Lurking in the Shadows: A New Species of Drypetes (Putranjivaceae) from Central Africa Hiding in Forest Plots and Herbaria

Abstract

Here we publish a new species of forest tree of the genus Drypetes Vahl (Putranjivaceae), D. umbricola D. J. Harris & Quintanar, which has a wide distribution in Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo). It is known from 70 herbarium collections and additional sterile plot vouchers. A differential diagnosis, detailed morphological description, photographs, an illustration, and information about its habitat, distribution, and conservation status are provided.

A matter of warts: a taxonomic treatment for Drypetes verrucosa (Putranjivaceae, Malpighiales) and a new cauliflorous species from Cameroon and Nigeria, D. stevartii

“…In fact, the first gathering of this plant dates back to 1938, when Jacques-Félix collected it in Goura (Cameroon, Centre Region), and it remained on the shelves of herbaria, often among the specimens of D. verrucosa, waiting to be discovered and described. This proces of species discovery in the herbarium and the field is documented by Bebber et al (2010) and Quintanar et al (2021). After the preliminary study of the morphology of all the available specimens of this taxon, it became evident that it is a new species of the genus Drypetes that occurs not only in the evergreen forests of Cameroon, but also in semideciduous formations (for example, in neighbouring eastern Nigeria), showing wider ecological amplitude in its habitat preferences than D. verrucosa.…”

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

“…Among the various factors that make it difficult to identify species of Drypetes, we have previously mentioned the fact that most of them have inconspicuous flowers and fruits (Quintanar & al. 2021a).…”

Notes on cauliflory, sexual dimorphism and biogeography in Drypetes (Putranjivaceae, Malpighiales) and a taxonomic treatment for D. gabonensis and two new cauliflorous threatened species from Central Africa, D. aphanes sp. nov. and D. cauta sp. nov.

“…Some species also occur in woodland and savannah, as well as tropical montane forests and warm temperate areas. We currently recognise 217 species, of which 84 are known from continental Africa and the Malagasy Region after the description in recent years of several new species (Quintanar et al 2020(Quintanar et al , 2021a(Quintanar et al , 2021b(Quintanar et al , 2022(Quintanar et al , 2023Cheek et al 2021). Putranjivaceae, consisting of Drypetes and the small Asiatic genus Putranjiva Wall.…”

“…Relatively frequently, as it is recorded on herbarium labels, the flowers themselves also give off a smell, sometimes extremely pungent or even sickly sweet, that frequently reveals the presence of these plants. The flowers, more or less small and inconspicuous, are frequently found in the forest canopy up to 30 m in height, which can slow down the location and identification of Drypetes trees (Quintanar et al 2021a). These flowers are apetalous and bear a nectariferous disk that in the male ones is surrounded or penetrated by stamens; likewise female flowers also bear a disk, typically cupullate or annular and more or less thick, and sessile or shortly stalked stigmas that may or may not remain on a single-to many-seeded drupe-like fruit.…”