Eight new species and a new record of Indigofera and Microcharis (Leguminosae-Indigofereae) from Somalia

The following new species are described: Indigofera bayensis (south-west Somalia, on sand or gravel in Acacia-Commiphora bushland), I. gypsacea (central and south-west Somalia, on gypsum), I. karkarensis (north-east Somalia, on limestone), I. lamellata (south-west Somalia, on and around granitic outcrops), I. lughensis (south-west Somalia, on gypsum), I. phymatodea (south-west Somalia, on granitic outcrops), I. scopiformis (central Somalia, on sand in Acacia-Commiphora bushland), and Microcharis nematophylla (central Somalia, on sand in Acacia-Commiphora bushland). Indigofera pseudointricata , previously known only from Socotra, is reported also from Somalia.     

Notes on Convolvulus, Astripomoea, Ipomoea and Merremia (Convolvulaceae) from the Horn of Africa

The six new species Convolvulus scopulatus, a shrub from gypseous semidesert coastal plains in northern Somalia, Astripomoea procera, a woody climber in Acacia-Commiphora bushland on sand in south-central Somalia, Ipomoea hiranensis, a prostrate or climbing shrublet in Acacia-Commiphora bushland in rocky places on sandstone in south-central Somalia, Ipomoea galhareriana, a woody climber in bushland on sand in central Somalia, Ipomoea pogonantha, a woody climber in bushland usually on red soil over limestone in eastern and southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia and northern Kenya, and Ipomoea corrugata, a herb with trailing stems in bushland on sandy soil in south-central Somalia, are described, and illustrations are provided for most of them. The new combinations Ipomoea ovatolanceolata (= I. adenoides var. ovatolanceolata) and Merremia obtusa (= M. ampelophylla subsp. obtusa) are made, and a new synonymy is provided for M. ampelophylla. Merremia ellenbeckii is neotypified and M. lobata is placed in synonymy.     

Two new species of Abrus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) from Somalia

The new species Abrus baladensis , from fixed sand dunes near Mogadishu in south-central Somalia, and A. gawenensis , from limestone or sand over limestone in central Somalia, are described.     

New species and combinations in Kleinia (Asteraceae) from the Horn of Africa

The new species Kleinia tuberculata , from open deciduous bushland on gypsum hills and gypseous limestone in northern and north-eastern Somalia, K. curvata , from evergreen bushland on limestone in northern Somalia, K. sabulosa , from deciduous bushland on sand in central Somalia, K. ogadensis , from deciduous bushland in eastern Ethiopia, K. gracilis , from dwarf bushland on limestone in north-eastern Somalia, and K. tortuosa , from alkaline plains in northern Somalia, are described, and for some of them illustrations are provided. The new combinations K. nogalensis and K. lunulata are made, and the recently described K. isabellae from eastern Ethiopia is placed in synonymy of K. lunulata.     

Section of tropical taxonomy: Seven new species and one new record of Polygala (Polygalaceae) from Somalia

The following new species are described: Polygala gypsophila (northern, central and southern Somalia, on gypsum), P. bariensis (northern Somalia, on limestone), P. hamarensis (coastal dunes near Mogadishu), P. argentea (central Somalia, on limestone near coast), P. gawenensis (central Somalia, on limestone), P. effusa (central Somalia and eastern Ethiopia, on sand), P. citrina (southern Somalia, on granitic outcrops). P. meonantha is reported for the first time from Somalia.     

Two new species of Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) from Somalia

The new species Jatropha miskatensis , from limestone slopes of the Cal Miskaat Range in north-eastern Somalia, and J. marmorata , from bushland on shallow soil over limestone just south of the Nugaal valley in north-eastern Somalia, are described. An illustration is provided for J. miskatensis.     

Three new species of Melhania (Sterculiaceae) from north-eastern tropical Africa

Melhania annua , sp. nov., from coastal or subcoastal dunes in Somalia and Kenya, M. hiranensis , sp. nov., from Acacia-Commiphora bushland on sand in south-central Somalia, and M. quercifolia , sp. nov., from coastal dunes in Somalia, are described and illustrated.     

