Two new endemic species of Hermannia L. (Malvaceae: Byttnerioideae)-H. lilacina and H. boschbergensis-from the Cape Midlands Escarpment (Eastern Cape, South Africa)

Abstract

Hermannia L. is primarily an African genus of some 250 species, with the centre of diversity located in southern Africa. It is the sixth-most endemic-rich genus in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, although endemics occur in all biomes in southern Africa. Two new species of Hermannia L. (Malvaceae: Byttnerioideae) are described from the Cape Midlands Escarpment mountains, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Hermannia lilacina Gwynn. & V.R.Clark is common in Karoo Escarpment Grassland (Grassland Biome), mostly above 1600 m in the eastern Sneeuberg Massif (Nardousberg to Aasvoëlkrans, i.e. behind Graaff-Reinet to Pearston), with one record from the interior of the western Great Winterberg–Amatholes (i.e. near Tarkastad). Hermannia boschbergensis Gwynn. & V.R.Clark is apparently confined to mid-elevations in Eastern Cape Escarpment Thicket (Albany Thicket Biome) at 1200 m on the Boschberg (eastern Sneeuberg, near KwaNajoli/Somerset East) and is currently only known from two collections. Recognition of these two new species complements numerous other recent discoveries from these mountains.

HIGHLIGHTS • Two new species of Hermannia are described from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. • Hermannia lilacina is endemic to the Sneeuberg and Great Winterberg–Amatholes. • Hermannia boschbergensis is endemic to the Boschberg (Sneeuberg). • Eastern Cape endemic Hermannia are doubled from two to four taxa.