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The new species Lindernia adami-hefiedi from Madagascar, Montagne d’Ambre is described and illustrated. It differs from Lindernia rotundifolia, and related species in the dense indumentum with long-stalked glandular hairs, the matt leaves, the long pedicel, the large corolla and the long free staminodes. Additional material of the closely related species L. lemuriana, L. oblongifolia, L. rotundifolia and L. viguieri is studied and a key to the species of Lindernia s.str. in Madagascar is provided. Herbarium studies revealed that Ilysanthes oblongifolia is the oldest name for Lindernia paludosa, and the relevant new combination is made here.

A synopsis of the exindusiate species of Dryopteris occurring in the area of the Flore d’Afrique Centrale (D.R.Congo, Rwanda, Burundi) is provided. Three species occur in the area. Dryopteris schizopaleata sp. nov., a new species from Rwanda, is described here. It differs from all other Dryopteris species occurring in the area in the stipe scales that are broadly ovate, with a fimbriate apex, divided into long uniseriate, irregular fissures and without glands. D. manniana is recorded for D.R.Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. D. ruwenzoriensis occurs in the Ruwenzori mountains in Eastern D.R.Congo and Western Uganda, and the Virunga Volcanoes in Eastern D.R.Congo and Rwanda. A key to the three species is provided.

SummaryHartliella txitongensis Osborne & Eb.Fisch., a species new to science from Niassa Province in Northern Mozambique, is described and illustrated. Hartliella txitongensis is the only species of Hartliella known from outside the Upper Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the adjacent region of Zambia. The species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered under IUCN criterion B and its potential to be a metallophyte is highlighted. A key to the five species of Hartliella is provided.

The new species Lindernia sallyae from Tanzania, Mpanda District is described and illustrated. It differs from Lindernia linearifolia and L. monroi in the lack of basal rosulate leaves, the taller habit, the calyx with shorter tube and the acute lobes, the yellow corolla with purple marks and veins, the larger lower lip of the corolla, the longer abaxial stamens with acute anthers, and the glabrous adaxial stamens. The ecology of this probably poikilohydric species is briefly discussed. The endemic flora of the Uzondo Plateau, the type locality for this new Lindernia species, is highlighted.

Isoglossa darbyshirei is described as a new species from Rwanda and Burundi. Its affinities to I. humbertii and I. laxiflora are discussed. Based on current knowledge I. darbyshirei is given a preliminary conservation assessment of Vulnerable (VU B2). The new species shows a plietesial life cycle that is briefly discussed. A key to the Isoglossa laxiflora-group is also provided.

Our knowledge of the diversity of African freshwater red algae is rather limited. Only a few reports exist. During our field work in the last five years we frequently encountered freshwater red algae in streams in Rwanda and Madagascar. Here we describe four new species and one new genus of freshwater red algae from the Batrachospermales, based on morphological and molecular evidence: Kumanoa comperei from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda is related to K. montagnei and K. nodiflora; Kumanoa rwandensis from Rwanda is related to K. ambigua and K. gudjewga; Sirodotia masoalensis is related to S. huillensis and S. delicatula; and the new genus and species Ahidranoa madagascariensis from Madagascar is sister to Sirodotia, Lemanea, Batrachospermum s.str. and Tuomeya. There is also evidence for the presence of Sheathia, which was recorded as yet-unidentifiable Chantransia stages. These are among the first new descriptions since 1899 from the African continent and since 1964 from Madagascar. A short history of the exploration of freshwater red algae from Africa and Madagascar is provided. All new taxa are accompanied by illustrations and observations on their ecology.

The new species Impatiens serusiauxii is described from Marojejy National Park in NE Madagascar. Impatiens serusiauxii differs from the morphologically similar I. manaharensis in the distinctly coriaceous linear-lanceolate leaves, the larger white flowers with dark red and yellow spots, the shape of the dorsal petal and the lateral united petals, and the shape of the lateral sepals and the lower sepal with spur oriented upwards. Impatiens serusiauxii is restricted to sclerophyllous montane cloud forest above 1100 m.

