The genus Ephemerum (Pottiaceae, Bryopsida) in Central Africa (Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda) with description of two new species

Two new species of Ephemerum from Rwanda (E. rwandense) and Gabon (E. pocsii) are described. The identity of Ephemerum pechuelii is discussed. As the type is missing, the species can not be defined with high confidence. According to the protologue, the species has rather wide leaves with entire margin that are hardly recurved. A key to all species of Ephemerum from Africa is provided

The family Zingiberaceae in Rwanda with description of two new species of Renealmia

Background and aims – The Zingiberaceae of Rwanda are revised, and three new records of Aframomum species (A. corrorima, A. daniellii, A. zambesiacum) are provided. One previously recorded species, A. alboviolaceum, has to be excluded from the Flora of Rwanda. Two new species of Renealmia are described from Rwanda and Burundi in connection with the preparation of the family treatment for the Flore d’Afrique centrale. Material and methods – Field work and standard herbarium practices were applied. Key results – Renealmia timmiorum sp. nov. is similar to R. cincinnata and R. cabrae, and R. susannae-katziae sp. nov. is similar to R. africana and R. dewevrei. The differences with these species are discussed and distribution maps for the new taxa are presented. Renealmia timmiorum is assessed as Least Concern (LC), while R. susannae-katziae is assessed as Endangered (EN)

The Genus Ephemerum (Pottiaceae, Bryopsida) in Central Africa (Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda) with Description of Two New Species

Two new species of Ephemerum from Rwanda (E. rwandense) and Gabon(E. pocsii) are described. The identity of Ephemerum pechuelii is discussed. As the type is missing, the species can not be defined with high confidence. According to the protologue, the species has rather wide leaves with entire margin that are hardly recurved. A key to all species of Ephemerum from Africa is provided

New records of the lichen genus <I>Menegazzia</I> from Africa

Une étude du matériel africain du lichen Menegazzia a été effectuée. Deux espèces sont rapportées comme nouvelles pour le continent, M. capitata de Tanzanie, et M. subsimilis de La Réunion, Madagascar, Rwanda et Tanzanie. Un rapport antérieur de M. terebrata de Madagascar est rejeté. Un rapport antérieur de la même espèce de Tanzanie ne pourrait pas être confirmé, mais pas tous le matériel de Tanzanie cité dans la littérature était disponible pour l\u27étude.A study of African material of the lichen genus Menegazzia was undertaken. Two species are reported as new to the continent; M. capitata from Tanzania, and M. subsimilis from La Réunion, Madagascar, Rwanda and Tanzania. A previous report of M. terebrata from Madagascar is rejected, whereas a previous report of the same species from Tanzania could not be confirmed, but not all Tanzanian specimens cited in the literature were seen.</p

Erstnachweis einer epiphyllen Flechtengesellschaft (Fellhaneretum myrtillicolae Spier & Aptroot) auf Buxus sempervirens in Deutschland

peer reviewe

Neoschumannia gishwatiensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae) from Gishwati Forest, Rwanda-a third and new species from a disjunct African genus

Fischer, Eberhard, Killmann, Dorothee, Meve, Ulrich (2013): Neoschumannia gishwatiensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae) from Gishwati Forest, Rwanda-a third and new species from a disjunct African genus. Phytotaxa 77 (2): 19-26, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.77.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.77.2.

Neoschumannia gishwatiensis Eb. Fischer, Killmann & Meve 2013, sp. nov.

