Coleus schliebenii (Mildbr.) A. J. Paton

Meerts, Pierre J. & Paton, Alan J., 2024, The genus Coleus (Lamiaceae) in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi), with the description of 15 new species, PhytoKeys 246, pp. 71-178 : 71-178

Coleus schliebenii (Mildbr.) A. J. Paton , Phytokeys 129: 92. 2019 .

≡ Pycnostachys schliebenii Mildbr. , Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 405. 1932. Type: Tanzania, Njombe District: Lupembe, stromgebiet des oberen Ruhudje, landschaft Lupenbe, nördlich des Flusses, Apr 1931, H. J. Schlieben 713 (holotype B destroyed: isotype BM [ BM 000884009 ], BR [ BR 0000006410650 ], G [ G 00435269], K [ K 000405738 ] fragment, MA [ MA 384632], P [P 00541260]).

Description.

Paton et al. (2009: 410), Paton et al. (2013: 330), as Pycnostachys schliebenii Mildbr.

Distribution.

Tanzania to Zambia and E DR. Congo.

Habitat and ecology.

Mountain forest with Arundinaria , Erica scrub, river bank, more rarely wooded savannah; in Burundi also in savannah and fallow fields, (950 –) 1750–2500 m elev.

Additional specimens.

DR. Congo, Lacs Edouard et Kivu, Katana, 10 Jul 1959, Cambridge Congo Expedition 80 ( BR, US); Chaîne des Mitumba, W Lac Edouard, piste Mangi-Kipesa, 19 Jan 1956, J. de Wilde 623 ( BR); Entre Kasindi et Lubango, Dec 1931, J. Lebrun 4690 ( BR); Kalehe, Mont Kahuzi, 7 Jul 1971, J. Ntakiyimana 92 ( BR); Haut-Katanga, Upemba, galerie de la Kalumengongo, 18 Apr 1947, G. F. de Witte 2518 ( BR); Marungu, env. Kasiki, fourré de la source de la rivière Lunanga, 12 Jun 1969, S. Lisowski, F. Malaisse, J. - J. Symoens 6429 ( POZG); Upemba, tête de source de la riv. Kadidika, près de la piste Lusinga-Mitwaba, 11 May 1949, van Meel in de Witte 6321 ( BR).

Burundi, Mont Manga, 21 Apr 1982, Missumba, 4 Jun 1970, J. Lewalle 4676 ( BR); Rushubi, Mont Bona, 26 Apr 1977, M. Reekmans 6025 ( BR, WAG); Kitwe Rumonge, 12 May 1977, M. Reekmans 6211 ( BR, WAG); Kabuyekere, 5 Jun 1980, M. Reekmans 9287 ( MO, WAG); Bujumbura, Mont Manga, 21 Apr 1982, M. Reekmans 1099 4 ( BR, WAG); Bukemba-Muzye, 12 May 1981, M. Reekmans 10220 ( BR, MO, WAG).

Notes.

1. This species is variable in Burundi; a particular morphotype occurring in savannah has long ciliate bracts, calyx tube with a ring of hairs inside the throat, short inflorescence (1 cm at anthesis) and short calyx teeth (e. g. J. Lewalle 1912, G. Michel 2408, 2715, 2956, M. Reekmans 486, 5074, 6211, 7035, 9287, 10220, J. Saintenoy 158); such plants were identified in schedis as “ P. bruceae Gatheri ” (unpublished designation); further work is needed to assess their taxonomic status.

2. In the Marungu Massif (Haut-Katanga), the species is represented by a large-flowered phenotype (corolla up to 20 mm long) e. g. S. Lisowski, F. Malaisse, J. - J. Symoens 6428 ( POZG) which could deserve taxonomic recognition; further work is needed on this polymorphic species.

3. The specimens J. F. Laurent 489 and Bytebier & Luke 3128 (BR, EA) could represent Coleus livingstonei A. J. Paton , a species not yet recorded in Central Africa; however, the materials are poor and the presence of this species needs confirmation.