Fischer, Eberhard, Abrahamczyk, Stefan, Holstein, Norbert, Janssens, Steven B. (2021): Evolution of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) in the Albertine Rift – The endemic Impatiens purpureoviolacea complex consists of ten species. TAXON 70 (6): 1273-1299, DOI: 10.1002/tax.12566, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/tax.12566

Carapa wohllebenii is described as a new tree species from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. Its affinities to Carapa grandiflora are discussed. It differs in a number of morphological features; the most prominent being the oblanceolate-oblong leaflets with distinctly mucronate apex and a length/width ratio of 3.2–4.7 (vs. oblong ovate leaflets with mucronulate apex and a length/width ratio of 1.9–2.7 in C. grandiflora). A molecular phylogeny of Carapa is presented that clearly indicates the distinct phylogenetic position of both species. Based on the current knowledge, the new species is given a preliminary conservation assessment of LEAST CONCERN (LC). Carapa grandiflora is here for the first time recorded from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amalie Dietrich sammelte zwischen 1863 und 1873 tausende von Pflanzen (Braunalgen, Moose, Farne und Blutenpflanzen) in Australien fur das Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg. Die Auswertung der verfugbaren Publikationen ermoglicht es nicht nur, ihren Reiseweg genau zu rekonstruieren, sondern auch ihre Bedeutung fur die Erforschung der Flora von Australien zu bewerten. Unter den Blutenpflanzen wurden 37 Arten und eine Gattung neu fur die Wissenschaft beschrieben, von denen 19 Arten noch heute akzeptiert werden, darunter Acacia dietrichiana. Zwei Farnarten, 23 Laubmoosarten, eine Lebermoosart und drei Braunalgenarten wurden auf der Basis des von ihr gesammelten Materials neu beschrieben, davon sind eine Farnart, 15 Laubmoosarten und alle drei Braunalgenarten heute noch akzeptiert. Amalie Dietrich selbst hat niemals uber ihre Aufsammlungen publiziert.

Background and Aims The attractiveness of nectar rewards depends both on the quantity of nectar produced and on its chemical composition. It is known that nectar quantity and chemical composition can differ in plant species depending on the main pollinator associated with the species. The main aims of this study were to test formally whether nectar traits are adapted to pollination syndromes in the speciose Balsaminaceae and, if so, whether a combination of nectar traits mirrors pollination syndromes. Methods Comparative methods based on Ornstein–Uhlenbeck models were used to test whether nectar volume, nectar sucrose proportion, sugar and amino acid concentration and amino acid composition had evolved as a function of pollination syndromes in 57 species of Balsaminaceae. Cluster analysis and ordination were performed to derive clusters of species resembling each other in nectar composition. Key Results Evolutionary models for nectar volume and nectar sucrose proportion performed best when including information on pollination syndrome, while including such information improve model fit neither for sugar and amino acid concentration nor for amino acid composition. A significant relationship emerged between pollination syndrome and the combined nectar traits. Conclusions Our results show that nectar volume and nectar sucrose proportion evolve rapidly towards optimal values associated with different pollination syndromes. The detection of a signal indicating that nectar traits in combination are to a certain extent able to predict pollination syndromes in Balsaminaceae suggests that a holistic approach including the whole set of nectar traits helps us to better understand evolution of nectar composition in response to pollinators.

The species-rich flora of Madagascar is well known for a range of unusual floral ecologies. One example is Impatiens section Trimorphopetalum with its unique combination of floral traits: small, spur-less, cup- or lip-shaped, greenish or brownish flowers. So far no hypotheses on floral function or pollination of this peculiar group have been proposed. We analysed six reproductive traits in relation to pollination syndromes for 34 Madagascan Impatiens species, including 18 species of section Trimorphopetalum plus six outgroup species, in a phylogenetic framework. Further, we present pollinator observations for one additional species of Trimophopetalum. All pollination syndromes occurring in the African species are also present in Madagascan Impatiens. In addition, species of Trimorphopetalum represent two unique floral types, possibly corresponding to two different types of fly pollination. The evolution of these flower types corresponds to a strong decrease in nectar production, flower display size, pollen grain and ovule number. Autogamy is found in one derived sub-clade of the otherwise largely pollinator-dependent Trimorphopetalum. We find evidence consistent with the evolution of brood-site deception and fungus mimicry in combination with fly pollination in one clade of Trimorphopetalum and the stepwise evolution of autogamy in the second clade. The evolution of these very different reproductive strategies may have been triggered by pollinator limitation in the dense, humid forest undergrowth of Madagascar.

