A new species of Drypetes (Putranjivaceae) discovered by J. Léonard in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

<jats:p>Background – During his stay in Yangambi in the 1940s, the Belgian botanist J. Léonard collected a species of the genus Drypetes endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He named it D. morocarpa on herbarium labels, but never published it.Methods – The present study is based on the revision of 26 collections of D. morocarpa. Morphometric measurements on herbarium specimens belonging to the new species and its closest relatives in Drypetes were carried out in order to describe this new species.Results – We describe here D. morocarpa J.Léonard ex D.J.Harris &amp; Quintanar. It is easily recognisable by its blackish twigs and young branchlets, orbicular stipules, leaf blades usually entire, and hard fruits, covered with irregular protuberances. It has been collected in two areas along the course of the Congo river or its tributaries. A differential diagnosis, a detailed morphological description, a key to distinguish it from the most similar species, an illustration and all the available information about its habitat, distribution and conservation status are provided.</jats:p>

A taxonomic treatment of Drypetes calvescens and a new endangered species from the western Congolian swamp forest, D. palustris sp. nov. (Putranjivaceae)

“…Stigmatic surface, dimensions (mm) 0.5-0.7 × 3-3.9 (0.4-)1-2.1(-2.4) × (0.4-)0.6-1.7(-1.9) that the number of described African species of Drypetes will increase considerably over the next few years (Quintanar & al. 2020).…”

“…During the last two years, four new species of this genus have been published for Africa, increasing the number of species that occur in this continent and Madagascar to 77 (Radcliffe-Smith 2001;Cheek & al. 2021;Quintanar & al. 2020Quintanar & al.…”

Notes on the threatened lowland forests of Mt Cameroon and their endemics including Drypetes burnleyae sp. nov., with a key to species of Drypetes sect. Stipulares (Putranjivaceae)

“…Harris & Wortley (2006) and D. morocarpa J.Léonard ex D.J. Harris & Quintanar (Quintanar et al 2020). This low number is partly because of the difficulty caused by the destruction of many German type specimens of Drypetes from Central Africa at B in 1943.…”

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“…This lack of taxonomic investment is illustrated by the case of Drypetes morocarpa from D.R. Congo, which took more than 80 years between collection and description (Quintanar et al 2020). This is why we are highly motivated to continue to provide a platform for African plant diversity.…”