Three new species of Chascanum (Verbenaceae) and notes on the genus in the Horn of Africa region

The new species Chascanum mixtum, from evergreen bushland and rocky slopes in north-western Somalia, C. elburense. from deciduous bushland mainly on sand in central Somalia, and C. glandulosum, from Acacia-Commiphora bushland on sandy soil in north-western Somalia, are described and illustrated. C. sessilifolium (Vatke) Moldenke is recircumscribed and neotypified with a specimen from the original type locality, and C. obovatum Sebsebe ssp. glaucum Sebsebe is placed in the synonymy of C. gillettli Moldenke.     

A new species of Microcharis (Leguminosae) from Somalia

The new species Microcharis omissa , from the sandstone escarpment near Yasoomman in central Somalia, is described. This apparently narrow endemic is closely related to M. sessilis in north-eastem Somalia.     

A new species of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) from Somalia

Croton crispatus , sp. nov., from Acacia-Commiphora bushland on sand in central Somalia, is described and illustrated.     

Trachyandra triquetra (Asphodelaceae), a new species from the Horn of Africa

The new species Trachyandra triquetra , from shady limestone rocks in north-eastem Somalia, is described and illustrated. This apparently narrow endemic is the only member of this mainly South African genus in eastern and north-eastem tropical Africa except for the widespread T. saltii .     

A new species of Zehneria (Cucurbitaceae) from Somalia

The new species Zehneria somalensis , from shady limestone rocks in north-eastem Somalia, is described and illustrated.     

A new species of Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) from Somalia

The new species Scutellaria somalensis, from limestone slopes in north-eastem Somalia, is described and illustrated.     

Two new species of Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae) from Somalia

The new species Dyschoriste bayensis, from a granitic inselberg in southern Somalia, and D. miskatensis, from open bushland on limestone in north-eastern Somalia, are described and illustrated.     

A new heterostylous species of Streptopetalum (lurneraceae) from Somalia

Streptopetalum arenarium sp. nov., a heterostylous species apparently closely related to the homostylous 5. hildebrandtü in Kenya and north Tanzania, is described from deciduous bushland on sand in central and southern Somalia.     

Caralluma lamellosa (Apocynaceae), a remarkable new species from Somalia

The new species Caralluma lamellosa, from a rocky limestone slope about 200 m a.s.1. in north-eastem Somalia is described and illustrated. The plant is reminiscent of C. furta in habit, but its outer corona, with undivided linear-oblanceolate lobes opposite to the anthers and at first examination looking like lamellae on the corolla tube, is unparalleled among stapeliads.     

Phyllanthus xylorrhizus (Phyllanthaceae), a new species from Somalia

The new species Phyllanthus xylorrhizus, from limestone rocks along the coast of north-eastem Somalia, is described, illustrated, and compared with two other Somali endemics, P.lunifolius and P. spinosus.     

Seven new species of Pavonia (Malvaceae) from the Horn of Africa

Pavonia friisii , sp. nov., from south-eastern Ethiopia and south-central and southern Somalia, P. nigrescens , sp. nov., from south-central and southern Somalia, P. matteiana , sp. nov., from south-central Somalia, P. longipilosa , sp. nov., from eastern Ethiopia, P. rotundifolia , sp. nov., from eastern Ethiopia and northern and central Somalia, P. marginata , sp. nov., from central Somalia, and P. paucibracteata , sp. nov., from central Somalia, are described and illustrated.     

New species of Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) from northeast tropical Africa

The new species Cucumis hastatus (widespread in southern Somalia, in deciduous bushlands), C. pubituberculatus (central Somalia, on open coastal dunes), C. Jeffrey-anus (southwestern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia, on alluvial soils), and C. baladensis (south-central Somalia, on fixed dunes), are described and illustrated. C. figarei is shown to be illegitimate, the correct name for the species apparently being C. pustulatus.     

Four new species of Sida (Malvaceae) from the Horn of Africa

Sida floccosa , sp. nov., from eastern Ethiopia and north-western Somalia, S. ogadensis , sp. nov., from eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia, 5. calliantha , sp. nov., from coastal dunes in southern Somalia, and S. longipedicellata sp. nov., from coastal dunes and sandy plains in central and south-central Somalia, are described and illustrated.