Uvariopsis dicaprio (Annonaceae) a new tree species with notes on its pollination biology, and the Critically Endangered narrowly endemic plant species of the Ebo Forest, Cameroon

SummaryA new species to science of evergreen forest shrub, Kupeantha yabassi (Coffeeae - Rubiaceae), is described, illustrated, mapped, and compared morphologically with the closely similar species K. pentamera. Restricted so far to a single site in evergreen lowland forest near the Ebo Forest, Yabassi, Littoral Region, Cameroon, this species is Critically Endangered using the IUCN 2012 standard due to habitat clearance driven mainly by agriculture, adding to the growing list of threatened species resulting from anthropogenic pressure on Cameroon forests. A revised key to the six species of Kupeantha is presented. Two distinct geographical and ecological species groupings within the genus are identified and discussed. Notes are given on other narrowly endemic and threatened species in the Ebo forest area, a threatened centre of diversity important for conservation in Littoral Region.

SummaryA new species to science of evergreen forest shrub, Kupeantha yabassi M.G.Alvarez & Cheek (Coffeeae - Rubiaceae), is described, illustrated and compared morphologically with the closely similar species K. pentamera. Restricted so far to a single site in evergreen lowland forest near the Ebo Forest, Yabassi, Littoral Region, Cameroon, this species is Critically Endangered using the IUCN 2012 standard due to habitat clearance driven mainly by agriculture, adding to the growing list of threatened species resulting from anthropogenic pressure on Cameroon forests. A revised key to the six species of Kupeantha is presented. Two distinct geographical and ecological species groupings within the genus are identified and discussed. Notes are given on other narrowly endemic and threatened species in the Ebo Forest area, a threatened centre of diversity important for conservation in the Littoral Region.

A new species to science of evergreen forest tree, Uvariopsis ebo (Annonaceae) is described, illustrated, mapped, and compared morphologically with the other cauliflorous species of the genus. Restricted so far to a single site in evergreen lowland forest in the Ebo Forest, Yabassi, Littoral Region, Cameroon, this species is Critically Endangered using the IUCN 2012 standard, because the forest habitat of this species remains unprotected, and there exists threats of logging and conversion to plantations. This species adds to the growing list of threatened species resulting from anthropogenic pressure on Cameroon forests. Observations on the unusual corolla structure of the new species are made. A revised key to the 14 Cameroonian species of Uvariopsis is presented. Notes are given on other narrowly endemic and threatened species in the Ebo forest area, a highly threatened centre of diversity in Littoral Region, globally important for conservation.

Background and Aims: Cochemiea is a genus which currently comprises five species occurring in Mexico. It is morphologically characterized by cylindrical decumbent to prostrate stems and by a long red-scarlet zygomorphic perianth, presumably specialized for hummingbird pollination. As part ofthe ongoing taxonomic studies on the North Mexican flora, a population discovered by Thomas Linzen in 2012 in central Sinaloa (Mexico), previously identified as Mammillaria sp., actually refers to a Cochemiea species and cannot be ascribed to any of the known species of that genus. As a consequence,we here propose to describe this population as a a new species for science.Methods: The work is based on field surveys (autumn 2018 and spring 2019) in central Sinaloa, examination of herbarium specimens, and analysis of relevant literature. Its conservation status was assessed following the guidelines of the IUCN; AOO and EOO were calculated with the programGeoCAT.Key results: Cochemiea thomasii is described and illustrated from Sinaloa. The new species is morphologically similar to C. halei from which it differs by the hanging stems, the larger conical tubercles, less numerous and shorter central spines, and the ovoid fruits. A diagnostic key of the knownCochemiea species is included.Conclusions: Cochemiea thomasii is endemic to the state of Sinaloa where it occupies a small area. On the basis of the criteria B2a (geographic range) and C (small population) of IUCN, the new species can be assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) or Vulnerable (VU). Adopting the precautionary approach, Cochemiea thomasii is considered as Critically Endangered (CR).

