Biophytum zenkeri Guillaumin, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 26 (1909)

Kuetegue, Felix, Sonke, Bonaventure & Ameka, Gabriel K., 2019, A checklist of rheophytes of Cameroon, PhytoKeys 121, pp. 81-131 : 81

Biophytum zenkeri Guillaumin, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 26 (1909)

Type.

Cameroon, 01 Jan 1908, G. Zenker 3428 (BM, BR, G; HBG, K, K000419376, M, P, W).

Description.

Perennial herb, up to 30 cm tall, forming dense clumps; leaves in rosette or nearly so; flowers yellow.

Specimens examined.

Cross River ferry between Ikom and Manfe, 07 Apr 1955, J. K. Morton K318 (YA); Korup, rocky river bank of Mana River, 4°55'N, 8°50'E, 08 Jun 1983, D. W. Thomas 2164 (YA); Ndian Division Mundemba, in Mana River, 5°00'N, 8°50'E, 21 Nov 1986, Stephen D. Manning 896 (YA).

Habitat.

In rock crevices in riverbeds, seasonally flooded; in forest.

Distribution.

Angola, Cameroon (Fig. 16 ), Congo, Gabon and Nigeria.

Conservation status in Cameroon.

Like the species before it, Biophytum zenkeri is not listed on http://www.iucnredlist.org. The taxon is currently known from 9 localities. The extent of occurrence of this species is about 80,000 km2 and its area of occupancy is about 36 km2. Plantation development is in progress at two of the localities and this may affect the survival of the species. Based on this threat, and the continuous decline of vegetation cover in the area, extent and /or quality of habitat B. zenkeri is here assessed as Vulnerable. IUCN Red List Category: Vulnerable VU B2ab (ii, iii).

Figures

Figures 11 - 19. 11 Cyperus cataractarum K. Schum ex Engl. 12 Plectranthus cataractarum B. J. Pollard 13 Calvoa stenophylla Jacq. - Fel. 14 Eugenia dusenii Engl. 15 Biophytum talbotii (Baker f.) Hutch. & Dalziel 16 Biophytum zenkeri Guillaumin 17 Pandanus satabiei Huynh 18 Eragrostis barteri C. E. Hubb. 19 Ixora euosmia K. Schum.