A synopsis of the Sabicea floribunda group (Rubiaceae) from Central Africa, including three new species Lachenaud, Olivier Zemagho, Lise Sonké, Bonaventure Candollea 2020 2020-06-17 75 1 115 143 9V5RS O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonke O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonke. Des 2020 Magnoliopsida Rubiaceae Sabicea Plantae Gentianales 14 129 Tracheophyta variety floribunda var. nov. paludosa     Holotypus: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Tshopo: Lilanda( Yangambi),  15.VIII.1940, fl.,  Germain449( BR!;  isotype: K!).   Ab alteribus varietatibus differt bracteis ± obovatis utrinque dense pubescentibus (nec orbicularibus, ovatis vel late ellipticis, glabris vel pilis sparsis munitis).   Etymology. – The epithet paludosarefers to the fact that this taxon is most commonly found in swamp and riverine forests, while other varieties usually grow on drained soils.   Distribution, ecology and phenology. – This taxon occurs in northeastern Gabon, and in D.R. Congowhere it is found mostly in the central depression of the Congobasin (“cuvette congolaise”) with isolated records further east (Kivu) and south (near the border with Angola) ( Fig. 8). Its range closely approaches that of var. anisostegiain both Gabonand D.R. Congo. It grows mostly in swamp and riverine forest, but apparently also in secondary forest regrowth on drained soils, 350–1000 min elevation. Flowers have been recorded in January, from April to June and from August to October; fruits from April to October.   Conservation status. – The extent of occurrence (EOO) of  S. floribundavar. paludosais calculated to be 759,404 km², well above the limit for “Vulnerable” status under subcriterion B1. Its area of occupancy is estimated to be 64 km², which falls within the limit for “Endangered” status under subcriterion B2, but is an obvious underestimation, given the low collecting density in most of its range. The taxon occurs in eastern Gabonand the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is known from 21 specimensrepresenting 15 subpopulations, one of which occurs in a protected area (Kahuzi-Biega National Park in D.R. Congo). It is found in swamp forest and secondary forest regrowth, and appears to be not rare in its range. Given its ecology and wide distribution there is no evidence of a particular threat, and it is here assessed as Least Concern [LC] using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012).   Notes. – This taxon differs from other varieties by its more or less obovate and densely pubescent bracts (vs. orbicular, ovate or broadly elliptic, with indumentum sparse or absent) which are also usually narrower in proportion – hence a similarity with  S. segregata, but that species does not occur in its range. In all other characters, especially leaves and indumentum, it comes very close to var. floribunda.     Paratypi. –  DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Bandundu: Iküma,  13.X.1948, fl.,  Jans807( BR).   Equateur: Ikelemba,  VI.1934, fl.,  Dubois423( BR); rte Bikoro-Inongo, km 27, 17.X.1957, imm.fr.,  Evrard2674( BR); rte Flandria-Makako(territoire Ingende),  9.IV.1959, fl.,  Evrard6054( BR);  Bondombe,  9.IX.1942, buds,  Hulstaert843( BR);  Lac Tumba-I.R.S.A.C. Mabali,  20.VI.1958, imm.fr.,  Thonet221( BR, K).   Kwango: entre Popokabaka et Kimabaka, près rivière Pumbu,  18.IV.1959, fl.,  Pauwels2495( BR, P).   Kwilu: vallée de la Djuma,  VII.1902, imm.fr.,  Gentils.n.( BR);  région de Bampumu,  X.1922, fl.,  Vanderyst12481( BR).   Sud-Kivu: Kiaselela, territoire Shabunda,  19.IV.1959, imm.fr.,  A. Léonard3900( BR, P).   Tshopo: Opala,  15.VI.1949, imm.fr.,  Germain5116( BR, WAG);  Yabahondo( rive gauche du Lomami),  15.X.1952, fl. & imm.fr.,  Germain8116( BR);  Yangambi,  3.VI.1958, imm.fr.,  A. Léonard759( BR, K);  env. de Kisangani, à  3 kmà l’E de Kabondo,  24.X.1977, buds,  Lisowski47453( BR, K);  Kisangani, Kabondo,  6.V.1979, fl. (fallen),  Lisowski52401( BR, K);   20 kmà l’W de Yangambi,  27.X.1938, fl.,  J. Louis12110( BR).   Tshuapa: Befale,  IX.1934, imm.fr.,  Dubois767( BR);  Befale-Tolongote,  5.VI.1958, fl.,  Evrard4185( BR, K, WAG).  Sine loco: sine loco,s.d., fl.,  Pauwels660( BR).    GABON. Ogooué-Ivindo:  10 kmon road Malassa to Madouma,  8.I.2001, fl.,  Wieringa et al. 4028( LBV, WAG). 3698751481 1940-08-15 BR Germain Democratic Republic of the Congo Lilanda Tshopo 14 129 1 holotype 3698751408 2598787199 [862,957,1762,1786] K http://coicatalogue.uc.pt/specimen/COI00097057 14 129 1 isotype 3698751556 1948-10-13 BR Jans Democratic Republic of the Congo Bandundu 15 130 1 paratype 3698751645 1934-06 BR Dubois Equateur 15 130 1 3698751454 [856,1422,586,606] 17. X. 1957 BR Evrard km 27 Bikoro-Inongo 15 130 1 3698751483 1959-04-09 BR Evrard Ingende Flandria-Makako 15 130 1 3698751336 1942-09-09 BR Hulstaert Bondombe Bondombe 15 130 1 3698751304 1958-06-20 BR, K Thonet Lac Tumba-I. R. S. A. C. Mabali 15 130 1 3698751450 1959-04-18 BR, P Pauwels entre Popokabaka et Kimabaka Kwango 15 130 1 3698751381 1902-07 BR Gentil vallee de la Djuma Kwilu 15 130 1 3698751630 1922-10 BR Vanderyst region de Bampumu 15 130 1 region de Bampumu 3698751358 1959-04-19 BR, P A. Leonard Kiaselela Sud-Kivu 15 130 1 3698751496 1949-06-15 BR, WAG Germain Opala Tshopo 15 130 1 3698751383 1952-10-15 BR Germain rive gauche du Lomami Yabahondo 15 130 1 3698751661 1958-06-03 BR, K A. Leonard Yangambi 15 130 1 3698751591 1977-10-24 BR, K Lisowski env. de Kisangani 15 130 1 3698751528 1979-05-06 BR, K Lisowski Kabondo Kisangani 15 130 1 3698751605 [835,1363,906,926] 1938-10-27 BR J. Louis 15 130 1 3698751320 1934-09 BR Dubois Befale Tshuapa 15 130 1 3698751626 1958-06-05 BR, K, WAG Evrard Befale-Tolongote 15 130 1 3698751437 [1050,1440,960,979] BR Pauwels 15 130 1 3698751467 2001-01-08 LBV, WAG Wieringa et al Gabon Ogooue-Ivindo 15 130 1 Ogooue-Ivindo