The Genus Stachys (Labiatae) in Ethiopia and Somalia

Abstract

In connection with a revision of the genus Stachys for the Floras of Ethiopia and Somalia, I found quite a number of unnamed specimens in ETH and K. The latest taxonomic treatment of the genus for tropical Africa is that of Baker (1900). In his treatment, Baker recognized four species for Ethiopia and Somalia, namely: S. aculeolata Hook. f., S. bizensis Schweinf. ex Baker, S. hildebrandtii Vatke and S. palaestina L. with two varieties, var. hypoleuca (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Baker and var. schimperi (Vatke) Baker. Later, Cufodontis (1962) enumerated nine species and a variety, namely: S. aculeolata Hook. f., S. alpigena T. C. E. Fr., S. aspericaulis Pax, S. bizensis Schweinf. ex Baker, S. glandulosa Hutch. & E. A. Bruce, S. hildebrandtii Vatke, S. hypoleuca Hochst. ex A. Rich., S. schimperi Vatke, S. sidamoensis Giirke and S. sidamoensis forma neumanii T. C. E. Fr. Bjbrnstad et al. (1971) studied the S. aculeolata group and reduced S. alpigena, S. aspericaulis, S. sidamoensis and S. sidamoensis forma neumanii to synonymy in S. aculeolata. In this study all herbarium material from Ethiopia, Somalia and adjacent areas has been investigated and field observations made in Ethiopia. As a result, the status of all taxa has been re-examined and consequently, ten species of Stachys including four subspecies are recognized in Ethiopia and Somalia. Of these, three species and two subspecies are described as new, the resurrection of S. hypoleuca and S. schimperi by Cufodontis is upheld and S. alpigena is recognized as a good distinct species.