Euphorbiambuinzauensis , a new succulent species in Kenya from the Synadenium group in Euphorbiasect.Monadenium (Euphorbiaceae).

Euphorbiambuinzauensis , a succulent new species of the Synadenium group in Euphorbiaceae from Makueni County, Kenya, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is most similar to E.pseudomollis , but differs mainly by its shrubby habit (up to 4 m), abaxial leaves surfaces with densely stellate hairs, 2-4-forked cymes, smaller bracts (ca. 2.5 × 3.0 mm), smaller cyathia (6 mm wide), crimson glands without narrow smooth margin, smaller fruits (ca. 8 × 7 mm) and ovoid seeds (ca. 1.8 × 2.2 mm). Furthermore, we performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Synadenium group in Euphorbiasect.Monadenium, based on complete nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) datasets. This phylogenetic inference also supports it to be a distinct species. The new species is assessed as Endangered using the IUCN criteria.
(Neng Wei, Fredrick Munyao Mutie, Geoffrey Mwachala, Olwen M. Grace, Guang-Wan Hu, Qing-Feng Wang.)