A second species in Lachenalia subgen. Brachyscypha (Hyacinthaceae): Lachenalia barkeriana sp. nov. from southern Little Namaqualand

Lachenalia barkeriana U. Muller-Doblies et al., which is closely allied to L. pusilla Jacq., is described. It differs from the latter mainly in vegetative habit. In bulb morphology both species share two peculiarities: gamophylly and a very unusual phyllotaxy with an angular divergence of less than 90° instead of an angle of between 180° and 120° as in nearly all other plants. Furthermore both species are myrmecochorous. They are endemic in the south-western region of southern Africa, L. barkeriana being restricted to the area bounded by Vanrhynsdorp, Loeriesfontein and Kliprand and L. pusilla more widespread to the south from Vanrhynsdorp to Swellendam. The generic differences between Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray and Polyxena Kunth are discussed. Lachenalia barkeriana U. Muller-Doblies et al. wat aan L. pusilla Jacq. naverwant is, word beskryf. Dit verskil van laasgenoemde hoofsaaklik in vegetatiewe groeiwyse. Ten opsigte van bolmorfologie vertoon beide spesies twee eienaardighede: gamofilie en ’n baie ongewone blaarstand met ’n hoekige divergensie van minder as 90° in plaas van ’n hoek van tussen 180° en 120° soos in meeste ander plante. Verder is saad van beide spesies mierverspreid. Hulle is endemies tot die suidwestelike gebied van Suider-Afrika; L. barkeriana synde beperk tot ’n gebied begrens deur Vanrhynsdorp, Loeriesfontein en Kliprand en L. pusilla synde meer wydverspreid na die suide vanaf Vanrhynsdorp na Swellendam. Die generiese verskille tussen Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray en Polyxena Kunth word bespreek.