A revision of the Gibbaeinae (Mesembryanthemaceae)

• Main Author: Glen, Hugh Francis
• Other Authors: Schelpe, E A C L E
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2016
• Subjects: Botany
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17729

Of the fourteen species of Gibbaeum recognised in this work, one, G. austricolum is new. A new combination, G. pubescens (Lettsom ex Haw.) N.E.Br. subsp. shandii (N.E.Br.) Glen, is made at the subspecific level. Three monospecific genera, Antegibbaeum, Didymaotus and Muiria, and two intergeneric hybrids, X Muiriogibbaeum and X Gibbaeophyllum, the latter here described for the first time, are recognised. A field study was made over the entire distribution range of the subtribe. Further studies were made of the vegetative, flower and fruit morphology, cuticular structure and seed and pollen morphology of the group. A numerical-taxonomic treatment of date gathered from these studies was made. Keys for field and herbarium use, as well as a polyclave, are provided. Various features of the cytology, habitat preferences, conservation status and possible evolution of the group are noted.