Abstract
SummarySix new species of Barleria L. (Acanthaceae) are described from northeast tropical Africa: B. gidoleensis Ensermu & I. Darbysh., B. baluganii Ensermu, B. ferox Ensermu & I. Darbysh. and B. negeleensis Ensermu & I. Darbysh. from Ethiopia and B. ensermui I. Darbysh. and B. shebelleensis Ensermu & I. Darbysh. from Somalia. All the species are illustrated and their affinities and conservation status are discussed. A note on the presence of B. parviflora R. Br. ex T. Anderson in northern Somalia is also included. In addition, a foreword is presented on the great contribution to Acanthaceae taxonomy and African botany made by Professor Ensermu Kelbessa, who sadly passed away in August 2016.
Highlights
Barleria L. is one of the largest genera of Acanthaceae, comprising approximately 300 species (Ensermu 2006; Darbyshire 2010)
Ensermu was to continue to return to the genus Asystasia throughout his career, publishing or copublishing eight new species and refining the generic delimitation (Ensermu 1989b, 1993, 1998; Ensermu et al 1992; Vollesen & Ensermu 2010) and revising the horticulturally and ecologically important Asystasia gangetica (L.) T
During the preparation of the FEE manuscript, several as un-named species were observed in herbarium material from neighbouring Somalia and provisional descriptions were made by the first author of the current paper
Summary
Ensermu was to continue to return to the genus Asystasia throughout his career, publishing or copublishing eight new species and refining the generic delimitation (Ensermu 1989b, 1993, 1998; Ensermu et al 1992; Vollesen & Ensermu 2010) and revising the horticulturally and ecologically important Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Careful and thorough taxonomist, with a passion for seeing the plants that he studied in their natural environment through extensive fieldwork as well as in herbaria He produced work of a consistently high quality that will long be used as key references in our understanding of Acanthaceae systematics. He was a passionate advocate of plant conservation and the protection of rare and threatened species, with a great love for and knowledge of the Ethiopian flora (see for example Vivero et al 2005, 2006).
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