Clark, V. RalphVidal Jr, Joao De DeusGwynne-Evans, DavidBarker, Nigel2026-03-132026-03-132026-03Clark, V.R., Vidal Jr, J.D.D., Gwynne-Evans, D. & Barker, N.P. 2026, 'Two new endemic species of Hermannia L. (Malvaceae: Byttnerioideae)-H. lilacina and H. boschbergensis-from the Cape Midlands Escarpment (Eastern Cape, South Africa)', South African Journal of Botany, vol. 190, pp. 618-629, doi : 10.1016/j.sajb.2026.01.041.0254-6299 (print)1727-9321 (online)10.1016/j.sajb.2026.01.041http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108966Hermannia 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.en© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of SAAB. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).BoschbergTaxonomySneeubergKaroo escarpment grasslandGreat winterberg–amatholesEastern Cape escarpment thicketArticle