Search

SummaryThe second part of a taxonomic revision of the tribe Barlerieae (Acanthaceae) in Angola and Namibia coversBarleriasects.SomaliaandStellatohirta. Thirty-one taxa including 27 accepted species are treated. Four new species (Barleria eburnea,B. imatensis,B. louiseanaandB. thunbergiiflora), one new subspecies (B. kacondensissubsp.glabrescens) and one new variety (B. violascensvar.humpatana) are described. In addition,B. taitensisS.Moore var.occidentalisS.Moore is elevated to subspecies status andB. newtoniiLindau is resurrected as a distinct species endemic to the Lubango Highlands of Angola. Full descriptions, citations of types and representative specimens, and notes on their habitat(s), ecology and biogeography are provided for each taxon. Thirteen names inBarleriaare lectotypified and a neotype is selected forB. newtonii. A preliminary assessment of the conservation status and extinction risk is provided for each taxon. Of the 31 taxa enumerated, five are assessed as Endangered, two as Vulnerable, two as Near Threatened, and 13 are of Least Concern, whilst nine are currently considered to be Data Deficient. This contribution completes our revision ofBarleriain Angola and Namibia, with 59 accepted species, four additional subspecies, four additional varieties and two incompletely known taxa documented in total. A remarkable 75% of the taxa are endemic or near-endemic to Angola and Namibia.

Lectotypes are designated for three names in Phlogacanthus: P. albiflorus Bedd., P. grandis Bedd., and P. tubiflorus Nees.

SummaryThe recently rediscovered Strobilanthes tubiflos (C.B.Clarke) J.R.I.Wood is fully described for the first time. A key and photographs are provided to enable identification of similar species found in north east India. The rediscovery of S. tubiflos is discussed in the context of the botanical exploration of the region and the implications for conservation.

SummaryTwo new species are described from the proposed Mulanje-Namuli-Ribáuè Centre of Endemism. Isoglossa perdita I.Darbysh. (Acanthaceae) is apparently restricted to the submontane forests of southeastern Mt Mulanje in Malawi, and is assessed as Critically Endangered. Agelanthus patelii Polhill & Timberlake (Loranthaceae) is recorded from the montane forests of Mt Mulanje and from Mt Namuli in Mozambique, and the earlier assessment of this species as Endangered is confirmed. The habitat preferences and taxonomic affinities of these species are discussed. This work contributes to the ongoing assessment of the biodiversity and endemism of this montane region, and to the identification of Important Plant Areas in Mozambique.

A new species, Gymnostachyum morsei Y.F.Deng, is described from Guangxi, China. A morphological description, taxonomic comments, distribution and habitat data, preliminary conservation status, illustration, and key to Chinese species in the genus are provided. The new species grows on rocks in limestone hill forest. It is similar to G. subrosulatum H.S.Lo, but differs in having lanceolate leaves with a narrowly cuneate base decurrent onto the petiole, and a trifurcating racemose inflorescence (vs suborbicular to broadly cordate leaves with a slightly cordate to rounded base, and a thyrse inflorescence in G. subrosulatum).

A new species, Lepidagathis ushae Borude, Gosavi & Chandore from the lateritic plateaus of the Konkan region, Maharashtra, India, is described and illustrated. Lepidagathis ushae sp. nov. is closely related to L. keralensis Madhus. & N.P.Singh but differs in its cylindrical stem, pubescent leaves with 4 – 5 pairs of lateral or secondary nerves, spike c. 7 cm long with 7 – 15 flowers, pedicellate flowers, and pyramidal capsules with a single seed. It is restricted to an area of about 30 km2 and should be considered Critically Endangered (CR, B1b (iii, v)) according to IUCN (2017) categories and criteria.

SummaryA new species ofThunbergia,T. kasajuanaBh.Adhikari & J.R.I.Wood is described from central Nepal. It is most closely related toT. grandifloraRoxb., because of its reduced annular calyx and similar inflorescence structure but differs in the much smaller corolla, herbaceous habit and different ecology. A description, photographs and a key to the species ofThunbergianative to Nepal are provided.

