Clerodendrum splendens var. pubescens Moldenke (1953a: 176

Meerts, Pierre, 2023, The genus Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae) in the flora of Central Africa (D. R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi), Phytotaxa 594 (1), pp. 1-42 : 30-31

22b. Clerodendrum splendens var. pubescens Moldenke (1953a: 176 ; 1980: 219).

Type:— D.R. CONGO. Banana , 4 August 1920, Schouteden 47 (holotype: BR0000008978622!) .

= var. puberulentum Moldenke (1953a: 176, 1980: 219 ). Type:—D.R. CONGO. Ganda Sundi, 7 July 1919, Goossens 1049 (holotype: BR0000008978615!).

Differs from the type variety by the lower surface of lamina shortly pubescent on veins, or, more rarely, on the whole surface, and the puberulous calyx tube.

Distribution in Central Africa:—D.R. Congo.

Distribution elsewhere:— Angola, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).

Habitat:—Scrub and thicket, sand dunes, sea cliff, savannah, often near the coastline; 0–350 m.

Selection of representative specimens:—D.R. CONGO. Côtier:Kisongo(Banana), 15September1913, Bequaert 776 (BR!), Vista [Nsiam Fumu], s.d., Flamigni 10492 (BR!); Vista [Nsiam Fumu], 11 August 1920, Schouteden 73 (BR!). Mayombe: Sandanda, Shiloango, 10 August 1913, Bequaert 601 (BR!), Luki, 2 August 1947, Devred 3440 (BR!); Ganda Sundi, 25 July 1919, Goossens 1106 (BR!). Forestier Central: Eala, 28 September 1937, Couteaux 336 (BR!).

Notes:—1. Many species of Clerodendrum are variable for leaf pubescence and, generally, such variation has no taxonomic significance. However, the pubescent populations of C. splendens in D.R. Congo are ecogeographically well circumscribed, being almost restricted to the westernmost part of the country, often near the coastline, where the glabrous phenotype is lacking or very rare. In the contact zone between the two varieties, populations with puberulent leaves occur, most likely derived from introgression; such populations have been described as var. puberulentum Moldenke , which we include in var. pubescens .

2. Var. pubescens is reported here for the first time for Angola (Marques 258 sér. III), and Congo (Brazzaville) (Dechamps 13102).