A taxonomic revision of the Alepidea setifera group (Apiaceae, Apioideae), the description of a new species, A. inflexa, and the reinstatement of A. jenkinsii

A taxonomic revision of the Alepidea setifera group is presented. Three species are recognised, one of which A. inflexa S.-L. Hutchinson & Magee is described as new. Two previously recognised taxa A. reticulata and A. basinuda var. basinuda were found to be insufficiently distinct from A. setifera and are reduced into synonymy. Alepidea basinuda var. subnuda is considered here to represent a distinct species. On further examination this taxon was found to match the type material of Alepidea jenkinsii, previously regarded as a synonym for A. longifolia subsp. comosa. As a result, A. jenkinsii is reinstated as the earliest available name for A. basinuda var. subnuda at species level. The A. setifera group is distinguished by a unique combination of characters; (i) cordate to rounded leaf bases (ii) thin, non-swollen roots (distinguishing it from the A. longifolia group) (iii) spreading marginal hairs terminating the basal leaf teeth, (iv) peduncular bracts decreasing gradually in size along the synflorescence and (v) the usually hispidulous synflorescence (glabrous in A. jenkinsii). A key to the species, updated nomenclature, typifications, complete descriptions, illustrations and the known geographical distributions for all three species are presented.