Cissampelos keniensis Y.D.Zhou & Q.F.Wang, 2017

Zhou, Ya-Dong, Mbuni, Yuvenalis, Hu, Guang-Wan, Zhong, Zhi-Xiang, Yan, Xue, Mwachala, Geoffrey & Wang, Qing-Feng, 2017, Cissampelos keniensis (Menispermaceae), a new species from Mt. Kenya, East Africa, Phytotaxa 292 (1), pp. 57-64 : 58-60

Cissampelos keniensis Y.D.Zhou & Q.F.Wang , sp. nov. Fig. 3 & 4 .

Liana. Leaves subpetiolate, heart-shaped.Male inflorescences comprising corymbose cymules. Male flowers: sepals 4(–7), obovate; corolla cupuliform; synandrium 4-loculor. Female inflorescence of several 5- or 6-flowered cymes arranged in racemes. Female flowers: sepal 1, obovate; petal 1, sub-rounded; carpel oval; stigmas 3. Drupes glabrous, oblate spheroid. Endocarp single, suborbicular-bilaterally compressed.

Type:— KENYA. Meru District: eastern slope of Mt. Kenya, Kaburia Track , S 0.13736, E 37.54947, elevation 2241 m, 29 Jun. 2016, Zhou & Mbuni 16/14 (holotype HIB!; isotypes EA!, PE!) .

Liana up to 5 m or longer, with woody rootstock; stems and branchlets glabrous to slightly subtomentose. Leaves subpetiolate, with petioles 25–50 mm long and inserted 0.5–5 mm above the base of the blade; blade heart-shaped, sometimes asymmetric, 40–80 × 35–70 mm, bright green and glabrous or slightly pubescent above, pale green and with grey indumentum beneath; basal nerves 5–7, palmate. Male inflorescences of axillary, solitary or rarely up to 3, corymbose cymules, slightly pubescent; peduncles 2–8(–15) mm long. Male flowers with pedicels 2–5 mm long; sepals 4(–7), obovate, 1–2 × 0.8–1.6 mm, pale green central, transparent at the margins, slightly pubescent outside, glabrous inside; corolla cupuliform, glabrous, 0.5–1 × 1–1.5 mm; synandrium 1–1.5 mm long, 4-locular. Female inflorescences of several 5- or 6-flowered cymes arranged in axillary false racemes 30–90 mm long, solitary; bracts cordate to lanceolate, 7–20 × 6–17 mm. Female flowers with pedicels up to 3 mm long; sepal 1, obovate, 1–2 × 0.8–1.5 mm, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; petal 1, sub-rounded, 0.5–1 mm in diameter, glabrous; carpel oval, 0.5–0.8 × 0.3–0.5 mm, pubescent; stigmas 3. Drupes glabrous, oblate spheroid, ca. 5 × 5 × 4 mm, with persistent style ca. 0.5 mm long. Endocarp suborbicular-bilaterally compressed, ca. 4.3 × 3.8 × 3.5 mm.

Etymology:— The specific epithet “ keniensis ” refers to Mt. Kenya.

Distribution and ecology:— Known only from the type locality. It was found in montane rainforest, climbing on ferns, woody herbs, shrubs and small trees, from 2100 to 2250 m.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— KENYA. Meru District: eastern slope of Mt. Kenya, Kaburia Track , S 0.13905, E 37.55486, elevation 2180 m, 29 Jun. 2016, Zhou & Mbuni 16/17 ( HIB!, EA!, PE!) ; Kaburia Track , S 0.13718, E 37.54861, elevation 2211 m, 29 Jun. 2016, Zhou & Mbuni 16/20 ( HIB!, EA!) ; Kaburia Track , S 0.14114, E 37.55548, elevation 2148 m, 10 Aug. 2015, SAJIT 003939 ( HIB!) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cissampelos keniensis. A. Male plant. B. Leaves. C. Male inflorescences with male flowers. D. Female inflorescences. E. Female flowers. F. Fruits. G. Endocarps. Photographs:Y.D. Zhou.

FIGURE 4. Cissampelos keniensis. A. Female plant (Zhou & Mbuni 16/17, HIB!); B. Male inflorescences (Zhou & Mbuni 16/14, HIB!); C. Male flower (Zhou & Mbuni 16/14, HIB!); D. Female flower (Zhou & Mbuni 16/17, HIB!); E. Fruit (Zhou & Mbuni 16/17, HIB!). F. Endocarp (Zhou & Mbuni 16/17, HIB!). Drawings by Y.D. Zhou & N. Jia.