CERATOCARYUM PULCHRUM, A NEW RESTIOID FROM THE BREDASDORP PLAINS

Ceratocaryum pulchrum Linder, a new species of Restionaceae from the W estern Caps region, is described. It is syntopic with C. argenteum, an d a phylogenetic analysis of the genus is performed to show that C. ar genteum is the sister-species of the new C. pulchrum. The analysis sho ws that in the other major clade in the genus the species do not co-oc cur, but are separated on altitudinal and climatic gradients. Although the mode of speciation of C. pulchrum is obscure, the coexistence of C. pulchrum and its sister C. argenteum may be mediated by different f lowering times and different fire-survival modes.