Kindia (Pavetteae, Rubiaceae), a new cliff-dwelling genus with chemically profiled colleter exudate from Mt Gangan, Republic of Guinea

A new genus Kindia (Pavetteae, Rubiaceae) is described with a single species, Kindia gangan, based on collections made in 2016 during botanical exploration of Mt Gangan, Kindia, Republic of Guinea in West Africa. The Mt Gangan area is known for its many endemic species including the only native non-neotropical Bromeliaceae Pitcairnia feliciana. Kindia is the fourth endemic vascular plant genus to be described from Guinea. Based on chloroplast sequence data, the genus is part of Clade II of tribe Pavetteae. In this clade, it is sister to Leptactina sensu lato (including Coleactina and Dictyandra). K. gangan is distinguished from Leptactina s.l. by the combination of the following characters: its epilithic habit; several-flowered axillary inflorescences; distinct calyx tube as long as the lobes; a infundibular-campanulate corolla tube with narrow proximal section widening abruptly to the broad distal section; presence of a dense hair band near base of the corolla tube; anthers and style deeply included, reaching about mid-height of the corolla tube; anthers lacking connective appendages and with sub-basal insertion; pollen type 1; pollen presenter (style head) winged and glabrous (smooth and usually hairy in Leptactina); orange colleters producing a vivid red exudate, which encircle the hypanthium, and occur inside the calyx and stipules. Kindia is a subshrub that appears restricted to bare, vertical rock faces of sandstone. Fruit dispersal and pollination by bats is postulated. Here, it is assessed as Endangered EN D1 using the 2012 IUCN standard. High resolution LC-MS/MS analysis revealed over 40 triterpenoid compounds in the colleter exudate, including those assigned to the cycloartane class. Triterpenoids are of interest for their diverse chemical structures, varied biological activities, and potential therapeutic value

Threatened Habitats & Tropical Important Plant Areas (TIPAs) of Guinea, West Africa

Guinea has more than 250 documented unique and threatened plant species, more than is known for any other country in West Africa. To protect them should be not only a national priority but a global one. Among these species – these natural resources – are the potential for new medicines, materials, and foods that could improve the livelihoods of Guineans through research and development. However, time is running out. Already 35 of Guinea’s rarest plant species are possibly extinct, and 25 of these species are, or were, globally unique to Guinea. These species have not been found in more than 50 years, despite our surveys to seek them, and appear to have been destroyed unknowingly as a result of human activities. Guinea will continue to develop, with increased mining, improved agriculture, new roads, new industry, larger towns and cities, and more infrastructure to support them. This future development will impact on the natural environment. In this book, we document Guinea’s most threatened habitats for plants, the 22 most important areas for the conservation of these habitats, and the threatened plant species that they contain. If the 22 Tropical Important Plant Areas (TIPAs) that are mapped in this book can be protected, much of Guinea’s national patrimony in terms of wild plant resources will be safeguarded. Altogether, these 22 areas occupy 8,702km², 3.5% of the surface area of Guinea. Several of these areas are already protected, such as Nimba and Ziama. Others are not protected, such as Kounounkan, which has more globally unique species than any other location in Guinea, yet where forest destruction continues. The 22 TIPAs that are mapped in this book include: –– Over 60% of Guinea’s threatened plant species –– Guinea’s most species-rich documented sites –– Important indigenous socio-economic species –– The highest quality areas of each of the nine threatened habitats. We hope that this book, a joint product of Guinean and UK-based scientists, government officials, and NGO staff, will result in increased protection and better management of Guinea’s plant diversity

Habitats Menacés et Zones Tropicales Importantes Pour les Plantes (ZTIP) de Guinée, Afrique de l'Ouest

La Guinée compte plus de 250 espèces répertoriées de plantes uniques et menacées, plus que tout autre pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Assurer leur protection ne devrait pas uniquement être une priorité nationale, mais une priorité mondiale. Parmi ces espèces – ces ressources naturelles – il existe potentiellement de nouveaux médicaments, matériaux, et aliments qui, grâce à la recherche scientifique, pourraient améliorer les moyens de subsistance des Guinéens. Cependant, le temps presse. Déjà 35 des espèces de plantes les plus rares de Guinée sont peut-être éteintes, et 25 de ces espèces sont ou étaient uniques au monde en Guinée. Malgré nos recherches, ces espèces n'ont pas été aperçues depuis plus de 50 ans et semblent avoir été détruites par inadvertance à la suite d'activités humaines. La Guinée continuera de se développer à travers une exploitation minière plus importante, une agriculture améliorée, de nouvelles routes, de nouvelles industries, de plus grandes villes, ainsi que des infrastructures supplémentaires pour les soutenir. Ce développement futur aura un impact sur l'environnement naturel. Dans ce livre, nous documentons les habitats de plantes les plus menacés de Guinée et les 22 zones les plus importantes, non seulement pour la conservation de ces habitats, mais également pour les espèces de plantes menacées qu’ils contiennent. Si ces 22 ZTIP répertoriées dans cet ouvrage peuvent être protégées, une grande partie du patrimoine national de la Guinée en termes de ressources en plantes sauvages sera alors sauvegardée. Au total, ces 22 zones occupent 8 702 km², soit 3,5% de la superficie de la Guinée. Plusieurs de ces zones sont déjà protégées, telles que Nimba et Ziama. D'autres ne sont pas protégées, comme par exemple Kounounkan qui abrite pourtant plus d’espèces uniques au monde que tout autre lieu de Guinée, et la destruction de la forêt s’y poursuit. Les 22 Zones Tropicales Importantes pour les Plantes répertoriées dans ce livre incluent : –– Plus de 60% des espèces de plantes menacées de Guinée –– Les sites documentés les plus riches en espèces de Guinée –– Des espèces socio-économiques indigènes importantes –– Les zones de la plus haute qualité de chacun des neuf habitats menacés Nous espérons que ce livre, qui est le résultat des efforts communs de scientifiques guinéens et britanniques, de responsables gouvernementaux, et d’équipes d’ONG, permettra de renforcer la protection de la diversité végétale de la Guinée et de mieux la gérer

Piloting development of species conservation action plans in Guinea

Conservation action plans need to be devised and implemented if we are to reduce the extinction risk faced by globally threatened plants. However, most plant species categorized as threatened globally on the IUCN Red List lack conservation action plans. In West Africa, Guinea is one of the most diverse countries in terms of botanical species. In total, 273 plant species in Guinea have been assessed as being threatened globally, reflecting increasing pressure from the extractive industry and a growing population requiring food and fuel. In parallel with the implementation of an Important Plant Area programme in Guinea, we developed conservation action plans for 20 threatened plant species through a pilot study. We outline the methods we used and demonstrate the importance of adopting a collaborative approach and having up-to-date field information. The need for such plans is urgent, with recent estimates suggesting that one-third of African plants are threatened with extinction. Based on our experience with the first 20 conservation action plans for Guinea species, we suggest that the preparation of multi-species conservation action plans would be an efficient use of the limited resources available for species conservation