Neoschumannia gishwatiensis Eb.Fischer, Killmann & Meve, sp. nov. (Figs. 1 & 2) Ab omnibus speciebus Neoschumanniae adhuc cognitis gemmis obovatis, corolla lobis ellipticis, emeraldis, nitidis, corona gynostegiali partibus extendibus basali discoidis conjunctis differt. Type:— RWANDA. Northern Province: Gishwati Forest Reserve, 29°21’22”E, 1°49’36”S, 2170 m, 2 October 2009, Fischer 13225 (holotype K!; isotype KOBL!). Lianas, climbing up to 5 m high, with above-ground runners up to 2 m long. Latex colorless, roots fibrous. Stems twining when support available, 4–5 mm diam, green, glabrous. Petiole up to 2.3 cm long, adaxially channelled; blades elliptic, 9–11 × 5–7 cm, herbaceous to subcoriaceous, basally rounded, acuminate at apex, green, concolor (abaxial side of leaf slightly paler than adaxial side), glabrous, base of lamina adaxially with 2 colleters, stipules reduced or minute, 0.8–1 mm long, glands ovoid. Inflorescences extra-axillary, solitary, many-flowered with 1–2 flowers open at time, pseudo-umbellate, with flowers all arising at apex of peduncle, lax; pedunculate, peduncles filiform, ca. 4–5 cm long, 1.5 mm diam., glabrous; rachis persistent, cylindrical, thick, straight, with numerous lanceolate bracts; pedicels filiform, ca. 4 cm long, 1 mm wide, glabrous. Flowers pendulous. Flower buds obovoid. Calyx aposepalous, sepals lanceolate, ca. 6 mm long, acute, glabrous. Corolla rotate, ca. 25 mm long, apopetalous, petals narrowly elliptic, 24–28 × 8–9 mm, slightly twisted at base and suddenly narrowed to ca. 0.7 mm width, subacute, abaxially greenish, tinged reddish to brownish, adaxially emerald-green, smooth, brilliant, with whitish, vibratile, clavate trichomes, ca. 2 mm long, on base of petals, otherwise glabrous; petals usually slightly spreading at anthesis. Gynostegial corona a basally fused ring of staminal and interstaminal parts which is extended basally into a completely fused skirt; skirt discoid, spreading, fleshy, white, glabrous; staminal corona lobes lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long, conniventerect, purple with translucent-white apex, laterally and abaxially with simple, thin, spreading hairs, 0.4–0.5 mm long, translucent-white; interstaminal corona lobes deltoid, ca. 2 mm long, ascending-erect with apex slightly recurved, canaliculate, occasionally apically notched, white with purple dots, laterally and abaxially covered with simple, thin, spreading hairs, 0.5-0.6 mm long, translucent-white. Gynostegium with corona atop a column, exposed above corolla, column cylindrical, ca. 1.4 × 1.6 mm, whitish. Anthers subquadrate, erect, thickened. Pollinia erect, obovoid, ca. 0.4 × 0.3 mm; corpusculum ellipsoid, ca. 0.2 mm long, with inconspicuous, ellipsoid-deltoid basal projections, caudicles linear, ca. 0.1 mm long, straight. Style head umbonate. Mericarps paired, pendulous, narrowly oblong, terete, 26–30 cm long, 4–5 mm diam., acute-angled (20–30°), shortly beaked, mottled whitish green, green or dark green, glabrous. Seeds ovate, 11 × ca. 4 mm, brown, wing ca. 1 mm wide; coma ca. 30 mm long, white. Habitat:—This species was found near the edge of the Gishwati Forest Reserve, in degraded secondary forest dominated by Neoboutonia macrocalyx Pax, Macaranga kilimandscharica Pax, Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms, Carapa grandiflora Sprague, Vernonia auriculifera Hiern, and Solanecio mannii (Hook. f.) C.Jeffrey at 2170 m altitude. The Gishwati Forest is a remnant of a once larger montane forest (Mildbraed 1914) that was mostly destroyed in the 1980’s due to a World Bank project, and converted into pastures. The remaining forest relic was again logged after 1994. However, it still harbors a unique diversity and species new to science were recently discovered (Fischer et al. in prep.). The local fauna is also very rich, and a small population of chimpanzees is still present (R. Chancelor & A. Rundus, pers. comm.). For a description of the vegetation of the Gishwati Forest, see Fischer & Hinkel (1994). Conservation Status: — Neoschumannia gishwatiensis is only known from the type locality in the Gishwati Forest Reserve. According to the IUCN criteria (IUCN 2012) it can be assessed as critically endangered (CR). However, the species may be more widespread in similar forests of Rwanda (e.g., Nyungwe National Park; Fischer & Killmann 2008), Burundi (Kibira National Park) or the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biéga National Park; Fischer 1996). It may be overlooked as it is not very conspicuous without flowers and fruits and resembles other apocynaceous lianas. Rwanda has a special responsibility for the conservation of this unique species.Published as part of Fischer, Eberhard, Killmann, Dorothee & Meve, Ulrich, 2013, Neoschumannia gishwatiensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae) from Gishwati Forest, Rwanda-a third and new species from a disjunct African genus, pp. 19-26 in Phytotaxa 77 (2) on pages 20-23, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.77.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/506679

Neoschumannia Schlechter 1905

Key to the species of Neoschumannia 1. Tips of petals with a tuft of long purplish hairs, corolla lobes 15–20 × 3–4 mm, adaxially olive green to purple with whitish splash at base, tufts of purplish clavate-tipped hairs at base, column supporting gynostegium 3–4 mm tall....................................................................................................................................................................... N. cardinea 1*. Tips of petals nearly glabrous to pubescent, corolla lobes 7–18 × 2.5-3 mm or 24–28 × 9 mm, adaxially greenish with purple dots in the upper four firth, or emerald green and smooth and brilliant, with either purple or whitish clavate hairs at base, column supporting gynostegium 1.4–2.5 mm tall.................................................................................. 2 2. Corolla lobes 7–18 × 2.5–3 mm, adaxially greenish with purple dots in the upper four fifths, with purple clavate hairs at base, corona pubescent to villous, coronal skirt membranous and recurved, column supporting gynostegium 2–2.5 mm tall.............................................................................................................................................. N. kamerunensis 2*. Corolla lobes 24–28 × 9 mm, emerald green, smooth and brilliant, with whitish clavate hairs at base, corona glabrous, coronal skirt fleshy and spreading, column supporting gynostegium ca. 1.4 mm tall............. N. gishwatiensisPublished as part of Fischer, Eberhard, Killmann, Dorothee & Meve, Ulrich, 2013, Neoschumannia gishwatiensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae) from Gishwati Forest, Rwanda-a third and new species from a disjunct African genus, pp. 19-26 in Phytotaxa 77 (2) on pages 23-24, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.77.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/506679

New saxicolous species of Hypotrachyna and Parmotrema ( Parmeliaceae ) from Rwanda

The following new species of Parmeliaceae are described from Rwanda: Hypotrachyna rwandensis Elix, Bb. Fischer & Killmann and Parmotrema afrocetratum Elix, Eb. Fischer & Killmann