Moraea orthrosantha (Iridaceae: Irideae), a new species from Namaqualand, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Recent fieldwork in Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, indicated the existence of an undescribed member of Moraea subgenus (subg.) Umbellatae Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, a small, early branching clade of the genus.
Objectives: To describe the new species of Moraea subg. Umbellatae.
Method: Recent collections were compared with existing material and published literature.
Results: Moraea orthrosantha is described as a new species, differing from Moraea margaretae in the well-developed nodes between the cauline leaves. Two earlier collections of the species were misidentified as M. margaretae.
Conclusion: The new species increases our understanding of the diversity of Moraea in southern Africa and assists in conservation assessments of both M. margaretae and M. orthrosantha.