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.     

Four new species of Jatropha (Éuphorbiaceae) from Somalia

The following new species, all related to the Somali endemic Jatropha nogalensis in/. sect. Spinosa subsect. Spinosae , are described and illustrated: J. humifusa (coastal dunes of central Somalia), J. inaequispina (north-central Somalia, on limestone), and J. collina and J. spinosissima (both rocky ground in north-eastern Somalia). A hybrid between J. humifusa and the rather distantly related J. pelargoniifolia is reported.     

Two new Neogaillonia species (Rubiaceae, tribe Paederieae) from Somalia

Two new species of Neogaillonia, N. somaliensis and N. calcicola , both endemic to NE Somalia, are described. Palynological data are given for both species. Relationships to other taxa of Neogaillonia and the "Gaillonia complex" are discussed.     

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.     

Synopsis of Satanocrater (Acanthaceae)

Four species are recognized in the tropical African genus Satanocrater: S. fellatensis (= S. berhautii) in Sudan, Ethiopia and Guinea, S. ruspolii in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, S. somalensis (= S. coccineus) in Ethiopia and Somalia, and S. paradoxus in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Three lectotypes and one neotype are selected. A key to the species and an illustration of S. ruspolii are provided.     

Ten new species of Commiphora (Burseraceae) from Somalia

The following new species are described: Commiphora arenaria from bushland on sand in south-central Somalia, C. gardoensis from limestone slopes in the Qardho area in north-eastem Somalia, C. stellatopubescens from bushland on limestone outcrops or stony ground in the Hiiraan Region in south-central Somalia, C. spinulosa from limestone rocks on the escarpment along the Gulf of Aden in northeastern Somalia, C. lobatospathulata from bushland on sand in central and south-central Somalia, C. quercifoliola from bushland on shallow soil over limestone near Eil in north-eastem Somalia, C. chiovendana from bushland in northern and central Somalia, C. multifoliolata from limestone hills and ridges in south-westem Somalia, C. murraywatsonii from limestone outcrops near Hobyo in central Somalia, and C. kucharii from bushland on shallow soils over limestone in central and southern Somalia.     

New or noteworthy species of Leguminosae in NE tropical Africa

The following new species are described: Chamaecrista dunensis (Somalia), Acacia densispina (Somalia), A. flagellaris (Somalia), Tephrosia karkarensis (Somalia), T. scopulata (Somalia), Indigofera ancistrocarpa (Kenya), I. curvirostrata (Ethiopia), I. hiranensis (Somalia), I. karinensis (Somalia), I. kucharii (Somalia), I. nugalensis (Somalia), I. pellucida (Kenya, Somalia), I. sabulosa (Ethiopia, Somalia), I. sessilis (Somalia), I. ienuirostris (Somalia), Rhynchosia megalocalyx (Somalia), Crotalaria allophylla (Somalia), C. intricata (Somalia), C. warfae (Somalia), and Coronilla somalensis (Somalia). 2n = 22 is reported in Tephrosia karkarensis. Cassia somalensis, Acacia puccioniana, Sophora somalensis , and Crotalaria sennii are reduced to synonyms of respectively Senna hookeriana, Dichrostachys kirkii, Millettia usaramensis and Crotalaria boranica subsp. trichocarpa . Thirty-seven taxa are reported from Somalia for the first time, including Ptycholobium biflorum , known previously only from Southern Africa. Crotalaria pieropoda , known previously only from Socotra, is reported from Somalia and Oman. Neptunia oleracea and Vatovaea pseudolablab are new generic records for respectively Ethiopia and Oman. The fruits of Indigofera boranica are described. Vigna somaliensis and an allied species are discussed. Rhynchosia gansole is lectotypified and its flowers and fruits are described.     

Four new species of Commicarpus (Nyctaginaceae) from NE tropical Africa

The new species Commicarpus hiranensis from the inland of central Somalia, C. mistus from Somalia, SE Ethiopia, NE Kenya and S Arabia, C. parviflorus from the coastal and subcoastal parts of central Somalia, and C. ramosissimus from NE 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.     

A new spiny Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) species from northeast Somalia

A small succulent, spiny Euphorbia is described as a new species, E. patentispina , endemic to Somalia, with a limited distribution in the northeast region of Bari. Its relationship to other species of the same group—those producing subsessile capsules and a single spine from each spine shield—occurring in northern Somalia is discussed.     

New herbaceous and woody species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from Somalia

A small prostrate herb, Euphorbia salsicola , a woody shrublet with curious tubers, E. scatorhiza , and a small tree with decorative bracts, E. thulinii , are described as new species of Euphorbia. Within subgenus Lyciopsis the morphological variability of E. cuneata in Somalia is discussed and a new subspecies cretacea is described. E. gypsophila , a closely related but distinct species found only on gypsum is also described as new, together with E. dunensis , a shrublet from the coastal dunes and E. tripartita , another shrub in the same subgenus related to E. matabelensis. As far as present records show, all the new taxa are endemic in Somalia.     

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.     

Synopsis of Anthericum and Chlorophytum (Anthericaceae) in the Horn of Africa, including the description of nine new species

Three species of Anthericum and 32 species of Chlorophytum are recognized in Ethiopia and Somalia. Nine new species of Chlorophytum are described, illustrated and mapped: C. applanatum, C. filifolium, C. hiranense, C. littorale, C. nervosum, C. pendulum, C. petraeurn, C. pterocarpum , and C. ramosissimum . Several names are reduced to synonymy and lectotypifications are made in a number of cases. A key to the taxa is presented. One of the species of Anthericum and 16 of the species of Chlorophyturn are confined to the Somalia-Masai Region and endemic or near-endemic in the study area, while one Anthericum and two Chlorophytums are Afromontane endemics or near-endemics in Ethiopia. Most of the other species are more or less widespread mainly Sudano-Zambezian elements.     

Basananthe aciphylla (Passifloraceae), a new species from Somalia

The new species Basananthe aciphylla , a thorny shrublet from central Somalia, is described and illustrated. Its closest relative is the likewise spinescent NE African endemic B. berberoides .     

New endemic species of Aneilema and Commelina (Commelinaceae) from Somalia

Three new, endemic species of Commelinaceae from central and southern Somalia are described. Aneilema trispermum is unique in the genus in having capsules with three one-seeded locules. The annual, buff-orange-flowered Commelina arenicola differs from the annual C. subulata Roth and related perennials in having a capsule with an indehiscent dorsal locule. Commelina frutescens has a unique shrubby habit.     

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 .     

Notes on Tetragonia (Aizoaceae-Tetragonioideae) in Somalia

Tetragonia pentandra , previously believed to be an endemic of Socotra, is reported from northern Somalia. T. retusa sp. nov., a very distinctive endemic of central Somalia with features that partly link Tetragonia and Tribulocarpus , is described and illustrated.     

New species of Euphorbia subgenus Tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae) from Somalia and Oman

A small shrub, Euphorbia bariensis related to E. arbuscula , a sturdy shrub, E. pachyclada related to E. consobrina and E. nubica , and one with conspicuous bracts, E. papilionum related to E. cameronii , are described as distinctive new endemic-species from northeast Somalia. A new endemic, E. dhofarensis related to E. larica , is also described from the Dhofar region of Oman.     

Chrysothamnus eremobius (Asteraceae): A new species from Nevada

Chrysothamnus eremobius, endemic to mountains of southern Nevada, is formally described and illustrated. Morphological and anatomical comparisons are made to related taxa. The new species has many features likePetradoria discoidea (=C. gramineus). Although it bears some similarity toC. depressus andC. vaseyi of sectionPulchelli, C. eremobius is better placed in sectionChrysothamnus nearC. viscidiflorus.