Three new species of Acanthaceae from Ethiopia

Abstract

Three new species of Acanthaceae, Lepidagathis pseudoaristata Ensermu, Acanthopale aethio-germanica Ensermu, and Rhinacanthus mucronatus Ensermu, are described from Ethiopia. The three species are illustrated and their distributions mapped. The three new species are also compared to their presumed closest relatives. L. pseudoaristata is restricted to the Bale and Sidamo Regions, A. aethio-germanica is more widely distributed in Ethiopia occurring in the Kefa, Arsi, Sidamo and Bale Regions, and R. mucronatus is a local endemic restricted to the Borana area in the Sidamo Region. The conservation status of each species is also assessed.