SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape Province: 2917 (Springbok) • 27 km SWW of Springbok; 24 Sep. 1957; Acocks 19581; holotype: PRE; isotype: K [K003992565].

Psoralea acocksii is most similar to P. flexuosa (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt. but differs in its low tangled habit with smooth stems (P. flexuosa a more robust erect laxly branched shrub with densely lenticelled stems); with dull greyish green, elliptic to obovate, flattish leaflets, sparsely sericeous on both surfaces (P. flexuosa with conduplicate broadly obovate leaflets, sparsely sericeous on lower surface only, and shiny bright green above); with more compact inflorescences at ends of long seasonal shoots bearing white flowers (P. flexuosa with lax zig-zag like inflorescences bearing greenish-white flowers); and calyx teeth much longer than the long tube (P. flexuosa with calyx teeth shorter than tube).

Tangled densely branched shrub 0.3–1.0 m tall. Stem branches brownish, pustulate, sparsely lenticelled, appressedly puberulous, striped and grey when younger. Leaves digitately trifoliolate, petiolate. Leaflets unequal; terminal (12–)15–16 × 5.0–6.5 mm, elliptic to obovate, larger than the laterals, all symmetrical; recurved, mucronate, mucro 0.5 mm long; apex emarginate, base cuneate, flat to partly complicate, sparsely sericeous on both surfaces; dull greyish green; petiole 2–4 mm long, persistent once leaflets have dropped; petiolules < 1 mm long, sericeous. Stipules 2–3.5 mm long, glabrous, setaceous, straight, caducous. Inflorescences laxly spicate, borne terminally, straight or arching, sparsely leafy; 30–45 mm long, flowers ascending; comprised of 5–8 triplets of shortly pedicellate flowers, each triplet subtended by a rapidly caducous, broadly oblanceolate, pubescent bract. Flowers 8–9 mm long, ebracteate, white; pedicel < 2 mm long. Calyx teeth much longer than the 3 mm long tube; equal to subequal (carinal tooth sometimes longer); lanceolate, attenuate, carinal tooth slightly broader, 2 mm wide; vexillary teeth fused for more than half their length, appressedly puberulous, with white and blackish hairs, profusely and evenly glandular over the entire surface but glands larger on the tube. Standard petals 9–10 × 6–7 mm, broadly ovate; apex emarginate, claw 2 mm long, scarcely auriculate. Wing petals 9–10 × 2.5–3.0 mm, claw 4 mm long, auricle prominent, longer than keel petals; sculpturing upper central comprising up to 15 rows of transcostal lamellae. Keel petals 7 × 2.0–2.3 mm, claw 3–4 mm long, apex obtuse. Androecium 8 mm long, sheath split adaxially, vexillary stamen lightly fused in lower third. Pistil 7 mm long; ovary 2 mm long; sericeous on upper half, stipitate; height of curvature 2 mm, entasis broadest at point of curvature; stigma penicillate. Fruits known from photographs, hairy, glandular, elliptic, flattish, as long as calyx but not emerging. Seeds unknown.

Figure 1. 

Psoralea acocksii. A. Habit and habitat. B. Upper surface of leaflet. C. Lower surface of leaflet. D. Infructescence. E. Side view of fruit. Photographs from iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27961328, Brian du Preez.

Psoralea acocksii is one of the most north-westerly species of Psoralea in southern Africa and occurs in mountain Renosterveld (Veld Type No. 43; Acocks 1975) at an elevation of 700–800 m a.s.l. (Fig. 2). It occupies the Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland (SKn1) and Namaqualand Shale Shrubland (SKn2) vegetation types (Mucina and Rutherford 2006).

Figure 2. 

Known distribution of the six described Psoralea species. Map by Abubakar Bello using QGIS v.3.28 (QGIS Development Team 2020).

Flowering in September and October, fruiting in November. Found occasionally in small populations on yellow brown sandy loam soil on moderate slopes (Nama geological series) with a southerly aspect.

The specific epithet acocksii is named after the South Africa plant ecologist John Phillip Harison Acocks (1911–1979). Acocks made a monumental contribution to the knowledge of plant ecology in southern Africa, and collected numerous herbarium specimens, over a career spanning nearly 50 years (Hoffman and Cowling 2003).

Psoralea acocksii is a rare range-restricted species with an EOO of 973 km² and an AOO of 20 km², both classifying it as Endangered. It has a limited seed output and is susceptible to fire. Very little information is available about its status or population density although a few new populations have been discovered since it was described. The species is therefore provisionally classified as Endangered: EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) due to its restricted range and potential habitat threats (IUCN 2012).

SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape Province: 2917 (Springbok) • North of Nigramoep Kammagas (–BC); Helme s.n.; BOL • Kammagas (–CB); 1 Oct. 1929; Herre s.n.; NBG [NBG 201680-0] • Spektakel Pass (–DA); 4 Sep. 1951; Maguire 1009; NBG • 23 km W of Springbok on road to Kleinsee (–DA); Le Roux 2953; NBG. – Northern Cape Province: 3017 (Hondeklipbaai) • Grootberg (–BC); 26 Nov. 2007; Muasya & Stirton 3286; BOL • Without precise locality, Namaqualand; Whitehead 26; MEL [MEL 1541978].

SOUTH AFRICA – Eastern Cape Province: 3024 (De Aar) • “In humidis laterum montis Winterberg prope Phillipstown” (–AD); Ecklon & Zeyher s.n.; lectotype (designated here): S [S14-41723] pro parte; isolectotype: S [S14-41744].

