Underestimated regional species diversity in the Cape Floristic Region revealed by phylogenetic analysis of the Erica abietina/E. viscaria clade (Ericaceae)

Phylogenetic analysis of the Erica abietina/E. viscaria clade (Ericaceae) reveals that the seven currently recognized subspecies of E. abietina represent at least three distinct, endemic lineages with non-overlapping distributions in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). This challenges current taxonomic classifications and underscores the underestimated regional species diversity within this globally significant floral kingdom. The study, using nuclear ribosomal and plastid DNA sequences, resurrects the name E. grandiflora for two subspecies and introduces a new species, E. situshiemalis, further highlighting the complex endemism of Cape Erica. These findings add to the known endemic species in Table Mountain National Park.

Pirie, M. D., Oliver, E. G. H., Gehrke, B., Heringer, L., Mugrabi de Kuppler, A., Le Maitre, N. C., & Bellstedt, D. U. (2017). Underestimated regional species diversity in the Cape Floristic Region revealed by phylogenetic analysis of the Erica abietina/E. viscaria clade (Ericaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 184(2), 185–203. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/box021