Crassothonna agaatbergensis

Crassothonna agaatbergensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Crassothonna
Species:
C. agaatbergensis
Binomial name
Crassothonna agaatbergensis

Crassothonna agaatbergensis is a species of the genus Crassothonna in the family Asteraceae, and is found only in the northern part of the Skeleton Coast (Namib Desert) in the Kaokoveld Centre of Endemism, northwestern Namibia.

Description

This species is described as a shrublet up to 150 mm high with cylindrical or clavate leaves 10–70 mm long and 2–7 mm in diameter. Yellow flowers on a long stalk. Bulbous, partially buried caudex.

Taxonomy

It was described by Swanepoel in 2019[1] as a new species during work done as part of the SCIONA project (Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area of Angola and Namibia).[2] Morphometrically, this new species appears to be closely related to Crassothonna clavifolia and Crassothonna protecta.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows on basalt at the peak of Agaatberg Mountain. Only known from this single location in the Skeleton Coast National Park. Based on IUCN Red List categories and criteria, a conservation assessment of Endangered (EN D) was recommended for the new species by Swanepoel and De Cauwer.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Swanepoel, Wessel; Cauwer, Vera De (2019-12-23). "Crassothonna agaatbergensis (Asteraceae), a new species from the Skeleton Coast, Namibia". Phytotaxa. 427 (3): 209–215. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.427.3.4. ISSN 1179-3163.
  2. ^ "Skeleton Coast | SCIONA Project". sciona.nust.na. Retrieved 2021-04-30.