Corresponding author: Léo-Paul M.J. Dagallier (
Academic editor: Y. Mutafchiev
East Africa is a hotspot of biodiversity with many endemic plant species. We describe three new species of the genus
Dagallier L-PMJ, Mbago FM, Luke WRQ, Couvreur TLP (2021) Three new species of
East Africa is one of the richest regions in terms of biodiversity across the continent (
The genus
Here we describe three new species of
We examined all the 35 herbarium specimens cited in the results. Among them, we measured 12 specimens for
Comparison of the main characters used to discriminate the described species with
Species |
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Scent | none reported | none reported |
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none reported |
Lamina length (mm) | 86–210 | 65–132 | 76–157 | 159–188 |
Leaves margins | flat | slightly revolute | slightly revolute | flat |
Pedicel length (mm) | 5–28 | 8–30 |
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10– 15 |
Sepals | free, valvate to imbricate | fused at base | free, imbricate |
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Petals length (mm) | 12–39 | 16–18 | unknown on mature flower |
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Number of carpels | 7–20 | 12–16 | < 10 |
For morphological descriptions, we followed the terminology developed by
The identification key was built with the help of Xper3 comparison tools (
To make a preliminary conservation status assessment for each species, we calculated the extent of occurrence (
The distribution map was plotted using
Tanzania – Tanga • L.-P.M.J. Dagallier 39 (holotype: MPU (MPU1375316), isotypes:
Differs from other
Tree or shrub 3–6 m tall, 5–10 cm in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), slash with strong bergamot smell (the citrusy smell of
Closed evergreen forest dominated by
Endemic to Tanzania; only known from seven locations: Kimboza Forest, Msata Hill, Kwedijela forest, Kwedivikilo sacred forest, Mkwaja Ranch, Mkulumuzi river, and Hale (Fig.
Map of the distribution of the three new
This species is known from 11 records in seven locations. The current occurrence of the species in Mkulumuzi river and Hale is really unlikely given that these are now (sub)urban areas and that these records date back, respectively, more than 30 years and over a century. Changes in traditional practices and exploitation of traditionally protected forests had been observed more than 20 years ago (
For the reasons explained above, we removed the occurrences in Mkulumuzi river and Hale from the calculations of extent of occurrence (
Zigua (or Chizigua) language: Mchenene, Msenene (C.M. Kisena 3039), Mkenene (T.L.P. Couvreur 3, L–P.M.J. Dagallier 39, F. Mbago 3323).
The bark is used as a spice for meat meals and for tea.
Foodplant of
Named after Mr. Frank Mbago, curator of the
Tanzania – Morogoro • L.-P.M.J. Dagallier 50 (
The globose flower buds of this species easily fall off. Only flower buds were observed for this species, thus it is hard to infer the size of mature flowers. In the description above, the measures on the sepals and the petals are based on the dissection of the biggest flower bud of U. Bloesch s.n., and the carpel measurements were based on an old flower of T.C.E. Congdon 532 which has lost sepals and petals.
The fruiting specimens observed were collected from September to December. Collecting this species earlier in the year might permit the observation of flowers at anthesis.
Kenya – Coast • S.A. Robertson et al. Mrima Dzombo Expedition 207 (holotype: K, isotypes: EA, MO, WAG), Kaya Dzombo Hill;
This species differs from other
Tree 4–7 m tall, d.b.h. unknown, young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous, old branches glabrous. Leaf bud ‘eragrostiform’, composed of 5, distichous, longitudinally folded, velutinous scales. Leaves distichous, simple, entire, pinnately veined. Petiole 3–4 mm long, 1–1.5 mm in diameter, slightly pubescent to glabrous. Lamina 65–132 mm long, 20–45 mm wide, length:width ratio 2.9–3.6, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, coriaceous, apex attenuate, base acute to slightly decurrent, above glabrous, below glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken above, raised below, above glabrous when young and old, below slightly pubescent to glabrous when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 12–13 pairs, weak brochidodromous; tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescence borne on trunk or old branches, 1-flowered. Flowering pedicel 8–30 mm long, 2–2.5 mm in diameter, densely pubescent. Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphroditic, buds spherical 4–4.5 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent. Bracts 6 at base of the pedicel in flower bud, 1 on mature flower in the lower half of the pedicel, 5–6 mm long, 5–8 mm wide, pubescent to shortly pubescent outside, glabrous inside. Sepals 3, 5–7 mm long, 4.5–7 mm wide, fused at base, pubescent to shortly pubescent outside, glabrous inside. Outer petals 3, ca. 16 mm long, ca. 9 mm wide, shortly velutinous outside, glabrous inside, color unknown. Inner petals 3, ca. 18 mm long, 8 mm wide, shortly velutinous outside, glabrous inside, color unknown. Stamens more than 700, 2 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, anthers linear, connective truncate. Carpels 50–75, ca. 2 mm long, ca. 1–1.5 mm wide, densely pubescent. Stigma not seen. Fruiting pedicel ca. 14 mm long, ca. 4 mm in diameter, pubescent. Monocarps (unripe?) ca. 35, ca. 15 mm long, ca. 10 mm wide, length:width ratio ca. 1.5, ovoid, sessile, densely pubescent, golden brown. Seeds (unripe?) ca. 5 per monocarp, uniseriate, ca. 4.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, glabrous.
