Notes

The Pentanisia prunelloides complex is one of the most variable in existence. A perusal of several hundred specimens shows such extremes that it is difficult to believe at first, that the material does not represent at least five species. There is, however, one constant factor—the fruit is identical in all forms and much weight has been attached to this fact. All the variation may be reduced to variation in four characters namely—(a) ratio of length to breadth of leaves (b) nature of the inflorescence (c) hairyness, and (d) habit The latter character does not seem to be correlated to the others and both narrow-and wide-leaved forms can be prostrate. The leaves vary from orbicular to linear and glabrous to hirsute. Hairyness shows a definite tendency to be associated with broad leaves. The inflorescence varies from a compact hemispherical head on a relatively stout hairy peduncle which does not elongate in fruit, to a cylindrical head or spicate inflorescence, which often becomes an elongated spike when fruiting. Elongated inflorescences are associated with narrow leaves but there are indefinite intermediates. Extremes are so distinct that the complex has been divided into two species, one with narrow usually glabrous or ciliate leaves and an elongated inflorescence, and another with broader often hairy leaves and a capitate inflorescence. Specimens with almost orbicular leaves are so distinctive that a subspecific name has been used for them. Between P. prunelloides and its subspecies latifolia every possible intermediate occurs and there are numerous intermediates between P. prunelloides and P. angustifolia. The two extreme forms often occur together in the same locality, e.g. at Sabie in S. Africa (Rogers 23741) where specimens with leaves 29 mm. long by 21 mm. broad, and others with leaves 77 by 2.5 mm. grow within a foot of each other.The correlation between length and breadth of leaves and hairyness is shown in fig. 29 of my original revision and at the ends of the range the correlation is quite good.

Notes

The Pentanisia prunelloides complex is one of the most variable in existence. A perusal of several hundred specimens shows such extremes that it is difficult to believe at first, that the material does not represent at least five species. There is, however, one constant factor—the fruit is identical in all forms and much weight has been attached to this fact. All the variation may be reduced to variation in four characters namely—(a) ratio of length to breadth of leaves (b) nature of the inflorescence (c) hairyness, and (d) habit The latter character does not seem to be correlated to the others and both narrow-and wide-leaved forms can be prostrate. The leaves vary from orbicular to linear and glabrous to hirsute. Hairyness shows a definite tendency to be associated with broad leaves. The inflorescence varies from a compact hemispherical head on a relatively stout hairy peduncle which does not elongate in fruit, to a cylindrical head or spicate inflorescence, which often becomes an elongated spike when fruiting. Elongated inflorescences are associated with narrow leaves but there are indefinite intermediates. Extremes are so distinct that the complex has been divided into two species, one with narrow usually glabrous or ciliate leaves and an elongated inflorescence, and another with broader often hairy leaves and a capitate inflorescence. Specimens with almost orbicular leaves are so distinctive that a subspecific name has been used for them. Between P. prunelloides and its subspecies latifolia every possible intermediate occurs and there are numerous intermediates between P. prunelloides and P. angustifolia. The two extreme forms often occur together in the same locality, e.g. at Sabie in S. Africa (Rogers 23741) where specimens with leaves 29 mm. long by 21 mm. broad, and others with leaves 77 by 2.5 mm. grow within a foot of each other.The correlation between length and breadth of leaves and hairyness is shown in fig. 29 of my original revision and at the ends of the range the correlation is quite good.

Notes

The Pentanisia prunelloides complex is one of the most variable in existence. A perusal of several hundred specimens shows such extremes that it is difficult to believe at first, that the material does not represent at least five species. There is, however, one constant factor—the fruit is identical in all forms and much weight has been attached to this fact. All the variation may be reduced to variation in four characters namely—(a) ratio of length to breadth of leaves (b) nature of the inflorescence (c) hairyness, and (d) habit The latter character does not seem to be correlated to the others and both narrow-and wide-leaved forms can be prostrate. The leaves vary from orbicular to linear and glabrous to hirsute. Hairyness shows a definite tendency to be associated with broad leaves. The inflorescence varies from a compact hemispherical head on a relatively stout hairy peduncle which does not elongate in fruit, to a cylindrical head or spicate inflorescence, which often becomes an elongated spike when fruiting. Elongated inflorescences are associated with narrow leaves but there are indefinite intermediates. Extremes are so distinct that the complex has been divided into two species, one with narrow usually glabrous or ciliate leaves and an elongated inflorescence, and another with broader often hairy leaves and a capitate inflorescence. Specimens with almost orbicular leaves are so distinctive that a subspecific name has been used for them. Between P. prunelloides and its subspecies latifolia every possible intermediate occurs and there are numerous intermediates between P. prunelloides and P. angustifolia. The two extreme forms often occur together in the same locality, e.g. at Sabie in S. Africa (Rogers 23741) where specimens with leaves 29 mm. long by 21 mm. broad, and others with leaves 77 by 2.5 mm. grow within a foot of each other.The correlation between length and breadth of leaves and hairyness is shown in fig. 29 of my original revision and at the ends of the range the correlation is quite good.