Summary12 species of Stenostephanus Nees occur in Bolivia, two of which, S. madidiensis J.R.I.Wood and S. sehuencasii J.R.I.Wood are described as new. Ten species are endemic to the country with all growing on the humid eastern slopes of the Andes. The distribution of all Bolivian species is described and mapped and implications for conservation are discussed. A key to the species found in Bolivia and a table of their principal distinguishing characteristics are provided. The new species are illustrated with line drawings and photographs.

Summary DNA sequence data, macro-morphological evidence and pollen analysis are used to clarify the phylogenetic placement of two African species of Acanthaceae: Schaueria populifolia C.B.Clarke and Rhinacanthus ndorensis Schweinf. The combined data demonstrate that these species are only distantly related to the genera in which they are currently placed and provide strong support for recognition of new genera to accommodate them. Two new genera are therefore proposed and a taxonomic account is provided for each of these. The first, Champluviera I.Darbysh., T.F.Daniel & C.A.Kiel, is based primarily on S. populifolia but Chlamydocardia nuda C.B.Clarke (= Justicia tigrina Heine) is also included within this new genus based on shared morphological traits, at least one of which is synapomorphic and restricted to these species. Based on molecular evidence, Champluviera is placed in a well-supported clade of several genera that are together sister to the core Isoglossinae lineage of tribe Justicieae. The genus may be recognised morphologically by the combination of a dense spiciform terminal thyrse with the bracts, bracteoles and calyx lobes all slender and closely resembling one another; a bilabiate corolla lacking a rugula and with intricate speckling or striping on the lips; and, in particular, the putatively synapomorphic trait of anther thecae with broad, flattened, basal appendages that have an irregularly toothed fringe. The second new genus, Kenyacanthus I.Darbysh. & C.A.Kiel, is based on R. ndorensis and is so far thought to be monospecific. It is placed between core Diclipterinae and Monechma Group II within the expanded subtribe Diclipterinae in tribe Justicieae. Kenyacanthus can be recognised morphologically by having the combination of a trailing or procumbent habit; fasciculate inflorescences; bracts, bracteoles and calyces with hyaline margins; a bilabiate corolla with a slender cylindrical tube longer than the limb and with a shallow rugula; stenotribic flowers, with the stamens held against the lower lip; and anthers with only slightly offset thecae that lack appendages.

Summary A new species, Odontonema peruvianum J.R.I.Wood is described and illustrated. This represents the most southerly extension in the range of the genus and the first confirmed record of its occurrence as a native in Peru.

Summary A new species, Strobilanthes twangensis J.R.I.Wood & D.Borah is described from Arunachal Pradesh State in northeastern India near the border with Bhutan and Tibet. The new species is illustrated with photographs and its possible relationships with other Himalayan species are discussed.

Summary Two new species, Justicia flavescens and J. vasculosoides are described and illustrated from northern Thailand. Both species have restricted distributions. The conservation status of each species is assessed.

In the first part of a taxonomic revision of the tribe Barlerieae (Acanthaceae) in Angola and Namibia, two of the four major clades of the genus Barleria L. are studied in detail, namely subg. Barleria and subg. Prionitis sect. Prionitis. Using standard morphology-based taxonomic methods, a total of 32 species and 39 taxa are delimited, of which 12 are endemic to Namibia, nine are endemic to Angola, a further four are restricted to the two countries combined and four are largely confined to the region. Hence, nearly 70% of the taxa are endemic or near-endemic to Angola and Namibia. Full descriptions, citations of types and representative specimens, and notes on their habitat(s), ecology and biogeography are provided for each taxon. Seven new species (Barleria calole, B. crabbeoides, B. craveniae, B. deserticola, B. fernandae, B. namba and B. rupicola), two new subspecies (B. lanceolata subsp. tristis and B. prionitoides subsp. strigulosa) and one new variety (B. rigida var. spinissima) are described. In addition, Barleria namutonensis Oberm. is treated as a subspecies of B. prionitoides, and B. dinteri Oberm. is treated as a subspecies of B. coriacea Oberm. and the necessary new combinations are made, whilst B. schenckii Schinz is resurrected as a good species. Eleven names in Barleria are lectotypified. A preliminary assessment of the conservation status and extinction risk is provided for each taxon. Of the 39 taxa enumerated, the majority are assessed to be of Least Concern, but one is assessed as Endangered, four as Vulnerable, one as Near Threatened and six are currently considered to be Data Deficient.

