Two new Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) species, including 5 varieties, from the Richtersveld of South Africa

Researchers have identified two new Oxalis species and five varieties within the UNESCO-listed Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, South Africa. The newly described species, Oxalis canaliculata and O. magnifolia, exhibit distinct morphological traits that set them apart from other southern African Oxalis species. Among these, O. canaliculata includes two unique varieties: var. trifoliolata, known from a single population, and var. graniticola, restricted to granite outcrops. Similarly, O. magnifolia var. reduplicata is confined to two nearby populations. The study combines morphological analysis with preliminary phylogenetic data from the nuclear ITS region to establish taxonomic distinctions. These findings contribute to the understanding of Oxalis biodiversity in the Richtersveld, highlighting the importance of this globally recognized landscape for conservation and scientific research.

L. DREYER, L., ROETS, F., & C. OBERLANDER, K. (2017). Two new Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) species, including 5 varieties, from the Richtersveld of South Africa. Phytotaxa, 314(2). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.314.2.4