Endemic to Kenya, only known from Dzombo Hill (Kaya Dzombo) (Fig.
Moist semi–deciduous forest on igneous intrusion.
This species is known from five collections from a single location. Literature found on the Dzombo Hill forest reports a surface of 2.95 km2 (
The specific epithet comes from the Dzombo Hill where the species is endemic.
Kenya – Coast • W.R.Q. Luke 1654 (EA (EA000008806), K); Kwale District, Dzombo Forest Reserve;
This species is known as “
The only fruit known from this species (Robertson S.A. et al. MDE 207) presents ca. 35 ovoid monocarps. These are densely pubescent and have small seeds compared to other
During a field trip in Tanzania in November 2019, we explored the forest of Kilulu hill (TANZANIA- Tanga,
Kenya – Coast • W.R.Q. Luke 3087 (holotype: EA (EA000008814), isotypes: K, MO, US); Kwale District, Shimba hills, Longomagandi;
This species differs from other
Tree 10–12 m tall, d.b.h. unknown, young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrate, old branches glabrous. Leaf bud ‘eragrostiform’, composed of 5–7, ca. 10 mm long, 10 mm wide distichous, longitudinally folded, velutinous scales. Leaves distichous, simple, entire. Petiole 4.5–7 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diameter, glabrate to sparsely puberulent. Lamina 159–188 mm long, 49–71 mm wide, length:width ratio 2.4–3.3, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, coriaceous, apex attenuate to acuminate, base acute to decurrent, above glabrous, below sparsely pubescent to glabrate when young, glabrous when old; midrib sunken above, raised below, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent to glabrous when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 10–14 pairs, weakly brochidodromous to brochidodromous; tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescence borne on trunk and branches, 1–2 flowers. Flower pedicel 10–15 mm long, 2.5 mm in diameter, densely velutinous. Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphroditic, buds spherical, 6–7 mm in diameter, velutinous. Bracts 1–3, 1 at base of the pedicel, 1–2 between the 20–70% of the length of the pedicel, ca. 5 mm long, ca. 10 mm wide, velutinous outside, glabrous inside. Sepals 3, 5.5–7 mm long, 7–9 mm wide, fused on ca. 50% of the length, forming a ring around fruit pedicel, densely velutinous to velutinous outside, glabrous inside. Outer petals 3, 11–12 mm long, 9–11 mm wide, densely velutinous to velutinous outside, glabrous inside, brown outside, cream with purple streak at base inside. Inner petals 3, ca. 10 mm long, 8–9 mm wide, connivent at apex on ca. 50% of the length, densely velutinous to velutinous outside, glabrous inside, brown-orange with margins cream and purple at base outside, cream with purple streak at base inside. Stamens more than 500, length and shape unknown. Carpels ca. 7, ca. 1.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, velutinous. Stigma not seen. Fruiting pedicel ca. 16 mm long, ca. 2.5 mm in diameter, pubescent. Monocarps 3–5, ca. 32 mm long, ca. 20 mm wide, length:width ratio ca. 1.6, rounded to ellipsoid with a longitudinal ridge, sessile, sparsely pubescent, green turning orange. Seeds not seen.
Endemic to Kenya; only known from the Longomwagandi forest (also found spelled “Longomagandi” or “Longo-Magandi” in the literature) in the Shimba Hills National Reserve, in Kenya (Fig.
Lowland forest on ridge with
This species is known from seven collections from a single location. Literature for the Shimba Hills forest reserve reports a surface between 0.22 km2 (
Copious seedlings are found below parent trees, but few survive to maturity. Many of these “wildlings” were moved to the Base Titanium indigenous tree nursery and have been out-planted there as part of their mine rehabilitation program.
