New species and notes on the genus Cliffortia (Rosaceae)

Abstract

Seven new species of Cliffortia L. endemic to the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) are described, C. anthospermoides, C. cruciata, C. ferricola, C. gracillima, C. perpendicularis, C. sparsa and C. weimarckii. A further species from the GraaffReinet area, described by Weimarck but not formally named, is here given the name C. bolusii. New varieties C. cuneata var. cylindrica and C. filifolia var. arenaria are also described, and C. gracilis Harv. is recombined as C. dentata var. gracilis. Cliffortia discolor Weim. and C. hermaphroditica Weim. are reduced to synonyms of C. odorata L.f. and C. juniperina L.f. respectively. There are now 132 species recognized in Cliffortia, 124 of which are found in the CFR and 109 endemic to the region.