Novitates Gabonenses 90: Palisota (Commelinaceae) revisited: description of eight new species from Central Africa and notes on the identity of P. satabiei and P. bogneri

Abstract

Bidault, E. & W.J. van der Burg (2019). Novitates Gabonenses 90: Palisota (Commelinaceae) revisited: description of eight new species from Central Africa and notes on the identity of P. satabiei and P. bogneri. In English, English and French abstracts. Candollea 74: 169–202.A review of the taxonomy of Palisota Rchb. ex Endl. (Commelinaceae) in Atlantic Central Africa, as a precursor to preparing a treatment of Commelinaceae for the Flore du Gabon, results in the description of eight new species: Palisota akouangoui E. Bidault & Burg, Palisota alboanthera Burg & E. Bidault, Palisota cristalensis E. Bidault & Burg, Palisota fadenii Burg & E. Bidault, Palisota leewhitei Burg, O. Lachenaud & E. Bidault, Palisota plicata E. Bidault & Burg, Palisota repens E.Bidault & Burg, and Palisota stevartii Burg & E. Bidault. A discussion is provided on the relevance of several morphological characters and on the taxonomy and delimitation of two poorly known species, Palisota bogneri Brenan and Palisota satabiei Brenan. The new species are described and illustrated with line drawings and field photographs, accompanied by a distribution map. A key to the Palisota species in Atlantic Central Africa is provided. Preliminary risk of extinction assessments indicate that three of them are “Endangered”, three are “Vulnerable”, one is “Near Threatened”, and one species is “Least Concern”. Thirty-two species are currently recognized in Palisota, nineteen of which occur in Gabon.