Plant Ecology and Evolution 150(2): 217-224, doi: 10.5091/plecevo.2017.1305
Two new species of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) from Central Africa
Olivier Lachenaud‡, George E. Schatz, Gilles Dauby§, Tariq Stévart‡ Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium§ AMAP Lab, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
© Botanic Garden Meise and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium. all rights reserved Citation:
Lachenaud O, Schatz GE, Dauby G, Stévart T (2017) Two new species of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) from Central Africa. Plant Ecology and Evolution 150(2): 217-224. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2017.1305 |  |
Abstract
Background and aims – Diospyros (Ebenaceae), a large genus with a mostly tropical distribution, includes 736 species worldwide, 104 of which occur in continental Africa. During recent field work in west-central Gabon, two new species of Diospyros were collected. They are described and illustrated here, and compared with their most similar relatives. Preliminary conservation status assessments are also provided.
Methods – Normal practices of herbarium taxonomy were applied to study all available herbarium material, mainly from BR, BRLU, LBV, MO, P and WAG. The conservation status of both species was evaluated following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Key results – Diospyros cleistantha O.Lachenaud & G.E.Schatz occurs in the Atlantic regions of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon; it belongs to D. sect. Calvitiella and closely resembles D. zenkeri and D. iturensis. Diospyros subargentea O.Lachenaud, Dauby & G.E.Schatz is endemic to west-central Gabon; it belongs to D. sect. Noltia and most closely resembles D. soyauxii. The conservation status of the two species is assessed as Endangered and Vulnerable, respectively.
Methods – Normal practices of herbarium taxonomy were applied to study all available herbarium material, mainly from BR, BRLU, LBV, MO, P and WAG. The conservation status of both species was evaluated following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Key results – Diospyros cleistantha O.Lachenaud & G.E.Schatz occurs in the Atlantic regions of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon; it belongs to D. sect. Calvitiella and closely resembles D. zenkeri and D. iturensis. Diospyros subargentea O.Lachenaud, Dauby & G.E.Schatz is endemic to west-central Gabon; it belongs to D. sect. Noltia and most closely resembles D. soyauxii. The conservation status of the two species is assessed as Endangered and Vulnerable, respectively.
Keywords
CENTRAL AFRICA; CONSERVATION; DIOSPYROS; EBENACEAE; GABON; LOWER GUINEA; NEW SPECIES; TAXONOMY