Two New Species of Acanthaceae from NE Tropical Africa and Arabia

Abstract

Summary. Two new species of Acanthaceae, Dicliptera minutifolia Ensermu, which is endemic to southern Ethiopia, and Peristrophe teklei Ensermu from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, are described. Both taxa are illustrated, and their distributions mapped. The pollen morphology of both taxa is also described. also discussed. lateral veins 2(- 3)-paired; petioles 1 - 2(- 3) mm long, densely pubescent. Inflorescences cymes bearing 1 - 2 cymules which terminate short branches; inflorescence peduncles 1 - 22 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescence (secondary) bracts paired, triangular, 1 - 2 x 0.5 - 0.7 mm, pubescent with dense subsessile glandular and some non-glandular hairs. Cymule peduncles 1 - 2 mm long, pubescent. Bracts paired, 0.5 - 1 x 0.2 mm, linear, pubescent with subsessile glandular and some non-glandular hairs. Bracteoles paired, 1.5 - 2 x 0.3 - 0.4 mm, linear, pubescent with subsessile glandular and some non-glandular hairs. Calyx with c. 1 mm long tube, 5-lobed; lobes 3 - 3.5 x 0.4 - 0.5 mm, linear-subulate, pubescent with subsessile glandular and some non-glandular hairs. Corolla white, with purple markings in the lower lip, resupinate, 16.3 - 17.5 mm long; tube 8.6 -