Psoralea purpurascens is most closely related to P. stachyera. P. purpurascens is a straggling shrub up to 2 m tall (P. stachyera a larger, virgate, and laxly branched up to 3 m tall, sometimes tree-like); hairs on young leaflets restricted to the margins and adaxial vein, and glands are larger and more raised (P. stachyera hairier all over becoming glabrescent, glands smaller); standard petals with scarcely reflexed sides and mostly purple with a large white nectar patch fringed with a broad deep purple halo with purple streaks (P. stachyera with standard petals pink with deep violet-pink nectar patches, sides reflexed).

Figure 3. 

Psoralea purpurascens. A. Habit. B. Section of shoot showing upper surface of mature leaves. C. Branches with terminal inflorescences. D. Inflorescences. E. Inflorescence. Photographs from iNaturalist: A: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103088515, Emma Ferreira; B, C: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181416887, Felix Riegel; D: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69730347, Craig Peter; E: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22843644, Craig Peter.

Straggling shrub up to 2 m tall, regenerating from seed after fire episodes. Stems tan with storied lenticels. Branches appressed white pubescent in young shoots, hairs pointing towards apex. Leaves digitately trifoliolate, partly conduplicate, stipulate, shortly petiolate. Leaflets subequal, terminal 19–25 × 9–10 mm, sometimes much reduced and smaller on seasonal shoots, especially towards the terminal inflorescence, laterals somewhat smaller; symmetrical, apex emarginate, mucro sharp, arching to recurved, 1 mm long, base cuneate, obovate; glands black and crateriform when dry appearing pitted on lower surface, more or less equal, numerous, about the same number on each surface; young leaflets hairy on midrib and margins, persisting in mature leaflets only on the midrib; petiole 2–3 mm long, petiolules 1–2 mm long. Stipules 3–5 × 2 mm, clasping, subulate, sparsely hairy, persistent, very glandular. Inflorescences terminal on 4–5 cm long, densely leafy, seasonal shoots; 20–30 mm long, elongating during anthesis, each comprised of 15–20 triplets of 3–5 mm pedicellate flowers; triplet bracts 4 × 2 mm, broadly lanceolate, 7–8-veined, becoming narrower and longer up the inflorescence, apex apiculate. Flowers 6–7 mm long, purple, pedicel 1–2 mm long. Calyx 4–6 mm long, glandular, tube 3 mm long, white-haired, lobes unequal, teeth lanceolate, acute, ciliate, glabrous on inner surface, carinal lobe longest 5–6 × 1.5 mm, other teeth equal, shorter and narrower. Standard petals 6 × 4–6 mm, purple, with a broad white nectar guide surrounded by an arc of purple, and suffused with purple streaks, narrowly obovate, appendages and auricles hardly developed, blade narrowed into a short-channelled claw. Wing petals 6–7 × 2 mm, longer than keel, cultrate with terminal end of blade expanded; claw straight, 3 mm long; sculpturing upper mid comprised of 10–12 transcostal lamellae. Keel petals 4 × 1.5 mm wide, obtuse, convex; claw 4 mm long. Androecium 7 mm long, 10^th stamen free, fenestrate. Pistil 4 mm long; ovary 1.5 mm long, ellipsoid, glabrous, 1-ovulate; style 4 mm long, filiform, thickened before flexure, glabrous; height of curvature 1 mm, stigma small, capitate. Fruits and seeds unknown.

Psoralea purpurascens is distributed mainly in the Eastern Cape Province from Makhanda (Grahamstown) eastwards along the Great Escarpment (Fig. 2) with an outlier in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It favours grassland on rocky slopes overlying Gabbro Formation sandstone and Witteberg quartzite, and occurs across a broad range of grassveld, thornveld, and thicket vegetation types: Ngongoni Veld (SVs4), Amathole Montane Grassland (GD1), Drakensberg Foothills Moist Grassland (Gs10), Midlands Mistbelt Grassland (GS9), Umtatha Moist Grassland (Gs14), Bisho Thornveld (SVf7), Eastern Cape Escarpment Thicket (AT13), Great Fish Thicket (AT11), Buffels Thicket (AT12), Northern Coastal Forest margins ((FOz7), and one fynbos outlier on Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos (FFq7) (Mucina and Rutherforld 2006). The species favours southern and western aspects at 875–1500 m a.s.l. It is likely that this species will be found to be more common and widespread than is currently known as the central section of its range is a poorly explored mountain escarpment system. It is geographically separated from P. stachyera which is primarily coastal extending to the southern slopes of the first range of mountains stretching from Mossel Bay eastwards to the Mbashe River mouth.

Flowering mainly between December and April but also sporadically at other times of the year. The species especially favours misty grassland, forest margins, and thickets. It has been reported to die off in the winter at higher elevations.

The specific epithet purpurascens is a Latin word meaning purple and refers to the dominant colour of the standard petal of the flowers.

This species has an EOO of 89,250 km² classifying it as Least Concern and an AOO of 96 km² classifying it as Endangered. Given its wide distribution in the Eastern Cape Province and less so in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Psoralea purpurascens may be threatened by too frequent fires, village expansion, overgrazing, and alien vegetation. However, as most of the known collections have been made along roadsides such populations are very threatened by roadside construction. Few collections have been made beyond roadsides so it should be looked for in remaining vegetation away from roads. Given the large EOO, P. purpurascens does not meet the criteria for Endangered or Vulnerable under B1 (EOO-based thresholds). However, the small AOO, habitat fragmentation, and multiple threats suggest a Vulnerable (VU) listing, as its habitat is declining in quality and extent. The species is therefore classified as Vulnerable: VU B2ab(iii,iv) (IUCN 2012).

SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal Province: 2829 (Harrismith) • Ukuhlamba (–CC); 15 Jan. 2008; Muasya & Stirton 3711; BOL. – KwaZulu-Natal Province: 3029 (Kokstad) • Tabankulu, Transkei (–CD); 17 Apr. 1996; Cloete 3423; KEI • Weza (–DA); 16 Dec. 1981; Stirton 10415; NH. – KwaZulu-Natal Province: 3030 (Port Shepstone) • Mpenjati Nature Reserve (–AA); 4 Jul. 1997; Von Fintel 555; NH • Mpenjati Nature Reserve (–CD); 13 Dec. 2001; Peter 437; NU. – KwaZulu-Natal Province: 3130 (Port Edward) • Mpenjati Reserve, Port Edward (–AA); 4 Apr. 1995; Abbott 6742; NH • ibid.; 23 Jun.1991; Nicholson 2786; NH • ibid.; Aug. 1992; Nicholson 2804; NH. – Eastern Cape Province: 3225 (Somerset East) • Farm Glen Avon 74, Summit plateau of Boschberg (–DA); 13 Nov. 2008; Clark & Coombs 1064; BOL, GRA. – Eastern Cape Province: 3226 (Fort Beaufort) • near Grahamstown (–AD); Bolton s.n.; TCD • Howieson’s Poort (–AD); 1869; MacOwan 131; NH • Mountain Summit, Grahamstown (–AD); 10 Aug. 1999; Davies & Rothman 27; GRA • ibid.; 19 Aug. 1999; Davies & Rothman 28; GRA • ibid.; 1869; MacOwan 314; BOL, NH • ibid.; 17 Aug. 1990; Rapson & Turner 18; GRA • ibid.; 17 Aug. 1990; Cummings & Waldrick 28; GRA • Mountain Drive, Grahamstown; 10 Aug. 1990; Davis & Rothman 27; GRA • Mid-reaches of Katberg Pass, Fort Beaufort District (–BC); 30 Jan. 2009; Clark, Pienaar & Daniels 725; BOL, GRA • Path to Featherstone Kloof; 18 Jun. 1961; Heeg 113; GRA • Fort Fordyce (–CB); 12 Mar. 1947; Storey 2106; GRA, PRE • Sandile’s Kop, Transkei (–DD); Jan. 1989; Edwards 498; NU. – Eastern Cape Province: 3227 (Stutterheim) • Fort Cunynghame (–AD); 12 Jun. 1972; Van Gadow 149; GRA • ibid.; 1897; Sim s.n.; PRE [20288] • Cata Valley; 22 Mar. 1950; Acocks 15746; PRE • Mountains W of Keiskamma River Valley (–CA); 25 Jan. 1957; Gibbs Russell 3498a; GRA, NU • Kubusie State Forest north of Stutterheim (–CB); 7 Dec. 2001; Meyer 1025; PRE • Dohne Peak (–CB); 5 Jul. 1942; Acocks 8956; PRE • Mt. Kemp; 13 Jan. 1947; Leighton 2750; BOL • Old Cwence Sawmill site, Amatola Range (–CB); 3 Aug. 1984; Duckworth 74; NH • Kingwilliamstown (–CA); 1881; Tyson 1020; SAM • Komgha (–DB); 1890; Flanagan 403; BOL, GRA, NH, PRE. – Eastern Cape Province: 3228 (Butterworth) • Dwesa Forest, Willowvale (–BA); Jul. 1937; J.D.W. Van der Merwe s.n.; BM, NH. – Without precise locality • Robinson’s Drift; 22 Dec. 1892; Grant 2739; BOL.

This species has been overlooked since it was first described illegitimately. It is most closely related to Psoralea stachyera Eckl. & Zeyh., within which it was included by Harvey (1862) and Forbes (1936). Stirton (1989) noted that the two species were quite distinct at the extremes of their range but that there was an overall gradation from the southwest to the northeast in inflorescence and flower size, flower colour, degree of pubescence, and robustness of the plants. Recent field work and new collections have enabled a clearer distinction. We have only come across two specimens of P. cephalotes that may be considered as type material. The first candidate is a mixed sheet at S. The righthand specimen on the S14-41723 sheet is selected here as the lectotype. The other two twigs belong to P. bracteolata Eckl. & Zeyh. The other S specimen (S14-41744) is more depauperate and is unlikely to have been used as the basis to describe the species. The Ernst Meyer name refers to P. uncinata Eckl. & Zeyh. and is an illegitimate name.

SOUTH AFRICA • uncertain locality; Drège s.n.; lectotype (designated by Stirton 1986): MO [MO1868216]; isolectotypes: P [P03496151, P03050230], G [G00022541], HAL [HAL11940], K [K000392564] fragment.

Psoralea reticulata is closest to P. heterosepala Fourc. and is a small rounded compact shrub up to 0.6 m tall with sparsely appressed hairy to glabrate, glandular and blackish shoots (P. heterosepala an erect virgate shrub 1.8–2.5 m tall with virgate, puberulous shoots); stipules broadly triangular, 1.5–1.7 mm long, fused for the length of the petiole and adnate to it (P. heterosepala stipules triangular, 2–3 mm long, scarious, striate not fused to petiole); standard petals 5.0–5.5 mm long, very broadly ovate, scarcely auriculate (P. heterosepala with standard petals 6.0–6.5 mm long, broadly elliptic; auriculate); calyx with dark green teeth, tube paler green with dark green veins (P. heterosepala calyx teeth and tube yellowish green, veins hyaline).

Figure 4. 

Psoralea reticulata. A. Habit. B. Upper surface of leaflets. C. Flowering shoot. Photographs from iNaturalist: A, B: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11141013, Brian du Preez; C: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187019589, Nick Helme.

