Cola species of the limestone forests of Africa, with a new, endangered species, Cola cheringoma (Sterculiaceae), from Cheringoma, Mozambique

Abstract

SummaryCola cheringoma is described from the limestone gorge forest of the Cheringoma Plateau in Sofala Province of Central Mozambique. Tentatively treated previously as C. clavata Mast., it differs in being restricted to limestone substrate, the leaves drying white-green below (not on sandy soils, drying dark grey-brown). The tepal number of female flowers is 5 (not (5 –) 6), staminode number 5 (not 8), and the indumentum of the outer perianth covers only 50 – 60% of the surface with two distinct hair classes (not 100% coverage with a single hair type). The species is assessed as EN B2ab(iii) using the IUCN 2012 standard due to threats from the low number of locations, quarrying, and habitat modification. The Cola species growing in forest on limestone in tropical Africa are mapped and reviewed with respect to their status as obligate or facultative calcicoles, and with respect to their probable evolutionary origin. Based on morphological characters, adaptation to limestone habitats has probably occurred at least four times in the genus. Forests on limestone are rare and threatened in tropical Africa: only thirteen locations are known with certainty: these occur in Kenya (10 locations), Tanzania (2 locations) and Mozambique (1 location).