Manilkara lososiana, a New Species of Sapotaceae from Cameroon

Abstract

During the past decade, two long-term studies of tropical forest trees and lianas were initiated in the Korup National Park, Cameroon and in the Reserve de Faune 'a Okapis, Democratic Republic of Congo. These two large forest dynamics programs are part of a global network of research sites coordinated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and are leading to the discovery of many new plant species (e.g., Gereau & Kenfack 2000; Ewango & Breteler 2001; Sonk6 et al. 2002). During the study of the Korup plot vouchers at BR, MO, K, SCA and YA, some specimens belonging to the genus Manilkara Adans. could not be matched, and did not fit any of the species described from western and central Africa (Aubreville 1961, 1964; Gautier 1997). Critical examination of the Korup specimens revealed sufficient differences to justify the description of a new species. Further surveys in the Korup area to collect additional specimens of this taxon have so far been unsuccessful. This description is therefore based on a very small number of individuals, and we have little data on intra-specific variation. However, since we have both flowering and fruiting material showing a suite of distinctive characters, there is no reason to delay publication. The new species clearly belongs in the genus Manilkara because of the calyx, which has two whorls of 3 sepals each. Although Manilkara species are often difficult to separate, ours does not resemble any other described species very closely. M. pellegriniana Tisser. & Sillans is the only other species from the region with persistent stipules and glabrous, laciniate staminodes, and the new species can be distinguished from it by a number of well-defined characters. Manilkara lososiana Kenfack & Ewango sp. nov. Manilkarae pellegrinianae Tisser. & Sillans similis, sed stipulis triangularibus non filiformibus, petiolo breviore 5 15 non 20 40 mm longo, pedicello longiore, foliorum indumento brunneo (nec griseoargenteo) distinguitur. Typus: Cameroon, Southwest Province, Korup National Park, Kenfack 625 (holotypus YA; isotypi SCA, MO, K).