New record of Lestica bibundica Leclercq, 1972 (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from West Africa

Summary. Tephrosia heterophylla Vatke is considered to be an earlier name for the species currently called T. schweinfurthii Defl. in southern Arabia and northeast tropical Africa. Synonymy, typification and a distribution map are given. Tephrosia heterophylla Vatke (1878) was described on the basis of the collection Hildebrandt 835a from 'Mt Ahl' (today's Al Mts) in northern Somalia. According to the description it is a plant with usually simple leaves and lax-flowered terminal pedunculate racemes, but the type is most probably no longer extant. Lanjouw & Stafleu (1957) state that the material from Hildebrandt's journey in 1872-74 was distributed to the herbaria in B (orig.), BM, BR, CORD, GOET, K, KIEL, L, LY, MO, P and W (abbreviations according to Holmgren, Keuken & Schofield 1981). In all these herbaria the type of T. heterophylla has been sought in vain either by me personally or at my request. In W, where the types of the species described by Vatke in this publication are normally found, the collection Hildebrandt 835 from Lasgori in northern Somalia is erroneously marked as the type of T. heterophylla. Vatke himself (1878: 214) correctly cited this collection as T. apollinea (Del.) DC. Since its original publication the name T. heterophylla has been used by four authors, but it is doubtful whether any of them saw the original material. Engler (1904: 383) reported the species from the area of Ganale River in Ethiopia apparently on the basis of an Ellenbeck collection in B which was destroyed during the war. Baker (1929: 183) only cited the type and added no further information. Schwartz (1939: 106) cited von Wissmann 1048 and 1668 from Yemen, collections which were housed in HBG before the war, but whose whereabouts thereafter are unknown. Finally, Cufodontis (1955: 281) reported T. heterophylla from Ethiopia apparently only on the basis of Engler's earlier record. No original material, or other specimens seen by previous authors using the name, is thus now available. A clue to the identity of Vatke's name was found at BM, where there is a sketchy drawing of T. heterophylla made before the war by E. G. Baker. It illustrates an Ellenbeck collection borrowed from B which was most probably the basis for Engler's earlier record (Thulin 1983: 74). This drawing matches exactly the species currently called T. schweinfurthii Deflers (1895) which occurs in NE tropical Africa and Arabia and furthermore is known from the Al Mts in Somalia. This species also, in most respects, agrees well with the original description of T. heterophylla, but there are two somewhat doubtful points. Vatke's description of the leaves and inflorescences of T. heterophylla reads respectively: 'foliis plerisque simplicibus, nunc binis conjugatis' and 'racemis

Description of a new species, Rungia camerunensis. It is illustrated and a distribution map is given. Risumi.- Une nouvelle espice de Rungia (Acanthaceae) du Cameroun. Une nouvelle espkce, Rungia camerunensis, est ddcrite. Une illustration et la carte de distribution de l'espkce sont donndes. The paleotropical genus Rungia comprises more than twenty-five species of which ten occur in continental Africa and one, R. rosacea Lindau, is endemic to Madagascar. There has not been any treatment of the African species of the genus since the 'Flore du Gabon' (Heine 1966) and 'Flora of West Tropical Africa' (Heine 1963). Rungia guineensis Heine and R. eriostachya Hua are restricted to western Africa whereas R. schliebenii Mildbr. occurs in eastern Africa. Rungia paxiana (Lindau) C.B.C1. extends from West Africa to Cameroon. Rungia congoensis C.B.C1. is recorded from Niger to Central Africa. Rungia grandis T.Anders. and R. buettneri Lindau are the most widespread in tropical Africa. Rungia caespitosa Lindau from Cameroon and R. dimorpha S.Moore from West Africa are badly known. The new species, R. camerunensis, belongs to the group of small herbaceous somewhat subshrubby species not exceeding 100 cm in height. The closest relative of Rungia is the genus Justicia. The two genera can be distinguished easily when ripe fruits are available. In mature fruits of Rungia, when the upper part of the capsule valves bend away from each other, the placentas and part of the adjacent capsule walls separate from the valves, the placentas rising but remaining attached apically. In most species of Justicia, the fruit is the loculicidally opening two-valved capsule without rising placentas typical in the Acanthaceae. But an intermediate fruit structure was found in the New World Section Leucoloma V.A.W.Graham and the species J. gendarussa Burm.f., in which the placentas rise and separate from the capsule walls (Graham 1988). Hansen (1989) also mentioned several SE Asian species which show this condition. No mention has been made of the presence of this intermediate fruit structure in the African species of Justicia, so the latter and Rungia are easily distinguished. Unfortunately, there is no fruit material available for the new species described here. However, according to Hansen (1989) the two genera can also be distinguished by inflorescence characters with Rungia possessing one 'sterile' (without flower) and one 'fertile bract' (subtending a flower) at each node of the inflorescence, while in Justicia both bracts are 'fertile'. This has been verified in the material studied here which without doubt belongs to the genus Rungia.

