Clarification of Massonia echinata and some other frequently misunderstood Massonia species (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), with the description of M. pseudoechinata and M. roggeveldensis

As part of a taxonomic revision of the genus Massonia, we here clarify concepts of Massonia echinata, M. latebrosa and M. tenella—all frequently misunderstood or reduced to synonymy. We discuss their history, biology, habitat preferences and distribution. Our study also shows that the current concept of M. echinata, including M. angustifolia and M. lanceolata as synonyms, includes two unpublished species which we here describe as M. pseudoechinata and M. roggeveldensis. A new combination in Massonia is proposed for Haemanthus sessiliflorus.This work was partly supported by Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain), H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh), University of Alicante (Spain), Karl-Franzens-University Graz (Austria), Rhodes University (Dept. of Botany) and the Selmar Schonland Herbarium (GRA)