Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The previous revision of Zygophyllum L. by Van Huyssteen (1937) included all known species of the cosmopolitan genus Zygophyllum. The present study deals with the species of Zygophyllum occurring in the southern African region which includes Angola, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. The majority of Zygophyllum species occur in the arid and semi-arid, western parts as well as in the interior parts but some species do occur to the south of the area where milder climatic conditions are experienced. Zygophyllum species are typically described as shrubs or shrublets, rarely herbaceous annuals or biennials, with simple, sessile leaves or sessile, bifoliolate or petiolate, bifoliolate leaves of a succulent texture. Macromorphological as well as phytogeographical data were studied in order to delimit the taxa and to determine their relationships as well as their distributions. Various tables summarizing diagnostic characters of taxonomic importance as well as line drawings depicting the salient features of the species are given. The division of the genus Zygophyllum into two subgenera was investigated and this division is corroborated with additional evidence concerning floral, fruit and seed morphology. The absence or presence of an elaiosome on the seeds found in the two subgenera reflects on their different dispersal strategies. The structure of the morphologically different mucilage produced by the seeds of the two subgenera is touched on. The division of the subgenera Agrophyllum (Neck.) End!. and Zygophyllum, each into several sections, was investigated. Two sections, one from each subgenus, were transferred: the monotypic § Morgsana (Huysst.) Van Zyl to subgenus Zygophyllum; and the monotypic § Grandifolia Eng!. to subgenus Agrophyllum. The § Prismatica Van Zyl is newly described and the §Annua Eng!. is reinstated. seventeen new species are described, a few names sunk into synonymy and several name changes made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vorige hersiening van Zygophyllum L., deur Van Huyssteen (1937), het alle bekende spesies van die kosmopolitaanse genus Zygophyllum ingesluit. Die huidige studie handel slegs oor die Suider afrikaanse Zygophyllum-spesies wat in Angola, Namibië, Botswana en Suid-Afrika voorkom. Die meerderheid Zygophyllum spesies groei in ariede en semi-ariede dele aan die weskus asook in die binneland van die area maar sommige spesies groei ook in die suide van die gebied met 'n meer gematigde klimaat. Zygophyllum-spesies word beskryf as struike of halfstuike, is selde kruidagtige, een- of tweejariges en het gewoonlik eenvoudige, sittende blare of sittende verdeelde of gesteelde verdeelde, sukkulente blare. Makromorfologiese en geografiese data is bestudeer om die verskillende taxa af te baken, om verwantskappe tussen die onderskeie spesies vas te stel sowel as om die verspreiding vir elke takson aan te gee. Tabelle met die vernaamste taksonomies kenmerke asook lynsketse van die mees belangrike kenmerke van die verskillende species word verskaf. Die verdeling van Zygophyllum in twee subgenera is ondersoek en is, met behulp van bykomende blom-, vrug- en saadmorfologiese inligting, volkome regverdig bevind. Die aan- of afwesigheid van elaiosome op sade dui op verskillende saadverspreidings metodes. Die morfologies-verskillende slymlaag wat deur die saad van die twee subgenera produseer word, is kortliks beskryf. Die verdeling van die subgenera Agrophyllum en Zygophyllum in verskeie seksies is ondersoek. Die monotipiese subseksie Morgsana word na subgenus Zygophyllum en die monotipiese § Grandifolia na subgenus Agrophyllum verskuif. Die § Prismafica word as nuut beskryf en die § Annua word in hergebruik geneem. Sestien nuwe spesies word beskryf, enkele name word in sinonimie geplaas.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Systematics and Biodiversity Science))-- Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sequence data from the intron and the spacer of the trnL-F chloroplast DNA region were used to study the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Zygophyllum L. (Zygophylloideae: Zygophyllaceae) in the southern African region. The chloroplast DNA was extracted from both herbarium and silica-gel dried material. Closely related genera, i.e. Augea Thunb., Fagonia L. and Tetraena Maxim. within the subfamily Zygophylloideae and more distantly related genera Seetzenia R.Br. ex Decne and Tribulus L. were used as outgroups. Sequences revealed length variation mainly due to the presence of indels (insertions and deletions). Phylogenetic analysis using parsimony revealed two distinct lineages for southern African members of Zygophyllum, corresponding to the proposed subgeneric classification (Van Huysteen 1937; Van Zyl 2000). There is a strong monophyly support for the sections within the subgenus Agrophyllum (Neck.) Endl. However, the transference of the monotypic section Grandifolia Engl. from subgenus Zygophyllum to Agrophyllum is not confirmed, because material of Z. stapffii Schinz. was not available. Despite the morphological evidence for the subdivision of the subgenus Zygophyllum, the molecular data did not confirm the monophyly for its sections. This could be the result of biased sampling, since all the species used in the analyses, except Z. cordifolium L.f. and Z. morgsana L., belong to section Capensia Engl. The trnL region data support the transfer of the mono typic section Morgsana Huysst. from subgenus Agrophyllum to subgenus Zygophyllum. The molecular data also seem to have implications for the biogeography of Zygophyllum. The southern African Agrophyllum representatives are related to East African and Middle East Zygophyllum species, whereas the southern African subgenus Zygophyllum members are closely related to Australian Zygophyllum species. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die volgorde-data van die trnL-F chloroplas-DNA gebied is gebruik om die filogenetiese verwantskappe van die genus Zygophyllum L. (Zygophylloideae: Zygophyllaceae) in suider Afrika te bestudeer. Die chloroplas-DNA is geëkstraheer van beide herbaria en silica-gel gedroogde materiaal. Naverwante genera binne die subfamilie Zygophylloideae bv. Augea Thunb., Fagonia L. en Tetraena Maxim., sowel as verder verwante genera, soos Seetzenia R.Br. ex Decne en Tribulus L., was as buite-groepe gebruik. Die lengte-variasie in die volgorde-data kan toegeskryf word aan indels (insertions and deletions). Filogenetiese analise deur die gebruik van parsimonie het twee duidelike ontwikkelingslyne vir suider-Afrikaanse Zygophyllum taksa aangedui. Dit stem goed ooreen met die voorgestelde subgeneriese klassifikasiesisteem vir die genus (Van Huysteen1937; Van Zyl 2000). Daar is 'n sterk ondersteuning vir monofilie van die seksies binne die subgenus Agrophyllum (Neck.) Endl. Die oorplasing van die monotipiese seksie Grandifolia Engl. vanaf subgenus Zygophyllum na subgenus Agrophyllum is nie bevestig nie, want materiaal van Z. stapffii Schinz. was nie beskikbaar nie. Ten spyte van morfologiese bewyse vir die subdivisie van die subgenus Zygophyllum het die molekulêre data nie die monofilie van die seksies bevestig nie. Dit is moontlik as gevolg van eensydige data-insameling, aangesien al die spesies wat in die analise gebruik word (behalwe Z. cordifolium L.f. en Z. morgsana L.) aan die seksie Capensia Engl. behoort. Die trnL-gebied data ondersteun die oordra van die monotipiese seksie Morgsana Huysst. van die subgenus Agrophyllum na die subgenus Zygophyllum. Die molekulêre data bied ode inligting oor die biogeografie van Zygophyllum. Die suider-Afrikaanse Agrophyllum taksa is verwant aan Oos-Afrika en Midde-Oosterse Zygophyllum spesies, terwyl lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse subgenus Zygophyllum nouverwant is aan Zygophyllum spesies in Australië.