Mbebeneka in Kidigo language (R. Schmidt 788).
This species is named after Robert Schmidt, a PhD student studying the ecology of the Shimba Hills National Reserve who first collected it in September 1988 and brought it to the attention of W.R.Q. Luke.
Kenya – Coast • W.R.Q. Luke & S.A. Robertson 2737 (EA, K, MO, US); Kwale District, Shimba hills, Longomagandi;
This species shows ‘eragrostiform’ leaf–buds, a feature described in
Tanzania – Tanga • J. Lovett 259 (holotype: K (K000198888)); Lushoto District, Ambangulu, West Usambara; alt. 1300 m; 2 Mar. 1984.
We examined 11 specimens (including the type specimen) of
Tanzania – Tanga • A. Borhidi 86249 (K); Muheza District, East Usambaras Mts., Kwamkoro F.R. SE of Kwamkoro Tea Estate; alt. 1030 m; 28 Oct. 1986. • A. Borhidi 87241 (K); Muheza District, East Usambaras Mts., Kwamkoro F.R. bordering Kwamsambia F.R; alt. 990 m; 05 May. 1987. • L.-P.M.J. Dagallier 63 (
1 | Longest leaf lamina equal to or longer than 35 cm long |
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– | Longest leaf lamina shorter than 35 cm long |
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2 | Number of secondary veins pairs equal to or less than 20; fruit monocarps less than 10 mm wide and with a length:width ratio over 5, stipe 5–11 mm long |
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– | Number of secondary veins pairs more than 20; fruit monocarps more than 13 mm wide and with a length:width ratio below 4, stipe less than 6 mm long |
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3 | Young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous; leaf lamina oblong to obovate, base rounded to subcordate |
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– | Young branches pilose covered with long soft hair quickly falling off; leaf lamina obovate, base acute |
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4 | Greatest leaf lamina equal to or shorter than 16 cm long, margins slightly revolute |
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– | Greatest leaf lamina longer than 16 cm long, margins flat |
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5 | Bark and crushed leaves emitting a strong bergamot scent; flower and fruits (sub)sessile, pedicel less than 6 mm long; carpels 12 to 16; monocarps cylindrical, green-grey, tomentose with regular tufts of higher hair density |
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– | Bark and crushed leaves not emitting a bergamot scent; flower and fruits pedicel 8–30 mm long (but flower buds sessile); carpels 50 to 75; monocarps ovoid, golden-brown, densely pubescent |
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6 | Leaf lamina up to 40 cm long, base rounded to acute; carpels 40 to 50; monocarp length:width ratio over 5 |
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– | Leaf lamina up to 32 cm long, base acute to decurrent; carpels up to 40; monocarp length:width ratio below 4 |
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7 | Leaf lamina apex attenuate to acuminate; flower pedicel equal to or less than 15 mm; sepals fused at base over more than 20% of their length |
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– | Leaf lamina apex acute to attenuate; flower pedicel equal to or more than (5)-10 mm; sepals connivent or fused at base over less than 10% of their length |
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8 | Bark of trunk and branch peeling off, reddish; leaf lamina length:width ratio equal to or more than 3.4; petals 31–36 mm long, carpels 29 to 40 |
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– | Bark of trunk and branch not peeling off, greyish; leaf lamina length:width ratio equal to or less than 3.3; petals 10–12 mm long, carpels fewer than 10 |
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9 | Plant emitting a strong anise scent; longest leaves up to 32 cm; flower pedicel 15–65 mm long; fruit monocarps 38–70 mm long, ripe fresh fruit dark blue-black |
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– | Plant not emitting anise scent; longest leaves up to 22 cm; flower pedicel (5)10–30 mm long; fruit monocarps 23–36 mm long, ripe fresh fruit dull-orange |
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The three new species described here (
The new combination and the three new species described here bring the number of East African
We are grateful to COSTECH for delivering the necessary research permit (permit no. 2019-529-NA-2019-320) and all local authorities for permitting fieldwork in Tanzania. We are grateful to Yusuph Shekilango for the driving and technical support during this fieldwork mission, as well as to all the local guides. The visit to the K herbarium was made possible thanks to SYNTHESYS+ grant (GB-TAF-45). We are very grateful to Aurélie Grall and all the Kew herbarium staff for the warm welcome. We are also grateful to B herbarium, EA herbarium and Dr Paul Musili, and MO herbarium for the loans of the specimens; to the P herbarium and Dr Thierry Deroin for allowing the visit to the collections. We thank very much the