Afroqueta capensis is the only member of Afroqueta, a monotypic genus of flowering plant.[1] It is colloquially called Haarbossie.[2]

Haarbossie
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Passifloraceae
Subfamily: Turneroideae
Genus: Afroqueta
Thulin & Razafim.
Species:
A. capensis
Binomial name
Afroqueta capensis
(Harv.) Thulin & Razafim
Synonyms
  • Piriqueta capensis (Harv.) Urb
  • Turnera capensis Harv.

Description

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Morphology

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Afroqueta capensis is a perennial subshrub.[1] It has thick and woody roots, 4 - 6 inch long stems, and 1-1.5 inch long leaves.[3] Older stems appear purple in color.[4] It can be distinguished from other members of the Turneroideae by its 10 veined nearly free calyx tubes and its corona which is reduced to tufts of hairs around the base of the perianth.[5]

Its flowers are described as heterostylous or homostylous and yellow. [6][7]

Taxonomy

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In 1862, W.H.Harvey would make the initial description of A. capensis, classifying it as Turnera capensis.[3] In 1883, I. Urban would reclassify A. capensis on the basis of its "leaf shape, hairiness," and locality.[4]

Phylogenetic analysis of Turneroideae suggested A. capensis was closer related to other African members than to Turnera or Piriqueta.[6]

Distribution

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A. capensis is native to the tropical southern regions of Zimbabwe to KwaZulu-Natal.[8]

Herbarium samples originate from Aapjes River.[4]

Conservation status

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As of 2015, A. capensis conservation status is "least concern" as it is considered widespread and a very common plant.[2]

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Images of A. capensis are hosted on the Waterberg Bioquest website.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Afroqueta Thulin & Razafim. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  3. ^ a b Harvey, William H.; Harvey, William H.; Sonder, Otto Wilhelm; Thiselton-Dyer, William T. (1859). Flora capensis :being a systematic description of the plants of the Cape colony, Caffraria, & Port Natal (and neighbouring territories). Kent, etc: L. Reeve. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.821.
  4. ^ a b c Urban, Ign (1883). "Monographie der Familie der Turneraceen". Jahrbuch des Königlichen Botanischen Gartens und des Botanischen Museums zu Berlin. 2 (78) – via BHL.
  5. ^ Snow, Neil (2015-02-01). "The Flowering Plants Handbook, A Practical Guide to Families and Genera of the World. (eBook edition)". Systematic Botany. 40 (1): 366–366. doi:10.1600/036364415x686648. ISSN 0363-6445.
  6. ^ a b Thulin, Mats; Razafimandimbison, Sylvain G.; Chafe, Paul; Heidari, Nahid; Kool, Anneleen; Shore, Joel S. (2012). "Phylogeny of the Turneraceae clade (Passifloraceae s.l.): Trans-Atlantic disjunctions and two new genera in Africa". Taxon. 61 (2): 308–323. doi:10.1002/tax.612003.
  7. ^ Shore, Joel S.; Arbo, Maria M.; Fernández, Aveliano (2006). "Breeding system variation, genetics and evolution in the Turneraceae". New Phytologist. 171 (3): 539–551. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01807.x. hdl:11336/41821. ISSN 0028-646X.
  8. ^ "Afroqueta capensis (Harv.) Thulin & Razafim. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  9. ^ "Afroqueta capensis". www.waterberg-bioquest.co.za. Retrieved 2023-08-06.