Oberholzeria (Fabaceae subfam. Faboideae), a new monotypic legume genus from Namibia

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 3; p. e0122080
• Main Authors: Swanepoel, Wessel, le Roux, M Marianne, Wojciechowski, Martin F, van Wyk, Abraham E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 27.03.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Anthers; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnostic systems; DNA; DNA, Plant - analysis; Endemism; Evolution, Molecular; Fabaceae; Fabaceae - anatomy & histology; Fabaceae - classification; Fabaceae - genetics; Faboideae; Flowers - anatomy & histology; Genetic testing; Leaves; Legumes; Leguminosae; MatK gene; Molecular chains; Morphology; Namibia; New genera; New species; Papilionoideae; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Physical characteristics; Plant Leaves - anatomy & histology; Plant sciences; Rare species; Software; Stamens; Namibia; South Africa; United States > US; Arizona; Africa
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122080

Oberholzeria etendekaensis, a succulent biennial or short-lived perennial shrublet is described as a new species, and a new monotypic genus. Discovered in 2012, it is a rare species known only from a single locality in the Kaokoveld Centre of Plant Endemism, north-western Namibia. Phylogenetic analyses of molecular sequence data from the plastid matK gene resolves Oberholzeria as the sister group to the Genisteae clade while data from the nuclear rDNA ITS region showed that it is sister to a clade comprising both the Crotalarieae and Genisteae clades. Morphological characters diagnostic of the new genus include: 1) succulent stems with woody remains; 2) pinnately trifoliolate, fleshy leaves; 3) monadelphous stamens in a sheath that is fused above; 4) dimorphic anthers with five long, basifixed anthers alternating with five short, dorsifixed anthers, and 5) pendent, membranous, one-seeded, laterally flattened, slightly inflated but indehiscent fruits.