Abstract
M.Sc. (Botany)
A Taxonomic study of the genus Heteromorpha Cham. & Schlechtd. (Apiaceae) The species delimitation in Heteromorpha Cham. & Schlechtd. has until now been unsatisfactory, and the relationship and placement unclear for several plants which have variously been referred to either H. arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schlechtd. or H. trifoliata (Wendl.) Eckl. & Zeyh. The present revision has resulted in the recognition of seven species (including seven varieties) across the African mainland from the south-western Cape to the Yemen Arab Republic, and westwards to Nigeria. Eight species from Madagascar are excluded. The name H. stenophylla Welw. ex Schinz is reinstated and H. transvaalensis Schlechter & H. Wolff is considered a variety of the latter. A new species, H. occidentalis Winter, is described. A narrower view of H. arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schlechtd. than that of recent authors is applied, and the species is subdivided into five varieties to accommodate the diversity. Two of these are described for the first time, namely var. frutescens Winter and var. montana Winter. H. stolzii H. Wolff is added to the synonymy of H. involucrata Conr., and the circumscription is broadened to accommodate other central African forms of the species. Data are analyzed cladistically and the supposed phylogeny is presented in the form of a cladogram. Keys to the recognized species and varieties respectively, as well as the known geographical distribution for each of the taxa, are presented.