This taxonomic revision of the continental African species ofMonanthotaxis(Annonaceae) includes 79 species and one variety. Thirteen new species(M. aestuaria,M. bidaultii,M. confusa,M. glabra,M. hexamera,M. mcphersonii,M. quasilanceolata,M. sterilis,M. submontana,M. suffruticosa,M. ursus,M. vulcanicaandM. wieringae) are described and 5 new combinations (M. biglandulosa,M. kenyensis,M. ochroleuca,M. pynaertiiandM. seretii) aremade. ThegenusMonanthotaxisconsists of lianas or lianescent shrubs. It occurs throughout forests in tropical Africa and the highest species diversity is found in the Western Central African rain forests. A key for flowering material is provided, just like a synoptic key including 45 characters. Topics included in the revision are the history of the taxonomy ofMonanthotaxis, morphology, leafanatomy, floral biology, distribution and habitat, phylogeny and finally ethnobotany and phytochemistry. Each species is fully described including synonymy, notes on distribution, habitat &ecology, vernacular names, uses and a preliminary IUCN conservation status. Distribution maps are provided for all species, illustrations for 48 species and photographs of 22 species. An index of exsiccatae and an index of the scientific names are included at the end.

Vorontsova, M.S. (2018). Revision of the group previously known as Panicum L. (Poaceae: Panicoideae) in Madagascar. Candollea 73: 143–186. In English, English and French abstracts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2018v732a1Panicoid grasses are ubiquitous across Madagascar, yet no complete and modern taxonomic framework has so far been attempted. This paper aims to establish and record species boundaries in the group previously recognised as the genus Panicum L. (Poaceace, Panicoideae), with simple panicoid spikelets and open panicle-like inflorescences. All specimens held at the K, P, and TAN herbaria were revised in addition to field work throughout the island. Species concepts were reconciled with those in tropical Africa. Recent phylogenetic research in Panicum s.l. has been incorporated and several species have been placed in Adenochloa Zuloaga, Trichanthecium Zuloaga & Morrone, and Urochloa maxima (Jacq.) R.D. Webster. Further species outside the Panicum s.s. clade will be ultimately transferred to other genera pending further research. A treatment of 32 species is presented, including an identification key, synonymy and typification for all names applied to specimens collected in Madagascar, species descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, and full specimen citations. Twenty species (63%) are endemic to Madagascar and the nearby islands. Data on natural occurrence in Madagascar are presented but these are still tentative. Nineteen names are placed in synonymy for the first time; 38 lectotypes are designated.

Background and aims – The intensive botanical prospections carried out in Gabon since the publication of the national checklist in 2006 have resulted in c. 34 300 new specimens (amounting to 30% of all collections made in the country) and an annual increase of 25 species in average. As a result, 5175 species of vascular plants are now recorded from Gabon, of which 650 are considered endemic. However, most of the recent discoveries have not yet been published. This paper is the first of a series documenting additions to the flora of Gabon, and new records of poorly known species. It concerns specifically new records from the Lower Ogooué Ramsar site, the third largest delta of Africa, and certainly the most intact, which includes 80% of the country’s wetlands and a wide variety of other habitats.Methods – The new records presented here come essentially from fieldwork conducted in Gabon between 2008 and 2016 by the authors and colleagues. Further information comes from the study of herbarium specimens in BR, BRLU, K, LBV, MO, P and WAG. For each species, information on distribution and ecology is given, and the studied Gabonese collections listed. In case of rare or range-restricted species, collections from other countries are also listed, and a distribution map is provided, as well as an evaluation of the conservation status based on the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List.Key results – We report 18 additions to the flora of Gabon, including four genera new to the country (Capparis, Gisekia, Hoffmanniella and Leptochloa) and the first records of the neotropical Justicia secunda being naturalised in tropical Africa. New distribution records are also provided for 16 rare Gabonese endemics or near-endemics. Some species are also newly reported from Cameroon (Cissus leemansii, Salacia coronata) and Equatorial Guinea (Cissus leemansii, C. louisii, Lychnodiscus grandifolius, Placodiscus resendeanus, Rutidea gabonensis, Uvaria bipindensis). Two species, which were reported in the 2006 checklist based on misidentifications, are excluded from the Gabonese flora.