Four nomenclatural errors in African Acanthaceae are corrected, resulting in the publication of one new combination in Duosperma, D. kaessneri (S. Moore) Vollesen & I. Darbysh., two new names in Justicia, J. plectranthoides Vollesen & I. Darbysh. and J. subcordatifolia Vollesen & I. Darbysh., and a correction of the author combination for Dicliptera cernua.

The three species of the genus Rhinacanthus Nees occurring in Angola and Namibia are documented, including a full description of the new species R. angolensis I. Darbysh. and an expanded description of the scarce species R. kaokoensis K. Balkwill & S. D. Will. A key to their identification is provided, together with notes on their conservation status and species affinities.

The original version of this article unfortunately contains an error in the title, whereby the first author’s names have been inadvertently transposed. We apologise unreservedly for this error.

Six new species of Barleria L. (Acanthaceae) are described from northeast tropical Africa: B. gidoleensis Ensermu & I. Darbysh., B. baluganii Ensermu, B. ferox Ensermu & I. Darbysh. and B. negeleensis Ensermu & I. Darbysh. from Ethiopia and B. ensermui I. Darbysh. and B. shebelleensis Ensermu & I. Darbysh. from Somalia. All the species are illustrated and their affinities and conservation status are discussed. A note on the presence of B. parviflora R. Br. ex T. Anderson in northern Somalia is also included. In addition, a foreword is presented on the great contribution to Acanthaceae taxonomy and African botany made by Professor Ensermu Kelbessa, who sadly passed away in August 2016.

Linocalix Lindau, one of the few remaining unplaced genera for the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families database, is found to be a synonym of Chlamydocardia Lindau (Acanthaceae). An extant type at the BR herbarium of Linocalix albus Lindau is referable to Chlamydocardia subrhomboidea Lindau. A synopsis of the two species of Chlamydocardia, C. buettneri Lindau (including C. lanciformis Lindau) and C. subrhomboidea is provided, together with an identification key and a discussion of their status. Neotypes are selected for C. buettneri and C. subrhomboidea, and C. lanciformis and Linocalix albus are lectotypified.

The new species Ruellia domatiata I. Darbysh. & E. Tripp from northern Madagascar is described and illustrated and its affinities within the genus are discussed. This striking new species is currently assessed as Critically Endangered using the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List. The presence of tuft-domatia on the undersurface of the leaves, a rare occurrence in the Acanthaceae family, is noted.

Summary. Descriptions, distribution maps and preliminary IUCN conservation assessments for all five species of Thunbergia that occur in Nepal are provided. A new species, T. nepalensis, is described from western Nepal. T. lutea T. Anderson and T. coccinea Wall. ex D. Don are lectotypified.

Strobilanthes agasthyamalana is described and illustrated here from the Pongalapara region of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, southern Western Ghats. It is similar to S. foliosa and S. lanata in floral, seed and vegetative characters. However, it differs from S. foliosa by its adaxially hirsute and abaxially woolly leaves, bracts and bracteoles, pubescent corolla and villous style, and it differs from S. lanata by its glabrous stem, adaxially hirsute leaves, pubescent corolla, villous style and glabrous seeds.

The new species Podorungia gesnerioides Onjalalaina & I. Darbysh. is described and illustrated and its affinities to the other species in the genus are discussed. It is the only species in Podorungia with an open dichasial inflorescence. This new species is assessed as globally "Endangered" following the Categories and Criteria of IUCN, because of threats to its lowland forest habitat. The generic delimitation of the Malagasy genera in the tribe Barlerieae is discussed and the similarities of the five endemic genera to the tropical African genus Crabbea are noted. A key to the genera of Barlerieae in Madagascar is provided, based on the key in Benoist’s Flore de Madagascar et des Comores account of the Acanthaceae. In addition, a brief review of current progress on the taxonomy of the Acanthaceae of Madagascar is provided.

A new species of Justicia L. (Acanthaceae), J. gambleana K. M. P. Kumar, Robi & Hareesh sp. nov. from the Kerala part of the Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. Its IUCN status, distribution and phenology are provided, and its affinities are discussed.

