Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa
Ehrharta Thunb. is a genus of Gondwanaland distribution with its centre of diversity in the winter rainfall Fynbos Biome of southern Africa. In recent subfamily treatments Ehrharta has proved difficult to place satisfactorily, and during the past five years it has been moved between Bambusoideae and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African National Biodiversity Institut
1987-10-01
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| Series: | Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/1015 |
| _version_ | 1819036537319325696 |
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| author | G. E. Gibbs Russell R. P. Ellis |
| author_facet | G. E. Gibbs Russell R. P. Ellis |
| author_sort | G. E. Gibbs Russell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ehrharta Thunb. is a genus of Gondwanaland distribution with its centre of diversity in the winter rainfall Fynbos Biome of southern Africa. In recent subfamily treatments Ehrharta has proved difficult to place satisfactorily, and during the past five years it has been moved between Bambusoideae and Arundinoideae. However, most previous systematic studies using cryptic characters have covered only four taxa out of about 35. The present study includes all African taxa, and demarcates seven species groups on the basis of both spikelet morphology and leaf blade anatomy. Parallelism and/or convergence in vegetative macromorphology within and between the species groups is widespread, and is similar, in some cases, to adaptations found in other plant families in the Fynbos Biome. However, these macromorphological trends are not reflected in the leaf anatomy. Leaf anatomy is generally consistent with the spikelet morphology. Some anatomical differences between the species groups in Ehrharta appear to be as great as differences between taxa of much higher ranks elsewhere in the Poaceae. This wide range of variability may be related to an early divergence of Ehrharteae from other grasses, as suggested by the Gondwanaland distribution, and may explain the difficulty of placing this fascinating yet baffling genus in a subfamily. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:07:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0789cd77ae24fc7952ee4d272b12d03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0006-8241 2311-9284 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:07:06Z |
| publishDate | 1987-10-01 |
| publisher | South African National Biodiversity Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0789cd77ae24fc7952ee4d272b12d032022-12-21T19:10:46ZengSouth African National Biodiversity InstitutBothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation0006-82412311-92841987-10-01171516510.4102/abc.v17i1.1015944Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern AfricaG. E. Gibbs Russell0R. P. Ellis1Botanical Research Institute, Department of Agriculture and Water SupplyBotanical Research Institute, Department of Agriculture and Water SupplyEhrharta Thunb. is a genus of Gondwanaland distribution with its centre of diversity in the winter rainfall Fynbos Biome of southern Africa. In recent subfamily treatments Ehrharta has proved difficult to place satisfactorily, and during the past five years it has been moved between Bambusoideae and Arundinoideae. However, most previous systematic studies using cryptic characters have covered only four taxa out of about 35. The present study includes all African taxa, and demarcates seven species groups on the basis of both spikelet morphology and leaf blade anatomy. Parallelism and/or convergence in vegetative macromorphology within and between the species groups is widespread, and is similar, in some cases, to adaptations found in other plant families in the Fynbos Biome. However, these macromorphological trends are not reflected in the leaf anatomy. Leaf anatomy is generally consistent with the spikelet morphology. Some anatomical differences between the species groups in Ehrharta appear to be as great as differences between taxa of much higher ranks elsewhere in the Poaceae. This wide range of variability may be related to an early divergence of Ehrharteae from other grasses, as suggested by the Gondwanaland distribution, and may explain the difficulty of placing this fascinating yet baffling genus in a subfamily.https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/1015anatomy<i>Ehrharta</i>morphologyPoaceaesouthern Africa, taxonomy |
| spellingShingle | G. E. Gibbs Russell R. P. Ellis Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation anatomy <i>Ehrharta</i> morphology Poaceae southern Africa, taxonomy |
| title | Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa |
| title_full | Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa |
| title_fullStr | Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa |
| title_short | Species groups in the genus <i>Ehrharta</i> (Poaceae) in southern Africa |
| title_sort | species groups in the genus i ehrharta i poaceae in southern africa |
| topic | anatomy <i>Ehrharta</i> morphology Poaceae southern Africa, taxonomy |
| url | https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/1015 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gegibbsrussell speciesgroupsinthegenusiehrhartaipoaceaeinsouthernafrica AT rpellis speciesgroupsinthegenusiehrhartaipoaceaeinsouthernafrica |