Six new species and one new subspecies of <i>Erica</i> (Ericaceae) from Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Two new species and one new subspecies belonging in §Ceramia of the genus Erica L. are described from the western half of the province—E. cavartica known from a single collection growing in a cave in the Cederberg. E. amalophylla con­fined to a shaded rocky overhang and known only from a single collection in the Porterville Mountains and E. cymosa subsp. grandiflora occurring in the mountains between Ceres and Worcester. Four new species are described from mountains in the Little Karoo area—E. schelpeorum occurring widespread mostly in dry watercourses in arid vegetation at low altitudes, E. lithophila found only in dry rock crevices at high altitude in the eastern Swartberg and Kammanassie Mountains, E. umbratica confined to shaded rocky habitats and known only from a few. very localized small populations at low altitude in Meiringspoort, and E. annalis restricted to the arid habitats on lower northern slopes of Kammanassie Mountains. Each is provided with a detailed drawing and a distribution map.

Keywords

• <i>Erica</i> L.. new species. South Africa
• taxonomy. Western Cape