Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Background – The rain forest genus Ixora currently comprises 37 species in Continental Africa. Within the framework of a treatment of the genus for the Flore d’Afrique centrale, a new species is described from D.R. Congo, despite its being known from only two specimens.Methods – Standard methods of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Meise Botanic Garden
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Plant Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://plecevo.eu/article/24657/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1797641859080650752 |
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| author | Petra De Block |
| author_facet | Petra De Block |
| author_sort | Petra De Block |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background – The rain forest genus Ixora currently comprises 37 species in Continental Africa. Within the framework of a treatment of the genus for the Flore d’Afrique centrale, a new species is described from D.R. Congo, despite its being known from only two specimens.Methods – Standard methods of herbarium taxonomy are followed.Key results – Ixora kalehensis De Block, a new species from the Central Forest District in D.R. Congo, is described and illustrated. Ixora kalehensis remains under-collected and relatively poorly known but can nevertheless easily be distinguished from other Ixora species. The most distinctive character is the colour of the dried leaves: blackish on the upper surface and vivid brown on the lower surface. Other important characters are the small-sized, compact and sessile inflorescences and the large tree habit. The species is only known from two specimens collected in the 1950s and its preliminary IUCN status is Endangered (EN B2ab(iii)). The lack of more recent herbarium material highlights that the collecting effort in D.R. Congo remains substandard. It is hoped that the formal description of Ixora kalehensis will draw attention of international and local collectors and will result in more material and greater knowledge of the species. The description of this species brings the number of Ixora species to thirteen for central Africa (D.R. Congo, Rwanda and Burundi) and to twelve for D.R. Congo. An identification key to the species of D.R. Congo is provided. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:51:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e478124696764f6b929d9f727144e277 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2032-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:51:41Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | Meise Botanic Garden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-e478124696764f6b929d9f727144e2772023-11-02T08:29:23ZengMeise Botanic GardenPlant Ecology and Evolution2032-39212018-11-01151344244810.5091/plecevo.2018.152324657Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the CongoPetra De Block0Meise Botanic Garden, Nieuwelaan 38, BE-1860 MeiseBackground – The rain forest genus Ixora currently comprises 37 species in Continental Africa. Within the framework of a treatment of the genus for the Flore d’Afrique centrale, a new species is described from D.R. Congo, despite its being known from only two specimens.Methods – Standard methods of herbarium taxonomy are followed.Key results – Ixora kalehensis De Block, a new species from the Central Forest District in D.R. Congo, is described and illustrated. Ixora kalehensis remains under-collected and relatively poorly known but can nevertheless easily be distinguished from other Ixora species. The most distinctive character is the colour of the dried leaves: blackish on the upper surface and vivid brown on the lower surface. Other important characters are the small-sized, compact and sessile inflorescences and the large tree habit. The species is only known from two specimens collected in the 1950s and its preliminary IUCN status is Endangered (EN B2ab(iii)). The lack of more recent herbarium material highlights that the collecting effort in D.R. Congo remains substandard. It is hoped that the formal description of Ixora kalehensis will draw attention of international and local collectors and will result in more material and greater knowledge of the species. The description of this species brings the number of Ixora species to thirteen for central Africa (D.R. Congo, Rwanda and Burundi) and to twelve for D.R. Congo. An identification key to the species of D.R. Congo is provided.https://plecevo.eu/article/24657/download/pdf/Central Forest DistrictD.R. CongoIxoraIxora |
| spellingShingle | Petra De Block Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Plant Ecology and Evolution Central Forest District D.R. Congo Ixora Ixora |
| title | Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full | Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_fullStr | Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_short | Ixora kalehensis, a new Rubiaceae species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_sort | ixora kalehensis a new rubiaceae species from the democratic republic of the congo |
| topic | Central Forest District D.R. Congo Ixora Ixora |
| url | https://plecevo.eu/article/24657/download/pdf/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petradeblock ixorakalehensisanewrubiaceaespeciesfromthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo |