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 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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Two new species of Polygala (Polygalaceae) from Somalia

The new species Polygala praetermissa , a dwarf perennial herb growing in stony places on limestone, and P. dasanensis , a shrublet apparently confined to gypsum, are described. Both species occur in the Cal Miskaat Range in north-eastern Somalia, but P. praetermissa has a wider distribution in northern Somalia.     

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.     

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 Boswellia and Commiphora (Burseraceae) from Somalia

The new species Boswellia globosa, from the foothills of the limestone escarpment along the Gulf of Aden in northern Somalia, and Commiphora lacerata, from a rocky limestone slope near the coast of the Indian Ocean in north‐eastern Somalia, are described and illustrated.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphorbia</Emphasis> (Euphorbiaceae) from eastern Ethiopia

The new species Solanum pronum Thulin, from Acacia-Commiphora bushland in eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia, is described and illustrated. It is a member of Solanum sect. Somalanum and is compared with S. benadirense, S. jubae and S. pampaninii.     

A new species of Acacia (Leguminosae) from the Horn of Africa

Acacia cernua , sp. nov., is described from open Acacia-Commiphora bushland on the foothills of the north-facing limestone escarpment running along the coast of northern Somalia. The new species is obviously closely related to the widespread A. etbaica that is common on this escarpment, but at considerably higher altitudes. A. cernua differs from A. etbaica in, for example, its smooth, ash grey to white bark, and in its slender, hanging terminal branches with a glaucous foliage.     

Bauhinia leucantha sp. nov. (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) and notes on B. ellenbeckii

Bauhinia leucantha sp. nov. is described from central Somalia. The new species is related particularly to B. ellenbeckii in Ethiopia and Somalia, B. teitensis in Kenya, and B. natalensis in eastern South Africa. B. somalensis is reduced to a synonym of B. ellenbeckii and the distribution of this species is shown to extend to northern Somalia.     

New species of Tephrosia (Fabaceae) from Somalia and Yemen

The new species Tephrosia flava , from limestone areas in north-eastern Somalia, and T. mahrana , from wadis in the deserts of south-eastern Yemen, 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.     

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.     

A new species of Asparagus (Asparagaceae) from Somalia

Asparagus brachiatus , a new unarmed species from limestone rocks in north-eastern Somalia, is described, illustrated, and compared with A. leptocladodius and A. africanus.     

Additional observations on Dombeya kefaensis (Sterculiaceae) and the diversity of Dombeya in SW. Ethiopia

Dombeya kefaensis was first described in 1998 from flowering material collected in a mosaic of humid montane forest, evergreen bushland and deciduous woodland of the Kefa Region, SW. Ethiopia. Fruiting individuals, ripe fruits and seeds have now been observed on an additional gathering made near the type locality in late January. The new observations confirm that D. kefaensis is a distinct taxon closely related to D. buettneri K. Schum., recognised by characters of vegetative parts and inflorescence. This rare species has been observed between 1700 and 2200 m. a.s.l. for a distance of four kilometres in the transition zone between evergreen forest and deciduous woodland. The mountains and river valleys of S. and SW. Ethiopia with their mosaic of moist forests, highly fire-prone wooded grasslands, evergreen bushlands and montane grasslands seem to have the highest diversity of Dombeya -species on the African mainland, but the taxa are closely related.