International audience; Despite significant progress made in recent years toward developing an infrafamilial classification of Orchidaceae, our understanding of relationships among and within tribal and subtribal groups of epidendroid orchids remains incomplete. To reassess generic delimitation among one group of these epidendroids, the African angraecoids, phylogenetic relationships were inferred from DNA sequence data from three regions, ITS, matK, and the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer, obtained from a broadly representative sample of taxa. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses yielded highly resolved trees that are in clear agreement and show significant support for many key clades within subtribe Angraecinae s.l. Angraecoid orchids comprise two well-supported clades: an African/American group and an Indian Ocean group. Molecular results also support many previously proposed relationships among genera, but also reveal some unexpected relationships. The genera Aerangis, Ancistrorhynchus, Bolusiella, Campylocentrum, Cyrtorchis, Dendrophylax, Eurychone, Microcoelia, Nephrangis, Podangis and Solenangis are all shown to be monophyletic, but Angraecopsis, Diaphananthe and Margelliantha are polyphyletic. Diaphananthe forms three well-supported clades, one of which might represent a new genus, and Rhipidoglossum is paraphyletic with respect to Cribbia and Rhaesteria, and also includes taxa currently assigned to Margelliantha. Tridactyle too is paraphyletic as Eggelingia is embedded within it. The large genus Angraecum is confirmed to be polyphyletic and several groups will have to be recognized as separate genera, including sections Dolabrifolia and Hadrangis. The recently segregated genus Pectinariella (previously recognized as A. sect. Pectinaria) is polyphyletic and its Continental African species will have to be removed. Similarly, some of the species recently transferred to Angraecoides that were previously placed in Angraecum sects. Afrangraecum and Conchoglossum will have to be moved and described as a new genus.

Pollen/ovule (P/O) ratios are often used as proxy for breeding systems. Here, we investigate the relations between breeding systems and P/O ratios, pollination syndromes, life history and climate zone in Balsaminaceae. We conducted controlled breeding system experiments (autonomous and active self-pollination and outcrossing tests) for 65 Balsaminaceae species, analysed pollen grain and ovule numbers and evaluated the results in combination with data on pollination syndrome, life history and climate zone on a phylogenetic basis. Based on fruit set, we assigned three breeding systems: autogamy, self-compatibility and self-incompatibility. Self-pollination led to lower fruit set than outcrossing. We neither found significant P/O differences between breeding systems nor between pollination syndromes. However, the numbers of pollen grains and ovules per flower were significantly lower in autogamous species, but pollen grain and ovule numbers did not differ between most pollination syndromes. Finally, we found no relation between breeding system and climate zone, but a relation between climate zone and life history. In Balsaminaceae reproductive traits can change under resource or pollinator limitation, leading to the evolution of autogamy, but are evolutionary rather constant and not under strong selection pressure by pollinator guild and geographic range changes. Colonisation of temperate regions, however, is correlated with transitions towards annual life history. Pollen/ovule-ratios, commonly accepted as good indicators of breeding system, have a low predictive value in Balsaminaceae. In the absence of experimental data on breeding system, additional floral traits (overall pollen grain and ovule number, traits of floral morphology) may be used as proxies.

A new species of blind snake in the genus Letheobia is described from Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda. The new species is most similar to species of the L. gracilis complex, particularly L. gracilis and L. graueri. It differs from all other species of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters, including the highest number of middorsal scale rows (834) and the most extreme elongation (total-length/midbody-width ratio 131) of all species in the genus and of any species of snake in the world; 22-22-22 longitudinal scale rows; snout in dorsal profile rounded, in lateral profile bluntly rounded with an angular horizontal edge ventrally; rostral broad, posteriorly rounded; eyes invisible; supralabial imbrication pattern T-0; tail short (1.3 percent of total length) with an apical spine; and a pink life colouration. The holotype of the new species was collected in gallery forest at a lake shore surrounded by savanna at 1300 m elevation. We produced scanning electron microscope images of the heads of the investigated specimens applying a liquid-substitution preparation procedure which does not require coating or drying and thus does not irreversibly damage the investigated samples. The obtained images allow an easy and more accurate examination of the scalation.

