Synsepalum chimanimani (Sapotaceae), a new species from the Chimanimani Mountains of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with notes on the botanical importance of this area.

Saba Rokni,Iain Darbyshire,Bart Wursten

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.133.38694

Abstract

Synsepalum chimanimani S.Rokni & I.Darbysh., sp. nov., a small tree endemic to the forests of the southern foothills of the Chimanimani Mountains of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is described and illustrated. The differences in morphology and distribution between the new species and the related S. kaessneri and S. muelleri, with which it has been confused, are clarified. The new species is globally Endangered due to ongoing habitat loss within its restricted range. The botanical importance and conservation of the Chimanimani foothills is also discussed, and they are highlighted as a candidate Important Plant Area.

Highlights

Synsepalum (A.DC.) Daniell is a genus of approximately 35 species of evergreen shrubs or trees native to tropical Africa (Pennington 1991; Borg et al 2019)
In this paper we describe the Chimanimani taxon as a new species and clarify the differences in morphology and distribution between our new species and S. kaessneri and S. muelleri
We present a distribution map and list of specimens examined for the three species and discuss the conservation and botanical importance of the Chimanimani foothills

Summary

Introduction

Synsepalum (A.DC.) Daniell is a genus of approximately 35 species of evergreen shrubs or trees native to tropical Africa (Pennington 1991; Borg et al 2019). Examination and comparison of these new collections with existing collections of Synsepalum kaessneri showed that, the plants collected in Mozambique and adjacent Zimbabwe are very similar and closely related to Synsepalum kaessneri, they differ in several characters and so are considered to be different, allopatric species. In their comprehensive guide to the trees and shrubs of Mozambique, Burrows et al We present a distribution map and list of specimens examined for the three species and discuss the conservation and botanical importance of the Chimanimani foothills

Methods

Discussion