Background and aims – The genus Anemopaegma (Bignoniaceae) includes around 47 species and has its centre of diversity in Brazil. Here, we describe and illustrate a new species from French Guiana, Anemopaegma kawense, and compare it to the two most similar species, A. foetidum and A. granvillei. We further assess the conservation status of all three species.Material and methods – Morphological descriptions are based on herbarium specimens deposited at BM, BR, CAY, INPA, K, MO, P, SPF, and U, and, in the case of the newly described species, also on field observations. The conservation status assessments follow the IUCN Red List criteria.Key results – Anemopaegma kawense differs from both A. foetidum and A. granvillei by its densely villose twigs, longitudinally plicate leaflets with secondary veins not or hardly prominent below, and tertiary veins impressed below. It is further separated from A. foetidum by the leaflets that are villose below and the calyx that is entirely pubescent outside. On the other hand, A. kawense differs from A. granvillei by the densely lepidote outer surface of the corolla, shorter petiolules, leaflets with midrib impressed above, shorter bracts and bracteoles, inflorescence peduncle exceeding the rachis, and pedicels densely puberulous, not lepidote or only sparsely so at the apex. This species is endemic to the Kaw Mountain in north-eastern French Guiana, where it grows in low stunted forest on laterite; it is assessed as Endangered according to the IUCN criteria. New descriptions are provided for A. granvillei, which is newly reported from Suriname, and for A. foetidum, which is newly reported from French Guiana; these two species are assessed as Endangered and Least Concern, respectively. Lectotypes are designated for A. maguirei, which is here synonymised with A. foetidum, and for A. umbellatum, another synonym of that species. A key to the 12 species of Anemopaegma occurring in the Guianas is presented.

SummaryA Gabonese taxon cultivated for decades in the botanic gardens of Europe as Anchomanes nigritianus is shown to be a new species to science, and on current evidence, is best placed as the fourth species of the Gabonese-centred, poorly known genus Pseudohydrosme. Data on the morphological separation between Anchomanes and Pseudohydrosme are reviewed. Although phylogenomic studies may show in future that the two genera need to be merged, for the moment their separation is reinforced on morphological grounds. Anchomanes lacks the spathe tube, ovoid-globose, 2 – 4 locular pistil and thick, lobed stigma on a symmetric, stout style that we show to characterise the redelimited Pseudohydrosme. (Anchomanes has oblong, polygonal, 1-locular pistils, stigmas asymmetric, sessile, thin and disc-like or on asymmetrical conical styles and are pointed or brush-like). In addition, Pseudohydrosme (where known) has stipitate (versus sessile) fruits and on current evidence lacks the lacticifers recorded from Anchomanes. We test the hypothesis that the taxon is a new species to science, naming it as Pseudohydrosme bogneri, and conclude that it is Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) using the IUCN 2012 standard. Pseudohydrosme bogneri appears to be the tenth documented probable global extinction of a plant species that has occurred among the narrowly endemic plant species of the Libreville area, Gabon.

The genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawler (1822: 628) (Asparagaceae) has its main centre of diversity in China and Vietnam. In recent years, many new species were discovered and described from that region, increasing the total number of species to over 120. In China, Aspidistra includes over 80 species and is mainly distributed in the southwest part of the country, especially in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (60 species) (Liang & Tamura 2000, Li 2004, Tillich 2005, 2008, Liu et al. 2011, Tillich et al. 2013, He et al. 2013, Lin et al. 2013a–b, 2014, Meng et al. 2014). When investigating medicinal plants in Qingshitan Natural Reserve, Lantian town, Lingchuan County, northeastern Guangxi in 2013, we collected an unusual Aspidistra specimen with linear leaves and urceolar perigone. In March 2014, we returned to the place for further observations of the species, the plant flowered regularly. After consulting herbarium specimens and relevant literature on Aspidistra, it became apparent that we had a new species at hand.

A new species of Passiflora belonging to the subg. Tryphostemmatoides from Colombia in the Andean region is described and illustrated from living material, as well as from herbarium specimens. Passiflora nebulosae Restrepo & Ocampo is similar to P. discophora and P. pacifica, but can be recognized mainly by its petiole length (up to 8 mm), leaf margin glands (6‒10), coriaceous leaves, peduncle bifurcate, operculum margin crenate, and limen margin lacerate. The new species is a narrow endemic discovered in cloud forest margins between 1750‒2352 m. It is regarded as critically endangered (CR) because of its restricted occurrence with a small population size.

A new species of Begonia (B. lecongkietii N.S.Lý & M.Hughes) is described from Mount Dầu in the South Central Coast Region, Vietnam, an area with an abundance of recently described endemic plant taxa. The new species is allied to Begonia lamxayana Souvann., which occurs 600 km away in Laos, differing chiefly in having larger villose tepals with an undulate margin and larger androecium with 86–116 (versus 20–30) stamens. Begonia lecongkietii is considered Critically Endangered, owing to its small area of occupancy and decline of habitat quality.

Silene lulakabadensis Heidari, F. Ghahrem. & Assadi is described as a new species from Zanjan Province, Iran. The new species is a dark green plant, perennial and woody at the base, that was collected on marl soil slopes at 2100 m. It is believed to be closely related to S. eriocalycina Boiss. from section Auriculatae (Boiss.) Schischk. but is a smaller plant, with much shorter internodes, and pinkish-white retuse to emarginate petals with very small or no scales. It is a very rare plant and its conservation status is assessed as Critically Endangered.