Abstract
Afrothismia foertheriana, a new species of Burmanniaceae (tribe: Thismieae) from the peripheral zone of the Onge Forest Reserve in Cameroon’s Southwest Province is described and illustrated. The papillose, multicellular floral trichomes, the tepal’s erose margins, the small, zygomorphic perianth mouth and the dull purplish brown coloration give A. foertheriana a distinctive appearance within the genus. The species is here assessed as being critically endangered.
Highlights
All species of the small genus Afrothismia (Burmanniaceae; tribe: Thismieae) are achlorophyllous myco-heterotrophic herbs, receiving all essential nutrients from root colonizing fungi (Leake, 1994; Cheek & Williams, 1999; Imhof, 1999)
Since species of Afrothismia generally produce flowers and fruits during the rainy season, the plants spend most of their life cycle subterraneously and are well hidden from the collector’s eye (Cheek & Williams, 1999; Sainge, 2003)
The small patches of rain forest still existing on some steep slopes between Moliwe and the village of Saxenhof, as well as the southerly situated BimbiaBonadikombo community forest, were vainly scoured by us for Afrothismia during the rainy seasons of 2000, 2001 and 2002; and by others during 1991–1993 (Cheek & Ndam 1996; Cable & Cheek 1997)
Summary
All species of the small genus Afrothismia (Burmanniaceae; tribe: Thismieae) are achlorophyllous myco-heterotrophic herbs, receiving all essential nutrients from root colonizing fungi (Leake, 1994; Cheek & Williams, 1999; Imhof, 1999). Since species of Afrothismia generally produce flowers and fruits during the rainy season, the plants spend most of their life cycle subterraneously and are well hidden from the collector’s eye (Cheek & Williams, 1999; Sainge, 2003).
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