Small, erect, deciduous, much branched decumbent reseeding shrub. Stems small, rounded, compact, up to 0.6 m tall. Branchlets terete, slender, sparsely appressed hairy, glabrate, glandular and blackish. Leaves digitately trifoliolate, shortly petiolate, shiny. Leaflets 8–12 × 1.5–2.0 mm, terminal leaflet somewhat longer; very narrowly obovate to oblong, laterals asymmetrical, semi-conduplicate, subsessile to petiolate, base cuneate, apex recurved mucronate, glands not clearly visible, hyaline. Stipules 1.5–1.7 mm long, fused for the length of the petiole and adnate to it, broadly triangular, patent but recurving with maturity, prominently veined, mostly glabrous but with a ciliate margin, persistent. Inflorescences borne on short shoots, axillary, comprising a single triplet of flowers subtended by a 3.5–3.7 × 1.5–1.8 mm pandurate and ciliate bract prominently veined and with irregular apex; the common 1–2 mm long peduncle has a solitary 1.7 mm long, narrowly falcate bract inserted just below the common flower bract. Flowers 7–8 mm long; pedicel 2.0–2.3 mm long. Calyx equal to or longer than the corolla, 8–9 mm long; lateral and vexillary lobes more or less equal but shorter and much narrower than the very acuminate broadly lanceolate keel lobe; vexillary teeth 1.0–1.5 mm wide, fused slightly above the tube; sparsely pubescent, margins appressed pubescent; veins raised, very prominent. Standard petals 5.0–5.5 × 4 mm, very broadly ovate, scarcely auriculate, appendages absent; mauve to purple with a largish violet nectar guide and purple netlike veins; claw 1.5–2.0 mm long. Wing petals longer than keel, 6 × 1.5–2.0 mm, auriculate; sculpturing present, upper basal and upper central comprised of up to 20 parallel, transcostal lamellae, rows indistinct. Keel petals 4.3–4.5 × 1.3–1.6 mm, blade bulging, apex rounded; claw 2 mm long. Androecium 3.6–3.7 mm long, sheath split adaxially, tenth stamen free. Pistil 4 mm long; ovary 1 mm long, glabrous, gynophore absent; height of curvature 1.3 mm; style glabrous, 0.3 mm thick at point of flexure; stigma prominent, capitate, penicillate. Fruits 4.5 × 3 mm, beaked; papery, reticulate. Seeds 2.6–2.7 × 2.3–2.5 mm, 1.5 mm thick; dark brown; hilum 0.5 mm long, flushed, very broadly ovate, rim aril present; micropyle deltoid, free from hilum.

Psoralea reticulata has been collected only six times and little is known about its biology. It occurs on the Kouga and Baviaanskloof mountains (Fig. 2) in Kouga Sandstone Fynbos (FFs27; Mucina and Rutherford 2006). We owe its modern rediscovery to the late Elsie Esterhuysen (1912–2006), a renowned plant collector, who traversed the species rich Cape Mountains for so many years with so much success. The discovery of P. reticulata stresses yet again the poor state of collecting along the inland mountains east of Uitenhage and north of the Keurbooms River.

Flowering takes place from May to November. Psoralea reticulata has been found growing in fynbos vegetation on loamy rocky soil.

The specific epithet reticulata is a Latin adjective that refers to the large highly reticulately-veined carinal lobe of the calyx.

Psoralea reticulata has an EOO of 347 km² and an AOO of 24 km², both classifying it as Endangered. Given that the species has been collected only six times, in five different locations, indicating a potentially small population, the species is hereby assessed as Endangered: EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) (IUCN 2012).

SOUTH AFRICA – Eastern Cape Province: 3323 (Willowmore) • lower slopes near Kouga Peak; 12 Nov. 1944; Esterhuysen 10187; BOL • Hike from Kouga Wilderness to Pelargonium Cave (–DB); 14 Jun. 2015; Du Preez 50; BOL • Near Smutsberg (–DB); 3 Dec. 2015; Du Preez s.n.; BOL. – Eastern Cape Province: 3324 (Steytlerville) • Scholtzburg, Baviaanskloof (–CA); 17 May 1983; Van Jaarsveld & Kotze 7753; NBG • Baviaanskloof mountains, high ridge to north of Grassnek (–CB); 23 Sep. 2011; Euston-Brown 1334; BOL.

The exact locality of the type specimen is confused. In his protologue, Meyer (1836) refers to the locality as “Prout videtur, lecta in regione 111 D”. However, later in the compilation of Drège’s collecting itineraries (Drège 1843), the locality 111 D is given as “Paarl and Paarlberg” but with no mention of the species being there. As the species is only known from the Kouga and Baviaanskloof mountains, it is clear that there has been a mislabelling. Forbes (1936), in her monograph of Psoralea, confused this species with a group of four other species centred around P. carnea E.Mey. (nom. illeg.). We now recognise these as Psoralea prodiens (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt., P. heterosepala Fourc., P. stachyera Eckl. & Zeyh., and P. acuminata Lam. Psoralea reticulata is separated from these species by a combination of features: small compact deciduous shrub; leaflets conduplicate, glandular, glabrous, shiny, with narrowly obovate to oblong inflorescences on short lateral shoots, 3-flowered axillary inflorescences; very broadly ovate standard petals; wing petals longer than keel petals; calyx teeth longer than the petals, carinal tooth twice as broad as the rest.

SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province: 3319 (Worcester) • “Dutoitskloof, III A e”; Drège s.n.; lectotype (designated by Stirton 1986): K [K000392537]; isolectotypes: G [G00022520, G00022521], GBH [GBH63919], HAL, L, LE, MO, P [P03050155, P03050158, P03050159], PRC, PRE.

Psoralea albidula shares a few features with P. obliqua E.Mey. such as short resprouting shrubs with verrucose shoots, digitately 3-foliolate flat leaflets, and keel petals shorter than wing petals. It has in the past been incorrectly identified or confused with the sympatric species P. obliqua but is easily separated by green finely pubescent young shoots (P. obliqua purplish patently hairy young shoots); flat straight leaflets with a shortly recurved-mucronate apex (P. obliqua apex aristate-mucronate); lateral leaflets almost symmetrical (P. obliqua strongly asymmetrical) ; inflorescences densely racemose terminal, on leafy shoots 90–100 m long, comprised of 23–25 triplets of sessile flowers (P. obliqua borne in the upper 3–4 axils of short 60–80 mm long comprised of 3-flowered axillary inflorescences borne on short 2 mm long peduncles of seasonal shoots, much overtopped by the leaves); cream or white flowers without a nectar patch on standard petals (P. obliqua pale mauve to purple flowers with dark purple nectar patch), and non-accrescent fruiting calyx (P. obliqua accrescent).

Figure 5. 

Psoralea albidula. A. Habitat. B. Habit. C. Leafy shoots. D. Lower surface of leaflets. E. Inflorescence showing flowers. F. Infructescence showing calyces after fruit shedding. Photographs from iNaturalist: A, B, C, E: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37245764, Charles Stirton; D: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10815095, Tony Rebelo; F: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102157768, Ismail Ebrahim.

Suffrutex up to 1 m tall. Stems up to 50, coppicing after fire; verrucose, prominently papillose and glabrescent when young. Leaves digitately trifoliolate, inserted spirally, spreading; terminal leaflet 30–34 × 10–20 mm, elliptic, laterals slightly smaller, scarcely asymmetric; stem leaflets and water shoots are much larger than those borne on seasonal flowering shoots, all leaves becoming smaller upwards towards the apex; apex recurved-mucronate, base truncate, glabrous, densely glandular; rachis channelled above; petiolule 3 mm long, glandular; petiole 2–3 mm long. Stipules 6 × 1.5 mm, recurved-patent, pubescent, rapidly caducous. Inflorescences terminal, densely racemose on leafy shoots 90–100 m long, comprised of 23–25 triplets of sessile flowers, each triplet subtended by a single, pubescent 3–7 × 3.0–4.3 mm, broadly ovate bract with an acute apex; bracts become smaller near the apex of the inflorescence. Flowers white to pale cream, drying yellow, nectar patch absent, 8–10 mm long. Calyx scarcely longer than the keel blades; carinal lobe longest, 8–9 × 1.5 mm; other lobes 7 mm long; tube 3–4 mm long; yellowish green with carinal lobe and veins a darker green, pubescent and glandular outside, finely pubescent on the inner face of teeth. Standard petals 8.0–9.5 × 6–7 mm, elliptic; nectar guide if present pale cream; claw 2–3 m long, auriculate; appendages absent; apex emarginate. Wing petals 7.0–10.0 mm, longer than the keel; 9 × 3 mm wide with 3.0–3.5 mm long claw, billowy at tip; sculpturing present, upper central comprised of 1–2 rows of 13 vertical, irregular, transcostal lamellae. Keel petals 4–7 × 2 mm, with 3.0–3.5 mm long claw. Androecium sheath 6 mm long, split adaxially; vexillary stamen free. Pistil 4.0–6.5 mm log; ovary 1.5–2.0 mm long, pubescent; height of curvature of style 1.0–1.7 mm, thickened at point of flexure; stigma small, penicillate. Fruits and seeds unknown.

Psoralea albidula is restricted to the lower slopes of the mountains stretching from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and Jonkershoek in the south to DuToits Kloof Pass in the north (Fig. 2). It has overlapping distributions in parts of its range with P. obliqua which grows on Table Mountain Sandstone outcrops, usually along the crests of ridges, whereas the P. albidula occurs at lower elevations on more gentle slopes and sandier soils. Spontaneous intermediate hybrids may be found occasionally growing at the edge of rocky outcrops. The hybrids are erect multi-stemmed, up to 60 stems, with lax branching near the apex bearing spreading leaves, inflorescences that are either axillary (3–5 flowers) or terminal (up to 25 flowers) or in various combinations. The standard petal is pale mauve with a dark mauve nectar patch (e.g. Stirton 9939).

Psoralea albidula is a species of early successional stages in Mesic Mountain Fynbos and occupies the Hawequas Fynbos Sandstone (FFs10), and Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos (FFs11) vegetation types (Mucina and Rutherford 2006) on Table Mountain Sandstone (Fig. 2). Plants tend to be colony-forming. Flowers are visited by small bees.

Flowering sporadically throughout the year but with a peak between October and December.

The specific epithet albidula is a Latin adjective meaning “whitish” that refers to the colour of the flowers.

Potter (2005) classified this species as Least Concern (LC). The species has an EOO of 2,494 km² and AOO of 56 km², both classifying it as Endangered. However, most populations are in protected areas and no populations are threatened by alien plants. Since no major threats are observed, the Potter (2005) assessment is hereby upheld. The species is classified as Least Concern (LC) (IUCN 2012).

SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province: 3318 (Cape Town) • mountains near Wellington (–DB); Nov. 1882; Tyson 917; BOL, NH • Jakkalsvlei (–DC); 20 Nov. 1962; Taylor 4377; NBG, PRE • ibid.; 12 Nov. 1965; Taylor 6592; NBG, PRE • Jonkershoek (–DD); 25 Oct. 1950; Parker 4535; BOL, K, NBG • ibid.; 16 Nov. 2007; Muasya & Stirton 3199; BOL • 7 Nov. 1943; Parker 15317; NBG • ibid.; 16 Nov. 2007; Muasya & Stirton 3196; BOL • ibid.; 19 Jan. 1975; Esterhuysen 33749; BOL • ibid.; 3 Jan. 1983; Goldblatt 6812; MO, PRE • ibid.; 10 Nov. 1975; Kruger 49; NBG • ibid.; 13 Dec. 1975; Kruger 333; NBG, PRE • ibid.; 9 Nov. 1918; Garside 1163a; K, STE • ibid.; 14 Dec. 1960; Grobbelaar 249; PRE, PRU • ibid.; 14 Dec. 1966; Grobbelaar 1589; PRE • ibid.; 24 Dec. 1925; Marion s.n.; BOL • Swartboskloof (–DD); 25 Oct. 1960; Van der Merwe 2381; K, NBG, PRE • ibid.; 9 Nov. 1989; Buys 89; NBG, STEU • ibid.; 9 Nov. 1982; McDonald 777; NBG, PRE • ibid.; 28 Oct. 1982; McDonald 855; NBG, PRE • ibid.; 11 Dec. 1975; Kruger 103; STE • ibid.; 9 Jun. 1960; Van Der Merwe 2221; STE • ibid.; 18 Sep. 1960; Van Der Merwe 2358; STE • ibid.; 17 Oct. 1960; Van Rensburg 2120; NBG, PRE • Langrivier Catchment (–DD); 6 Mar. 1975; Haynes 1011; PRE • ibid.; 19 Dec. 1979; Le Maitre 18; NBG • Stellenbosch golf-course (–DD); 17 Oct. 1960; Van Der Merwe 2120; STE. – Western Cape Province: 3319 (Worcester) • Du Toits Kloof Pass (–CA); 10 Nov. 1959; Acocks 20635; K, PRE • ibid.; Jan. 1880; Bolus 5158; BOL, K • ibid.; 25 Oct. 1960; Gentry & Barclay 18729; K, PRE, US • Elandspad, Du Toits kloof (–CA); Walters 13444; NBG • Du Toits Kloof Lodge (–CA); 27 Dec. 2007; Muasya & Stirton 3542; BOL • Bushman’s Castle, Franschhoek Mountains (–CC); Esterhuysen 17670; BOL • ibid.; 14 Dec. 1940; Compton 10131; NBG • ibid.; 7 Jan. 1983; Grobbelaar 2704; PRE • ibid.; Dec. 1951; Stokoe s.n.; SAM [SAM 69596] • Bakkerskloof (–CC); 18 Jan. 1978; Van Wilgen 218; STE • Drakenstein Mountains (–CC); Jan. 1812; Tyson 2436; NH • Bergrivier Hoek (–CC); 1 Jan. 1940; Anonymous s.n.; NBG. – Western Cape Province: 3418 (Simonstown) • Aries Kraal (–BD); 18 Nov. 1944; Leighton 767; BOL • ibid.; 26 Dec. 1941; Bond 1303; NBG • ibid.; 11 Nov. 1944; Compton 16472; NBG • ibid.; Nov. 1944; Lewis 915; SAM • boundary of Kogelberg State Forest and Somersfontein Farm (–BD); 22 Nov. 1974; Boucher 2691; NBG • 2.6 km from Stokoe Bridge, Kogelberg; 6 Oct. 1993; Kruger 1166; NBG. – Western Cape Province: 3419 (Caledon) • Sutherland farm overlooking Palmiet River of Farm 152, South of Jutland; 1 Apr. 2011; Anonymous s.n.; NBG • near Elgin, between Grabouw and Paardeberg (–AA); Dec. 1947; Stokoe s.n.; SAM [SAM 56394] • ibid.; 7 Dec. 1984; Jaarsveld & Sardien 7682; NBG • Baileys Peak; 19 Nov. 1967; Esterhuysen 31806; BOL • Berg Rivier Hoek; 16 Dec. 1945; Esterhuysen 12408; BOL • Verlorenkloof; s.d.; Geertse s.n.; PRE • Abdol’s kloof, Jonkershoek; 28 Oct. 1940; Levyns 7346; BOL • Elgin; s.d.; Helme 2011; NBG • Bushmans Castle, French Hoek District; 25 Dec. 1936; Salter 6551; BOL. – Without precise locality • Burmann s.n.; G.

SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province: 3419 (Caledon) • between Drievlei and Morning View farms; 13 Jan. 1986; Stirton 11381; holotype: K [K003992450]; isotypes: MEL [MEL223201], MO, NBG [NBG0147985-0], PRE.

Psoralea lancifolia belongs to a small group of resprouting unifoliolate leaved species (P. dreweae (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt. and P. thomii Harv.) with racemose inflorescences bearing up to 9 triplets of pedicellate flowers on a peduncle equal to or twice longer than the subtending leaf. This distinctive species is separated from these allied species by the combination of its decumbent habit, thick basal rough woody stems that hug the ground, new terete seasonal shoots commonly black when young with bright yellow pustular glands, oblong inflorescences twice the length of the leaves, white or pale mauve flowers with a purple patch on the upper tip of the keel petals, calyx densely glandular and covered with white patent hairs, calyx teeth blackish, carinal tooth broader and longer than the rest, large white or pale mauve flowers with a purple patch on the upper tip of the keel petals and ovary finely pubescent with forward sloping style.

Figure 6. 

Psoralea lancifolia. A. Habit and flowering plant. B. Habit and sterile plant. C. Leaves on sterile shoots. D. Inflorescence with pale mauve flowers. E. Prostrate woody stems. Photographs from iNaturalist: A: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100630629, Brian du Preez; B, C: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73204754, Charles Stirton; D: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99517660, user name Linkie; E: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73204755, Charles Stirton.

Small, decumbent, sparsely leaved suffrutex up to 0.2 m tall; resprouting after fires. Lignotuber present, rough, and looks like knotted twisted rope. Stems arising from a short, thickened trunk, up to seven, 90–150 mm long, occasionally branched in one of the lower axils, basal leaves smallest, densely pustulate. Leaves unifoliolate, petiolate, 25–36 × 6–9(–10) mm, elliptic, glabrous, cuspidate, mucro straight, apex acute, base cuneate, densely black-punctate when dried, margin glandular, younger leaves glabrous, midrib prominent below, secondary veins on both surfaces raised but less prominent; rachis absent; petiole 2 mm long; petiolule 1 mm long. Stipules 3–5 × 0.5–2 mm, longer than petioles; glabrous, subulate, acuminate, ribbed, glandular. Inflorescences axillary, 1–2 in upper axils, terminating short seasonal shoots, oblong, 25–35 mm long, comprised of 5–9 triplets of flowers with 2–4 mm long pedicels, each set subtended by a flabellate to broadly ovate-oblong, gland-dotted hairy bract, bract caducous; peduncle 25– 35 mm long, about twice the length of the subtending leaf, densely covered in 0.2 mm high warts. Flowers white or pale mauve, 8–10 mm long, each subtended by a narrowly lanceolate to linear, 3 mm long, caducous bract. Calyx teeth longer than the 2–3 mm long tube, unequal, acute; carinal tooth broadest, 10–11 × 2–2.5 mm, dark green, rest of calyx pale yellowish green; vexillary lobes falcate, same length as the lateral lobes, fused for 1–3 their length above the tube, outer face densely covered in 1.5–2 mm long white patent hairs and many small glands, glabrous on inner face. Standard petals 13 × 8–9 mm, obovate, but oblong when reflexed; white to pale mauve, auriculate, claw 2 mm long, narrowed. Wing petals 10–12 × 3–4 mm, claw 3 mm long, cultrate, upcurving relative to keel, auriculate, longer than and very lightly fused to keel petals; sculpturing upper right central, sometimes upper distal, bottom row intracostal, upper two rows transcostal, each row comprised of up to 25 transverse lamellae. Keel petals 9 × 2.5–3 mm, claw 4 mm long, purple-tipped. Androecium 8 mm long, vexillary stamen free; fenestrate; anthers equal, 0.3 mm long. Pistil 8 mm long; ovary 1.8–2 mm long, tomentose, stipe 1 mm long and glabrous; height of curvature of style 2.5–2.8 mm, thickened before flexure; style forward sloping, sparsely hairy up to entasis; stigma slightly penicillate. Fruits and seeds unknown.

Psoralea lancifolia grows on somewhat clayey stony slopes at the ecotone of sandstone and shale substrates in mesic mountain fynbos at 100–1135 m a.s.l. with a northerly or north-westerly aspect on silcrete–shale substrate in well-drained loamy soil. It occupies the Overberg Sandstone Fynbos vegetation type (FFs12; Mucina and Rutherford 2006). It is endemic to the northern foothills of Shaw’s Mountain and Karwyderskraal (Fig. 2).

It flowers from early November to December and appears to flower from new shoots in only the first year post-fire. Plants will persist above ground for many years. Despite prolific flowering after fires it rarely sets seeds.

The specific epithet lancifolia is a Latin word derived from the Latin words “lancea” (“lance, spear”) and “folium” (“leaf”) meaning spear-shaped leaves and alludes to the shape of the leaves. It is also meant to retain the meaning of the original name (i.e. narrow-leaved) which is being replaced.

After three attempts to trace the original locality of Miss Barker’s and Miss Esterhuysen’s first collections of this species, the first author was fortunate in 1986, in the company of Dr Ion Williams (1912–2001), to rediscover it some 5 km away from the Shaw’s Mountain Pass. The new population numbered about 45 plants and was part of a remnant pocket of undisturbed vegetation. Subsequent surveys by the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) in 2009 discovered another larger colony near the municipal depot in an adjoining property to the type locality. Fortunately, a new population has been found at Karwyderskraal, west of Caledon Mountain on a small rocky outcrop of uncultivated land but which is threatened by agricultural expansion. The two populations are at the two ends of the Babilonstoring Nature Reserve, so it might also occur in remnant patches between them which would be better protected and should be explored. The Shaw’s Mountain Pass locality is now heavily infested with pines and the area is degrading. Raimondo et al. (2009) assessed this species as Critically Endangered: CR B1ab(iii,v); C2a(i), but incorrectly cited as Esterhuysen 11381 (K) instead of the type Stirton 11381 (K). The species has an EOO of 448 km² and AOO of 16 km², both classifying it as Endangered. It is collected from three locations. This species is therefore assessed as Endangered: EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) (IUCN 2012).

SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province: 3419 (Caledon) • Shaw’s Mt (–AD); 1 Dec. 1951; Barker 7622; NBG • ibid.; 1 Dec. 1951; Esterhuysen 19281; BOL • near the Old Road Works Department camping site, between Drievlei and Morning view farms (–AD); 13 Jan.1986; Stirton 11100; K, NBG • ibid.; 3 Sep. 2008; Dludlu & Stirton 12; BOL • ibid.; 1 Feb. 2011; Stirton, Muasya & Chimphango 13147; BOL • Steenboksberg, north of Shaw’s Pass, Caledon (–AD); 13 Nov. 2010; Euston-Brown 1077; NBG.

SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province: 3118 (Van Rhynsdorp) • 14.8 km NE of Lamberts Bay (–CB); 7 Jul. 1968; Acocks 19782; holotype: PRE [PRE0430600-0]; isotype: K [K000392552].

Psoralea psammophila is closest to P. argentea Thunb. Both have white flowers and silvery digitately trifoliolate and petiolate leaves. Psoralea psammophila differs in its sprawling to virgate habit up to 1 m tall with greyish brown finely fissured branches with sparse white lenticels (P. argentea a slender woody shrublet with reddish brown branches and flattened pustules); terminal leaflet (10–)13–16(–22) × 6–9 mm (P. argentea 7–9(–10) × 5–6 mm); stipules sericeous, narrowly triangular, densely glandular (P. argentea densely hairy, subulate, glandular at base); inflorescences axillary in upper axils of short shoots, pseudo-capitate, 15–25 mm long, comprised of 6–7 triplets of flowers borne on short 1 mm long pedicels (P. argentea arising from the terminal axil of a 5–12 cm long shoot comprised of 3–4 triplets borne of 1.0–1.5 pedicels); subtending bract of the flower triplets obovate with an acute apex (P. argentea the subtending bract broadly ovate and acuminate); flowers 8–10 mm long (P. argentea flowers 7.0–7.5 mm long); calyx teeth as long as the tube, triangular, hoary (P. argentea calyx teeth shorter than the tube, falcate, sericeous).

Figure 7. 

Psoralea psammophila. A. Flowering stem. B. Terminal leaflet. C. Apex of terminal leaflet. D. Side view of flower. E. Standard petal. F. Wing petal. G. Keel petal. H. Pistil. I. Upper part of androecial sheath split to expose staminal arrangement. J. Calyx opened out, inner face. K. Triplet bract. Drawn by Angela Beaumont from Acocks 19782 (PRE).

Sprawling to virgate shrublet up to 1 m tall. Stems much branched towards the base; branches greyish brown, finely fissured and sparsely covered in white lenticels; young twigs and flowering shoots pustulate and hoary. Leaves digitately trifoliolate, petiolate. Leaflets unequal, terminal leaflet (10–)13–16(–22) × 6–9 mm, obovate, hoary; scarcely mucronate, mucro patent, apex rounded to emarginate, base cuneate; laterals smaller than the terminal leaflet, symmetrical; petiole 3 mm long, petiolule < 1 mm long. Stipules 1.5–3 mm long, narrowly triangular, densely glandular, straight, apex acute; glabrous inside, sericeous outside, persistent. Inflorescences axillary in terminal axils of short shoots, pseudocapitate, 15–25 mm long, comprised of 6–7 triplets of flowers borne on short 1 mm long pedicels; each set subtended by a single persistent short 1–2 mm long obovate bract with acute apex; peduncle 5–15 mm long, exceeding the subtending leaf. Flowers 8–10 mm long, white, ebracteate. Calyx teeth as long as the 3 mm long tube, equal, triangular; lobes 6 × 1.0–1.5 mm, vexillary lobes fused up to two-thirds their lengths; hoary, scarcely to sparsely gland-dotted. Standard petals 8–9 × 6.0–7.0 mm, claw 2 mm long; broadly elliptic, distinctly auriculate, apex emarginate. Wing petals 7–8 × 2.0–2.5 mm, longer than keel petal, claw 3 mm long, distinctly auriculate, sculpturing upper basal and upper central, more pronounced in the upper right central region, transcostal, lamellate, up to 35 curving lamellae in a single row. Keel petals 6–7 × 2.5 mm; claw 3 mm long. Androecium 7–8 mm long, vexillary stamen free. Pistil 7–8 mm long; ovary 2.5–3.0 mm long, pubescent, glandular, sessile; height of curvature 2 mm, style thickened maximally just before flexure, stigma penicillate. Fruits and seeds unknown.

Psoralea psammophila is restricted to the region between Vredendal and Lutzville to Lamberts Bay (Fig. 2). It occurs in West Coast Sandveld (Veld Type 34; Acocks 1975) and more precisely in the critical endangered Klawer Sandy Shrubland vegetation type (SKs13; Mucina and Rutherford 2006; Government Gazette 2022). It occurs between 80–120 m a.s.l. and prefers calcareous sandy soils.

Flowering between August and October.

The specific epithet psammophilus is derived from the Ancient Greek words ψάμμος (psámmos, “sand”) and φίλος (phílos, “dear, beloved”) and is generally translated as sand loving and refers to the fact that this species prefers and thrives in sandy soils.

Psoralea psammophila was first collected in 1958 by Acocks and since then only two other collections have been made. However, it has not been recorded since it was last seen in 1981, despite regular collecting expeditions to the area, when it was assessed as a rare and localized species (EOO of 57 km², classifying it as Critically Endangered, and an AOO of 12 km², classifying it as Endangered). No photos are known of this species, and it is only known from Van Rhynsdorp. Given the expansion of agricultural lands for crop cultivation there is certainly ongoing habitat loss. The species is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered: CR B1ab(iii,iv) (IUCN 2012).

SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province: 3118 (Van Rhynsdorp) • 10.5 km WNW of Vredendal (–CB); 7 Aug. 1968; Acocks 24082; PRE, STE • 17.8 km from Vredendal to Lutzville (–CB); 4 Dec. 1981; Stirton 10131; K, NBG, PRE, STE.