Taxonomy of the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa: the Villosa group

Abstract

The Villosa species group in the genus Ehrharta Thunb. is differentiated morphologically by very large, profusely hairy, bearded and aristate spikelets and by a suffrutescent habit, with culms woody at the base and with reduced leaf blades. The Villosa group is composed of two species, one with a variety: E. thunbergii Gibbs Russell, nom. nov., E. villosa Schult. f. var. villosa and E. villosa var. maxima Stapf. Members of the group occur on sandy soils in the Succulent Karoo and Fynbos Biomes, along the west coast in Strandveld and on the southern coast as far east as the Fish River. Morphologically, the group appears to be related to the Calycina and Capensis groups.

Keywords

• Fynbos
• Capensis
• <i>Ehrharta</i>
• Poaceae
• Succulent Karoo
• taxonomy