The main objective of this study was assessing the species diversity and plant community structure of Nandi forests of Kenya. Seventy six (20 × 20 m) sample plots, of which 27 located in North Nandi and 49 from South Nandi Forest were used to collect vegetation data. Sample plots were established along transects measuring 1.0 to 1.6 km length and adjacent transects were 500 m apart from each other. Abundance data of species was used for species diversity, similarity, species richness estimation and plant community analysis. PC-ORD, CANOCO and Estimates were used to analyze the data. A total of 321 species belonging to 243 genera and 92 families were identified in this study. Out of these, 253 species were recorded in South Nandi and 181 in North Nandi. South Nandi Forest had higher species diversity than that of North Nandi Forest. Three distinct plant communities including; Diospyros abyssinica-Heinsenia diervilleoides, Trilepisium madagascariense-Solanum mauritianum and Turraea holstii - Ehreti...

The new genus and speciesIsalonactis madagascariensisis characterized by a crustose, non-corticate, often sorediate thallus containing psoromic acid, tiny white pruinose ascomata with a thalline margin, an inconspicuous excipulum, a pale brown hypothecium, 3-septate hyaline ascospores and curved filiform conidia. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU andRPB2sequences placeIsalonactisin theRoccellaceae, close to the generaLecanactisandChiodecton. The new species was collected on sheltered siliceous rocks in the dry landscape of the Isalo Massif (S Madagascar).Dermatiscum thunbergiiis newly recorded from Madagascar.

Reeb, C., R. Letsara, R.L. Andriamiarisoa, J.C. Brinda, G.-A. Abalo-Loko, E. Boucheron-Dubuisson, E. Fischer, N.G. Hodgetts, E. Lavocat-Bernard, F. Naniarimino, P.B. Phillipson, A. Sass-Gyarmati & A. Vanderpoorten (2019). A pilot workshop on Bryophytes at the Antananarivo Herbarium (TAN) revealed the presence of seven additional species for Madagascar. Candollea 74: 153–158. In English, English and French abstracts.We present a contribution to the knowledge of the Malagasy bryoflora that results from a BRYOTAN workshop organized in September 2018 at the Antananarivo Herbarium (TAN) housed at the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, Antananarivo, Madagascar, within the framework of the BRYOTAN project (Bryophytes of TAN). Seven taxa reported here as new for Madagascar were found among the specimens stored in TAN. These findings illustrate the interest of this sort of initiative, the potential richness of the unstudied material in herbaria, and the necessity of exploring regions that are bryologically poorly known within Madagascar.

A new species, Kniphofia vandeweghei, is described and illustrated, and the differences with K. princeae , K. goetzei and K. paludosa are discussed. Distribution maps for K. vandeweghei and K. princeae are provided. Kniphofia bequaertii , sometimes regarded as a synonym of K. grantii , is considered to be a good species, and identification characters and distribution information are given. An identification key for all known Kniphofia species from Rwanda is provided.

Fischer E., Schaferhoff B. & Muller K.: The phylogeny of Linderniaceae - The new genus Linderniella, and new combinations within Bonnaya, Craterostigma, Lindernia, Micranthemum, Torenia and Vandellia. — Willdenowia 43: 209–238. December 2013. — ISSN 0511-9618; © 2013 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. Stable URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.43.43201 The recently described Linderniaceae are a monophyletic group that emerged in the course of the disintegration of the Scrophulariaceae in the last years. First molecular studies sampled only a small fraction of the genera assigned to the Linderniaceae, but later Lindernia was shown to be non-monophyletic. Here we used a plastid trnK/matK sequence dataset to get further insights into the relationships within Linderniaceae. The genus Lindernia as accepted to date is shown to be polyphyletic. Stemodiopsis is found to be sister to the remaining Linderniaceae, and the genera Psammetes and Bryodes are found to be nested in a Lindernia s.str. clade. We present a taxonomic...

