A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF MAUROCENIA (CELASTRACEAE), A WESTERN CAPE MONOTYPIC ENDEMIC

A taxonomic account is given of the monotypic genus Maurocenia Mill. M aurocenia frangula Mill. has a restricted range and is endemic to the Cape Peninsula and the West Coast National Park, Western Cape. Mauroce nia frangularia (L.) Mill., the species name and author citation widel y used in the past, is incorrect. It is characterized by, among others , pendulous ovules and gynodioecy, rare states in the Celastraceae. Ma urocenia is apparently most closely related to the southern African ge nus Lauridia Eckl. & Zeyh.