A new species of Barleria (Acanthaceae), discovered in 2014 on the Uzondo Plateau of West Tanzania, is described and illustrated and its affinities are discussed. This is the first documented tree species in the genus Barleria. Its conservation status is assessed using the categories and criteria of IUCN; it is considered to be globally Vulnerable.

Summary: A new genus of Acanthaceae, Diceratotheca, is described from Thailand. The genus is characterised by having unique pollen combined with several unusual morphological characters, of which the 2-spurred anther thecae also appear to be unique within Acanthaceae. Phylogenetic analyses show clearly that the genus belongs within the subtribe Ruelliinae. Further analyses, that include the largest available sample of species from other genera, including the species-rich Strobilanthes and Ruellia, demonstrate that the genus is not nested within other genera and a new genus is therefore required. Analyses show that, of the genera sampled, it is most closely related to Pararuellia Bremek., a herbaceous genus with which it appears to have little in common. The only species Diceratotheca bracteolata is known from a single site in NW Thailand and is probably critically endangered. © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Barleria grootbergensis I. Darbysh. & E. Tripp is described from the Grootberg Pass in Kunene Region, Namibia. Its affinities within Barleria sect. Somalia are discussed. A second taxon, named as Barleria galpinii C. B. Clarke in the Prodromus einer Flora von SudwestAfrika, is reassessed and found to be referable to B. pseudosomalia I. Darbysh., a species previously known only from central Tanzania. A revised checklist to the Barleria of Namibia is presented.

Two new species of Acanthaceae, Stenandrium villarroelii J. R. I. Wood and Ruellia beniana J. R. I. Wood, are described from Bolivia. Both species are illustrated, differences with similar species are discussed, their distributions are mapped and their conservation status is assessed. These two species bring the total number of native Acanthaceae known from Bolivia to 172 species and five additional subspecies.

The new species Chorisochora chascanoides is described from limestone cliffs in north-eastern Somalia. Three species were previously known in Chorisochora, two in Yemen (Socotra) and one in NE South Africa and Botswana. On morphological grounds the Somali species is believed to be most closely related to the two species on Socotra. The pollen of the new species is of the Ecbolium-type, in agreement with the other species of Chorisochora.

A survey of the tribe Justicieae from the Caatinga biome, in the State of Bahia, revealed the following four new species of Justicia (Acanthaceae): J. angustissima, J. attenuata, J. chlamidocalyx and J. jacuipensis. J. attenuata and J. jacuipensis are known only from the types; the latter is considered Critically Endangered (CR) because the area where it was collected has been flooded since the construction of the Pedra do Cavalo dam and the region around this area has been extensively disturbed. J. angustissima and J. chlamidocalyx were found in six locations. They have a wide distribution in Central Bahia and the conservation status of both species should be classified as Least Concern (LC). The four species are described and illustrations and comments are provided.

Following a re-examination of the material treated under Barleria brevispina (Fiori) Hedren in the recent Flora of Somalia account of the Acanthaceae, it is concluded that two distinct species are involved and Barleria compacta Malombe & I. Darbysh. is described here from north-eastern Somalia. Its affinities and conservation status are discussed.

Two new taxa of Justicia are recognised from Bolivia. Justicia fuentesii J. R. I. Wood is described as a new species. The two isolated populations of Justicia mesetarum Wassh. & J. R. I. Wood can be distinguished by a range of minor morphological differences and are treated as distinct subspecies with subsp. chiquitana J. R. I. Wood described as new. The new taxa are illustrated and mapped.

Barleria fulvostellata C. B. Clarke, a highly variable species of dry miombo (Brachystegia) woodland in eastern Africa, is studied in detail in preparation for the treatment of the Acanthaceae in the Flora of Tropical East Africa and Flora Zambesiaca. Four geographically allopatric subspecies are recognised for the first time, and a fifth taxon within the complex is highlighted but needs more material prior to full recognition. The affinities of B. fulvostellata are considered and the conservation status of each subspecies is assessed.

