Compilation
Helichrysum acanthophorum

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Helichrysum acanthophorum R.E.Fr. [family ASTERACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Helichrysum citrispinum Delile [family ASTERACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet,
Related name
  • Helichrysum acanthophorum
  • Helichrysum citrispinum

Flora

Entry for HELICHRYSUM citrispinum (Schweinf.) Hedberg var. hoehnelii [family COMPOSITAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 315, (2002) Author: H.J. BEENTJE
Names
HELICHRYSUM citrispinum (Schweinf.) Hedberg var. hoehnelii [family COMPOSITAE], A.V.P.: 206, 342 (1957). Type: Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, Teleki Exp. 115 (B†, holo.) & idem, Hedberg 1194 (UPS, neo., EA, K!, S, isoneo., chosen by Hedberg)
HELICHRYSUM hoehnelii Schweinf. [family COMPOSITAE], in L. Höhn., Rudolph–Stephanie-See: 862 (1892); Moeser in E.J. 44: 325 (1910); T.T.C.L.: 151 (1949)
HELICHRYSUM armatum Mattf. [family COMPOSITAE], in E.J. 59, Beibl. 133: 14 (1924). Type: Uganda, Elgon, Dummer 3317 (B†, holo., UPS, iso.). The K sheet of this number has no spines and cannot be regarded as an isotype!
HELICHRYSUM acanthophorum R.E. Fr. [family COMPOSITAE], in Acta Horti Berg. 9: 132 (1928). Type: Kenya, Mt Kenya, W slope, Fries & Fries 1382 (UPS, holo., BR, K!, S, iso.)
HELICHRYSUM aberdaricum R.E. Fr. [family COMPOSITAE], in Acta Horti Berg. 9: 133 (1928). Type: Kenya, Nyandarua/Aberdare Mts, E slope of Ol Doinyo Lesatima [Sattima], Fries & Fries 2585 (UPS, holo., K!, iso.)
HELICHRYSUM citrispinum (Mattf.) Hedberg var. armatum [family COMPOSITAE], A.V.P.: 205, 342 (1957), nov.
HELICHRYSUM citrispinum (R.E. Fr.) Hedberg var. aberdaricum [family COMPOSITAE], A.V.P.: 205, 342 (1957), nov.
Information
Leaves 3–6 mm long. 
Range
DISTR. U 3; K 3–5; T 2
Altitude range
3200–5100 m
Distribution
UGANDA Mbale District Elgon, June 1949, Osmaston 3996a! & Oct. 1961, F. Rose 10130! & Jackson summit, Oct. 1970, Katende 720!KENYA Trans-Nzoia District Elgon, Mar. 1948, Hedberg 262!;TANZANIA Arusha District NW rim of Meru crater, Feb. 1972, Pócs 6525a!;KENYA Laikipia District Nyandarua/ Aberdares, Ol Doinyo Lesatima [Sattima], Feb. 1985, Townsend 2402!KENYA N Nyeri District Mt Kenya, W slope, Oct. 1967, Hedberg 4289!TANZANIA Moshi District Kilimanjaro, Shira Plateau, Feb. 1969, Richards 23979! & Lent Valley near Moi's hut, Sep. 1993, Grimshaw 93/626!
Distribution (external)
; Ethiopia
Notes
Hedberg reduced several species to varietal level, and commented on the overlap in characters. He states “the first of these varieties (citrispinum) is the most distinct, the others seem to merge into each other without any sharp boundaries”. I agree, and I feel I have to go even further and reduce all East African material from three varieties to a single variety. There seem to be no solid characters: though material from Mt Kenya is always spiny, and from the Nyandarua/Aberdares or Meru never, on Elgon and Kilimanjaro spiny and spineless forms co-occur. The other distinguishing character, leaf arrangement, is even more plastic: leaves in tight clusters are more prevalent on Elgon, spreading leaves on Mt Kenya, and appressed leaves on Kilimanjaro, but on nearly all of these mountains all forms may occur. I have been unable to find ecological factors coinciding with any of these characters, but further field work might turn up some.The other variety, var. citrispinum, occurs in Ethiopia. It is distinct in having longer leaves (7–10 mm long), but the other character mentioned by Hedberg does not hold true: I have seen many pilose achenes from East Africa.

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