A new species of Polygonum L. (Polygonaceae) from South Africa

Abstract

During a stay at the Kirstenbosch Research Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2002, the first author studied a collection of Polygonum L. (Polygonaceae) from Springbok (Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa), which was identified as a new species. In addition to the description of the new species, Polygonum snijmanii, we discuss its relation with P. patulum M. Bieb., P. oxyspermum C. A. Meyer, Bunge & Ledeb., the most closely related species, and P. undulatum (L.) Berg., the most similar native southern African species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London.