After our taxonomic revision of Ootheca Chevrolat, 1837, and the description of Oothecoides Kortenhaus & Wagner, 2011 and Ootibia Kortenhaus & Wagner, 2012, it became clear that a further four galerucine species, closely related to the above named taxa, form a distinct monophyletic group, that constitutes a new genus, Oosagitta gen. nov. with O. anningae sp. nov., O. geescheae sp. nov., O. melanopicta sp. nov. and O. thomasi sp. nov.. Exosoma angolensis Laboissière, 1939, the type species of the new genus, and Ergana minuta Laboissière, 1937 are newly transferred to Oosagitta gen. nov. All species of Oosagitta gen. nov. are characterized by a broad body and pronotum, a more or less convex dorsum and short legs, and as such are most similar to the other above named genera. The antennae of Oosagitta gen. nov. are distinctly longer than those of Ootheca, Oothecoides and Ootibia. Genital structures of the males allow a reliable identification of the genus. (Re-)descriptions are given for all species, including semi-schematic illustrations depicting the habitus outline, shape of the basal antennomeres and the median lobe. Photographs of the name-bearing types and distribution maps are provided.

In this work, we describe Dialium heterophyllum, a new species for the largest genus in the diverse and morphologically unique legume subfamily Dialioideae. Dialium, with 32 species, has its highest diversity in tropical Africa and Asia, with four species accepted until now in the Neotropics. The fifth species described here reinforces the idea that a large portion of the Neotropical diversity, notably in the Amazon, is still unknown. Dialium heterophyllum is restricted to the south of the Amazon Basin in Brazil and Bolivia, areas under intense anthropic pressure in recent years. Due to its floral morphology, the species appears to be closely related to the other Neotropical species of the genus, differing by its reduced leaf rachis with unifoliolate to trifoliolate leaves, generally opposed to sub-opposed leaflets, the terminal leaflet much longer than the lateral ones (when present) and than the leaf rachis. We provide illustrations, distribution maps, a conservation risk assessment and an identification key.

A new distribution map is provided for Synchytrium psophocarpi Racib. Hosts: Winged bean ( Psophocarpus tetragonolobus ) and other Psophocarpus spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Tropical Africa, Asia, Indonesia, Java, Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia, Philippines, Australasia, Papua New Guinea, Europe, Cyprus.

Background: Neorautanenia is a small genus in the subtribe Glycininae within the tribe Phaseoleae in the family Fabaceae. It is distributed in southern and Tropical Africa. Historically, the genus is known to consist of three species, namely, N. brachypus, N. ficifolia and N. mitis; morphological data suggest that these should be reduced to two.Objectives: The aim of this article is to formally sink N. brachypus into the synonymy of N. mitis and to provide the correct typification, diagnostic features, diagnostic key, distribution maps, as well as illustrations of the morphological features of the two species.Methods: Observations were made on herbarium specimens housed at PRE. Morphological features were studied and measurements of characters recorded.Results: Neorautanenia mitis is extremely variable morphologically, so that several authors recognised many different variants, some of these as distinct species, including N. brachypus. Examination of numerous specimens, however, indicates that these are merely morphological and/or geographical variants of N. mitis. This observation prompted Verdcourt to place this taxon as a synonym of N. mitis; however, he reversed that decision 30 years later. It has become necessary to revert to the original decision.Conclusions: Neorautanenia brachypus is formally reduced to a synonymy of N. mitis and as a result the genus comprises only two species.

The genus Donella Pierre ex Baill. is here reinstated and Austrogambeya Aubrév. is, for the first time, placed in synonymy based on the findings of recent combined molecular and morphological studies. Seventeen species are recognised, two of which, Donella ranirisonii L.Gaut. & Mackinder and D. humbertii Capuron ex Mackinder & L.Gaut., from Madagascar, are described here for the first time. The flowers of Donella ambrensis and D. delphinensis are described here for the first time, as are the fruits of D. guereliana. Two keys, to the species of Madagascar and tropical Africa, respectively, are presented. Ten species are endemic to Madagascar, six species are endemic to tropical Africa and one, Donella lanceolata, occurs from Madagascar to the Solomon Islands. For each species, the accepted name with synonymy is given, followed by a morphological description. Geographical range and details of habitat are provided, with taxonomic and/or nomenclatural notes as appropriate. Distribution maps are presented for all species, and preliminary conservation assessments are made. Five species qualify for a category of Threat, and three further species are assessed as Near Threatened. An index to species and a list of exsiccatae are included.

