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Introduction [Figure Omitted - Please see PDF.]
The earliest herbarium collection of Kniphofia pauciflora Baker that we have been able to locate is that made by Johann Wahlberg in 1841 in KwaZulu-Natal Province (previously Natal), South Africa and recorded as occurring between ‘Port Natal and Pieter. Mauritzburg’ (Wahlberg s.n.). The species was next collected by John Sanderson on 10 September 1858 in ‘Port Natal, Clairmont flat’ (Sanderson 49) and again in 1860 without a precise locality in ‘Natal’ (Sanderson 416). In October 1883, John Medley Wood made a collection in Clairmont (Wood 1096). Based on the specimens collected in 1860 (Sanderson 416) and 1883 (Wood 1096), Baker (1885) named and described the species. Wood made a further collection in 1892, again in Clairmont (Wood 4662). In August of the following year, Friedrich Schlechter collected the species near Clairmont, spelt as ‘Claremont’ on his label (Schlechter 3160). Using Schlechter’s specimen, Baker (1904) described the new species Kniphofia pedicellata Baker. Berger (1908), subsequently reduced K. pedicellata to a synonym of K. pauciflora.
The two collections (Sanderson 416 and Wood 1096) cited by Baker (1885, 1896) were treated by Codd (1968, 2005) as syntypes. The Wahlberg s.n. and Sanderson 49 specimens were overlooked by Baker (1885, 1896) and Berger (1908). The Wahlberg s.n. specimen was determined by Codd in August 1961 and included in the citation of specimens in his treatment of Kniphofia Moench (Codd 1968).
As part of our current taxonomic research on Kniphofia species in southern Africa that are under threat and requiring conservation, we traced earlier known localities for species from herbarium records. For K. pauciflora, minor problems amongst the syntypes and duplicates were noted and it was found to be the only member of the genus not previously typified. We found it necessary to lectotypify the species to specify a single specimen and to clarify the status of the duplicates. In this note, we also provide an account of the last remaining population of K. pauciflora at the Clairwood Racecourse, Durban, South Africa.
Research method and design [Figure Omitted - Please see PDF.]
A thorough review of the literature pertaining to this species was...