar Bello from voucher N. van Berkel 1118 (BOL).

Plate 2. 

Psoralea vanberkelae C.H. Stirt., A. Bello & Muasya A details of glands on leaflets B base view of flowers showing cupulums below calyces C flower D short seasonal shoot with flower E habit. Photographs Nicky van Berkel. Voucher N. van Berkel 1118 (BOL).

Figure 3. 

Distribution of Psoralea pinnata (circles), P. diturnerae (triangles) and P. vanberkelae (squares). The top right map of Africa shows the position of the Core Cape Region (blue) in South Africa (grey).