A new species of Felicia L. (Asteraceae, Astereae) from South Africa

Abstract

During a stay in 2002 at the Kirstenbosch Research Centre in Cape Town (South Africa), several groups of Asteraceae were studied, principally of the tribes Mutisieae s.l. and Astereae. One of these was the Amellus group (tribe Astereae), and particularly the genus Felicia Cass. A collection of this genus from Northern Cape Province (South Africa) was examined and finally identified as a new species, Felicia martinsiana sp. nov. Besides the description of the new species, relationships with Felicia bergeriana (Spreng.) O. Hoffm., and Felicia merxmuelleri Grau, the most similar species of the genus, are discussed. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London.