Data from: A taxonomic revision of Schlechteranthus subgenus microphyllus (Ruschieae; Aizoaceae)

Schlechteranthus subgenus Microphyllus is a recently erected subgenus, which is revised here for the first time. The subgenus is comprised of nine succulent species, including a new species S. parvus, and are endemic to the arid part of the Greater Cape Floristic Region. Schlechteranthus subgenus Microphyllus can be distinguished from subgenus Schlechteranthus by the smaller leaves (3.5-5.0 × 4-6 mm vs. 5-30 × 3.5-9.0 mm) and smaller capsules (2-6 × 2-6 mm vs. 6-11 × 4-9 mm), with seven to nine locules and small closing bodies that block one third of the locule (vs. 10 to 12 locules and closing bodies that block three quarters of the locule). Differences in leaf shape, degree of fusion, and arrangement, as well as inflorescence and spine structure were identified as important characters in distinguishing species in the subgenus. Schlechteranthus parvus, S. pungens, S. spinescens, and S. stylosus all share the presence of spines, caducous bracteoles, and cymose inflorescences. Maps illustrating species richness hotspots within a quarter degree square were produced for the genus and subgenera respectively. A key to the subgenera in Schlechteranthus and a comprehensive taxonomic treatment of subgenus Microphyllus is presented, including a key to the species, descriptions, figures illustrating diagnostic characters and distribution maps.施莱歇尔苋属（Schlechteranthus）的小叶亚属（subgenus Microphyllus）是一个新近建立的亚属，本文首次对其进行分类修订。该亚属包含9种多肉植物，其中包括新种小施莱歇尔苋（S. parvus），其特有分布于大开普植物区（Greater Cape Floristic Region）的干旱区域。小叶亚属可与施莱歇尔苋亚属（subgenus Schlechteranthus）相区分，二者的形态差异如下：小叶亚属的叶片更小（3.5-5.0 × 4-6 mm 对比 5-30 × 3.5-9.0 mm），蒴果更小（2-6 × 2-6 mm 对比 6-11 × 4-9 mm）；小叶亚属具7至9个果室，且小型闭合体封堵约三分之一的果室，而施莱歇尔苋亚属具10至12个果室，闭合体封堵约四分之三的果室。叶片形态、合生程度、排列方式，以及花序与刺的结构差异，被确定为区分该亚属内物种的重要分类性状。小施莱歇尔苋（S. parvus）、尖刺施莱歇尔苋（S. pungens）、多刺施莱歇尔苋（S. spinescens）以及柱形施莱歇尔苋（S. stylosus）均具有刺、早落小苞片（caducous bracteoles）与聚伞花序（cymose inflorescences）的共同特征。研究团队分别针对该属及各亚属制作了以四分度网格（quarter degree square）为单元的物种丰富度热点分布图。本文还提供了施莱歇尔苋属的亚属检索表，以及小叶亚属的完整分类学修订内容，其中包含物种检索表、形态描述、展示分类诊断特征的图版以及物种分布地图。