A NEW SPECIES OF CYPHOSTEMMA (VITACEAE) FROM SOUTH-AFRICA

Cyphostemma rubroglandulosum Retief & Van Wyk, a new species from Sout h Africa, is described, illustrated and compared with other members of the genus in southern Africa. It is a climbing, succulent herb with c onspicuous, red, multicellular, glandular hairs on the stems, leaves a nd inflorescences. The combination of glandular hairs, 9-foliolate lea ves, and fruits with scattered, multicellular hairs distinguishes it f rom all other members of the genus in southern Africa. Pollen grains a re 3-zonocolporate with a reticulate tectum; the closely spaced pores differ in shape and size. Associated with forest, C. rubroglandulosum is endemic to the Pondoland Centre, an acknowledged centre of endemism associated with Natal Group Sandstone (Msikaba Formation) in southern KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the adjacent Eastern Cape Province.