Revision of Indigofera L. sect. Brachypodae subsect. Brachypodae (Fabaceae: Indigofereae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region

Abstract

Indigofera sect. Brachypodae DC. is a large group of approximately 40 species within the Cape Clade, mostly restricted to the Core Cape Region (CCR), with only two species extending eastwards to Grahamstown. This section has been subdivided into four subsections based primarily on morphological characters. Subsect. Brachypodae is the most diverse of the four subsections and is characterised by having sclerophyllous leaves, with a distinctly sunken midvein and (usually) revolute leaf margins. This group occurs almost exclusively within Fynbos, with a few species growing in coastal Strandveld vegetation. Revised here, nineteen species are recognized in this subsection, eleven of which are new to science. Additionally, a new infraspecific combination is created for I. pinnata following nomenclatural and identification confusion. All species are formally described here, with photographic plates of each and illustrations of corollas and calyces provided. Many of the new species were either unrecognised at the time of the last revision in Flora Capensis 2, or have only been discovered recently. Distribution maps and information regarding habitat preference, phenology, and ecology and recommended IUCN red list status of each species are also provided.