Gilbertiodendron tonkolili sp. nov. (Leguminosae–Caesalpinioideae) from Sierra Leone

Abstract

Gilbertiodendron tonkolili Burgt & Estrella sp. nov. (Leguminosae–Caesalpinioideae) is described and illustrated. The new species is endemic to a small area in central Sierra Leone. Gilbertiodendron tonkolili is characterised by leaves bearing 4–6 pairs of leaflets; stipules comprising a lower auriculate and an upper linear part, cream–white coloured bracteoles and a pale yellow adaxial petal. The fruits have a single longitudinal vein (sometimes a second partial vein). We assess G. tonkolili here as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) under the 2001 criteria of IUCN. We judge it to be morphologically closest to G. bilineatum which we confirm here as ‘Vulnerable’ (VU) and for which we also provide a full description and an illustration. A table of characters useful in differentiating the two species is given and a distribution map of both species is included.