Gloriosa katangensis Maroyi (Colchicaceae) is a rare and little known plant species, endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa). Results of this investigation are based on herbarium studies undertaken at the National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Wageningen University branch (WAG) and the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens, Harare, Zimbabwe (SRGH), between January 2008 and 30 September 2011. Additional herbaria specimens of the genus Gloriosa L. were received on loan from B, BM, BR, C, COI, F, K, L, P, S, U and UPS. The diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish G. katangensis from the other Gloriosa species are discussed. Detailed description, illustration, distribution map, ecological data and taxonomic history of G. katangensis are provided. International Union for Conservation of Nature status of the species has been assigned as Critically Endangered because of the restricted area of occupancy, extent of occurrence of the species and also because none of the collections of the species made so far in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been in protected areas. Publication of detailed taxonomic information on G. katangensis contributes to a better understanding of the diversity of the genus Gloriosa in tropical Africa and the conservation of this critically endangered species.

A revision of the genus Dolichos in South Africa (Lesotho and Swaziland included) is presented. This legume genus, belonging to the bean tribe Phaseoleae, mainly has an African distribution, extending into Asia. In South Africa it is represented by nine species, two ( D. sericeus and D. trilobus) of which extend into Tropical Africa. Dolichos is closely related to the genus Macrotyloma from which it can be distinguished by the short standard appendages, reticulate pollen and the generally purple flowers (standard appendages long, pollen tuberculate or spinulose and flowers yellow or orange in Macrotyloma). It also has affinities with the genera Dipogon and Lablab. The correct nomenclature, as well as complete synonymy, typification and distribution maps of all the species are provided.

A STATEMENT on the distribution of the common rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus L., in “The Rabbit”, by H. V. Thompson and A. N. Worden1 (see p. 59 of this issue), calls for comment and correction. On pp. 4–5 it is reported that the rabbit is able “even to live successfully in Central Africa within two degrees of the Equator”. On p. 16 this is amplified by a reference to the late Prof. Hale Carpenter's claim2 to have found a well-established colony of European rabbits at Masindi, Uganda. On p. 17 the distribution map shows Masindi as the only locality in tropical Africa for the common rabbit. Although the origin of the colony was said to be unknown, and the local natives gave the animals the same name as the indigenous hare of the genus Lepus, Hale Carpenter suggested that these animals were descendants of European rabbits said to have been imported and released in 1881 by Emin Pasha, then governor of Equatoria Province, Sudan. It seems that the identification of the animals as European rabbits was not based upon critical examination of specimens. I am not aware of any other report of European rabbits in tropical Africa, and the following facts indicate that Hale Carpenter's record should be removed from the literature on the common rabbit.

The ecology and behaviour of winchats Saxicola rubetra during their wintering stay in tropical Africa has been studied in the guinean savanna zone of northern Zaïre. Winchats were found to winter both in open savannas and in cultivated fields, apparently filling an « empty niche » left vacant by resident birds. From late October to late April, they settle on individual territories averaging ca. 4 000 m2. Very little agonistic behaviour was observed, and winchats never sang on such winter territories. Their density averaged 0.8 individual per ha. Throughout the day each bird stayed on one of the 3 to 12 bare perches present on its territory, from which it darted at insect prey. An updated winter distribution map of Saxicola rubetra in Africa is proposed.

A new genus Annea is described to accommodate two tropical African legume species previously misplaced in Hymenostegia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, Detarieae). Annea gen. nov. is widespread in tropical Africa but has an unusual disjunct generic distribution, occurring in both upper and lower Guinea but absent from Gabon. Annea afzelii accounts for the generic range in Upper Guinea extending as far east as Equatorial Guinea in the Lower-Guinea region whereas A. laxiflora occupies the southern part of Lower Guinea and shows a preference for drier habitats than the more wide ranging A. afzelii. Hymenostegia dinklagei, a synonym of A. afzelii is neotypified. Neither species of Annea qualifies for a category of threat and both are assessed here as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN criteria. Scorodophloeus, another exclusively tropical African genus is sister to Annea. Two tables of characters are included, one comparing the morphologies of Annea, Scorodophloeus and Hymenostegia sensu stricto and another providing morphological characters that can be used to separate the two species of Annea. A distribution map of Annea, an illustration of A. afzelii and photographs of A. laxiflora are presented.