Two new species of Dracaena Vand. ex L. (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae) from Central Africa are here described and illustrated. Dracaena longipetiolata Mwachala & Eb. Fisch. from Gabon is distinguished from D. phrynioides Hook. by its long petioles and elliptic leaves. Dracaena litoralis Mwachala & Eb. Fisch. is described from Cameroon and also occurs in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Congo-Brazzaville. This new taxon differs from D. braunii Engl. by its smaller flowers whose perianth lobes are shorter than the tube. The identity of D. braunii is discussed and its affinity with D. litoralis analyzed.

The new genus and species Savoronala madagascariensis is a lichenized hyphomycete characterized by its pale glaucous placodioid thallus with erect, short but robust stipes apically producing sporodochia with brown, subspherical conidia, whose cells are wrapped around a single chlorococcoid algal cell. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU and mtSSU sequences place Savoronala in the Malmideaceae (Lecanorales). The new species was collected on Erica stems and inhabits coastal dunes near Taolanaro (southeast Madagascar). Lecidea floridensis is shown to belong to Malmidea whereas Lecidea cyrtidia and L. plebeja are also resolved in the Malmideaceae. The genus Sporodochiolichen Aptroot & Sipman is reduced into synonymy with Tylophoron.

Crab spider association with the Malagasy pitcher plant Nepenthes madagascariensis Katja Rembold*, Eberhard Fischer, Boris F. Striffler and Wilhelm Barthlott Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitatsstrasse 1, 56070, Koblenz, Germany, Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115, Bonn, Germany and Poststr. 20, 53909, Zulpich-Nemmenich, Germany

To study the fast intracellular calcium response after ion irradiation in living mammalian cells, a live cell calcium imaging set-up was constructed at the targeted cell irradiation facility at GSI. This work introduces the live cell calcium imaging system, shows its performance, an example of the ratio-metric calcium measurement and its application to on-line study calcium response to targeted ion irradiation in human cells.

Striga magnibracteata Eb. Fisch. & I. Darbysh. is newly described from the Guinean savannas of eastern Guinee and southwestern Mali. Its affinity to S. klingii (Engl.) Skan, S. dalzielii Hutch. and S. macrantha (Benth.) Benth. is discussed and its conservation status is assessed.

A new species, Epistemma neuerburgii is described. This species was discovered in the Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, Tropical Africa during a field investigation of epiphytes in montane rainforest. It was, however, also found in Uganda, in similar environment. E. neuerburgii is the fourth species described for Epistemma, but the other three species are found about 2000 km to the west in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. E. neuerburgii is an epiphytic climber distinguished by fairly large lanceolate leaves and conspicuous reddish-purple flowers with corolline white, densely hairy corona lobes.

Fischer E., Lobin W. & Mutke J.: Striga barthlottii (Orobanchaceae), a new parasitic species from Morocco. — Willdenowia 41: 51–56. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2011 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.41.41105 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) Striga barthlottii, a species of the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae) endemic to Morocco and parasitising exclusively on succulent Euphorbia species, is described as new to science and compared with the widespread, polymorphic S. gesnerioides, for which it was previously mistaken.

Caecilians remain an enigmatic component of the tropical terrestrial fauna due in part to their cryptic life-history but also to a lack of directed effort towards their study. Many species are known from single specimens associated with poor collection data, which has not facilitated re-collection. Consequently, nearly two thirds of species are currently considered Data Deficient by the IUCN. Boulengerula fischeri was described from a single specimen deposited onto a car by an unknown collector in 1987, and has defied attempts at relocation for nearly 20 years. Herein we describe a collection of 20 individuals from agricultural land immediately outside Cyamudongo Forest in southwestern Rwanda, around 3 km from the type locality. Adults were found to attain a remarkable maximum length of nearly 400 mm despite being only 4.5 mm wide (maximum elongation index of 102). The range of morphometric and meristic measurements taken include those given for the type specimen, featuring mean annular and verte...

Nymphaea thermarum Eb. Fisch. is described and illustrated. Its history, distribution, cultivation, propagation and conservation status are discussed.