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A taxonomic revision of Rafnia (Fabaceae, Crotalarieae)
Abstract
Rafnia Thunb. is a relatively poorly known papilionaceous genus of the tribe
Crotalarieae, and is endemic to the fynbos region of the Western and Eastern
Cape Provinces of South Africa, with one species extending into KwaZulu-Natal.
Characters of the habit, leaves, inflorescences, flowers, pods and seeds are
useful for distinguishing among the 19 species, and variations in morphological
characters are discussed. A cladistic analysis of 26 characters produced a
cladogram with two distinct groups, which form the basis of the division of
Rafnia into two sections (described in the taxonomic part of the paper). Five
new species, namely R. rostrata G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk, R.
vlokii G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk, R. alata G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk, R.
inaequalis G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk and R. globosa G.J. Campbell & B-E.
van Wyk are described. Four species are divided into subspecies, seven of which
are described for the first time. The nomenclature, synonymy and typification
of the 31 taxa are presented, as are descriptions, illustrations and distribution
maps.
South African Journal of Botany 2001, 67 (2): 90–149
Crotalarieae, and is endemic to the fynbos region of the Western and Eastern
Cape Provinces of South Africa, with one species extending into KwaZulu-Natal.
Characters of the habit, leaves, inflorescences, flowers, pods and seeds are
useful for distinguishing among the 19 species, and variations in morphological
characters are discussed. A cladistic analysis of 26 characters produced a
cladogram with two distinct groups, which form the basis of the division of
Rafnia into two sections (described in the taxonomic part of the paper). Five
new species, namely R. rostrata G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk, R.
vlokii G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk, R. alata G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk, R.
inaequalis G.J. Campbell & B-E. van Wyk and R. globosa G.J. Campbell & B-E.
van Wyk are described. Four species are divided into subspecies, seven of which
are described for the first time. The nomenclature, synonymy and typification
of the 31 taxa are presented, as are descriptions, illustrations and distribution
maps.
South African Journal of Botany 2001, 67 (2): 90–149