A review of the genus Isoglossa Oerst. in east Africa is presented in preparation for the FTEA Acanthaceae treatment. Variation in pollen type within the African Isoglossa is summarised and its implications for generic circumscription are considered. The occurrence of periodic gregarious monocarpy (a plietesial life cycle) within Isoglossa is reviewed, with reference to other occurrences of this phenomenon in the Acanthaceae. The relationship of African taxa of Isoglossa to the Asian I. dichotoma (Hassk.) B. Hansen is reviewed and a tabular synopsis and key are presented for this group in east Africa, together with the description of three new species (I. paucinervis, I. ventricosa, I. bondwaensis), one new subspecies (I. membranacea subsp. septentrionalis) and one new name (I. bruceae) within the group. A further three new east African species (I. variegata, I. faulknerae, I. multinervis) and one new subspecies (I. substrobilina subsp. tenuispicata) are described, and the status of I. salviiflora in relation to I. floribunda is reassessed. The conservation status of each taxon is considered.

Preparation of a catalogue of the plants of Colombia requires 30 new combinations in Stenostephanus Nees and five in Justicia L. to bring nomenclature up to date. Three new names Justicia littoralis J. R. I. Wood, J. albicans J. R. I. Wood and J. magdalenensis J. R. I. Wood are coined for Jacobinia lindaviana Rusby, Chaetothylax leucantha Leonard and Justicia disparifolia J. R. I. Wood respectively. The genus Pelecostemon Leonard is considered to belong to sect. Chaetothylax (Nees) V. A. W. Graham of Justicia L. Several species of Stenostephanus from Colombia and Venezuela are treated as synonyms of earlier species.

The delimitation of Barleria L. sect. Cavirostrata M. Balkwill is discussed with particular emphasis on capsule and seed characters. An expanded circumscription of the section is adopted in which all species having a (potentially) 4-seeded capsule with a conspicuous beak and with subellipsoid, subglobose or discoid seeds are included. Barleria descampsii Lindau, previously placed within sect. Stellatohirta M. Balkwill largely on account of its stellate indumentum, is transferred to sect. Cavirostrata together with the closely related B. grandipetala De Wild. and B. richardsiae I. Darbysh., the latter being formally described here. A key to the four eastern African species of the newly expanded sect. Cavirostrata is presented, together with taxonomic notes and conservation assessments for each species.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the Neotropical genus Lophostachys showed that it is congeneric with Lepidagathis. The following new combinations of species previously described under Lophostachys are proposed: Lepidagathis chiapensis (Acosta) Kameyama, L. cyanea (Leonard) Kameyama, L. guatemalensis (Donn. Sm.) Kameyama, L. laxifolia (Nees) Kameyama, L. montana (Nees) Kameyama, L. nemoralis (Mart. ex Nees) Kameyama, L. soconuscana (T. F. Daniel) Kameyama, and L. uxpanapensis (Acosta) Kameyama. Five new species are described: Lepidagathis callistachys, L. cuneiformis, L. meridionalis, L. paraensis and L. wasshausenii. Three lectotypes are also designated. A key to the Neotropical secundiflorous species is provided.

Five new species are described within the genus Dicliptera Juss. (Acanthaceae) from eastern Africa: D. inconspicua I. Darbysh., D. cordibracteata I. Darbysh., D. latibracteata I. Darbysh., D. cicatricosa I. Darbysh. and D. vollesenii I. Darbysh. The Dicliptera maculata Nees and D. carvalhoi Lindau complexes are reassessed with emphasis upon eastern Africa, resulting in two new statuses and two new subspecies being formalised: D. maculata Nees subsp. usambarica (Lindau) I. Darbysh., D. carvalhoi Lindau subsp. nemorum (Milne-Redh.) I. Darbysh. and D. carvalhoi subsp. laxiflora I. Darbysh. and D. carvalhoi subsp. erinacea I. Darbysh. D. nilotica C. B. Clarke and D. colorata C. B. Clarke are lectotypified and the past confusion over these names is discussed. The description of D. grandiflora Gilli is amplified and its affinities discussed. An assessment of the conservation status of each taxon is made.

Three new species are described in Barleria L. sect. Stellatohirta M. Balkwill from tropical Africa: B. aristata from south-central Tanzania, B. aenea from south-western Tanzania and northeast Zambia, and B. purpureotincta from south-western Zambia. Their affinities and conservation status are discussed.

A new species of Justicia L. (Acanthaceae), J. sivadasanii Sunil, K. M. P. Kumar & Naveen Kum., from the Western Ghats of India is described and illustrated. Its IUCN status, distribution and phenology are provided along with colour photographs, and its affinities are discussed.