Elegia namaquense (Restionaceae), a new species from the Namaqualand coastal plain, Northern Cape, South Africa

• The Namaqualand sandplain fynbos is one of the most northernmost outliers of this vegetation type.
• Restionaceae is commonly represented Namaqualand sandplain fynbos by a few widespread species.
• Here we describe a new, species, which is endemic to this vegetation formation.

The new species Elegia namaquense is similar to the widespread Elegia tectorum but differs strikingly in its well-developed rhizomes, smaller flowers and sparser female inflorescences, and in the indehiscent unilocular fruit (nutlet). It is the only species of Elegia found on the Namaqualand coastal plain and the only Restionaceae species endemic to Namaqualand Sand Fynbos.