Publication Date:
2024-07-03
Description:
The Crepidorhopalon whytei (Linderniaceae) species complex is revised using morphological analyses.
Based primarily on variations in indumentum, floral morphology, corolla colour and seed morphology, four species are
formally recognised within this group in eastern Africa. Crepidorhopalon whytei s.str. is widespread in the highlands
of eastern Africa, extending from South Sudan and Ethiopia in the north through to western Tanzania in the south.
A new combination in Crepidorhopalon is made for Lindernia flava (= C. flavus), which is confined to the Manica
Highlands of the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border. Two new species are described, C. namuliensis which is known
only from Mt Namuli in northern Mozambique and C. kwaleensis which is known only from the coastal lowlands of
southeast Kenya. A fifth, imperfectly known species is documented from the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania where it
is so far known from a single collection. Three names are lectotypified. The habitat requirements and distribution are
documented and the extinction risk is assessed for each species. Crepidorhopalon flavus is assessed as globally
Vulnerable and C. kwaleensis as globally Endangered, while C. namuliensis and C. whytei are currently considered
to be of Least Concern, although the latter is declining markedly in parts of its range. The botanical importance of
the key sites for the newly recognised taxa is discussed.
Keywords:
Plant Science
;
Ecology
;
Evolution
;
Behavior and Systematics
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
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