Published April 9, 2014 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Taxonomy of Atlantic Central African orchids 2. A second species of the rare genus Distylodon (Orchidaceae, Angraecinae) collected in Cameroon

  • 1. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • 2. Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom
  • 3. Plant Systematic and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teacher's Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • 4. Missouri Botanical Garden, Africa & Madagascar Department, St. Louis, United States of America

Description

While conducting field inventories in South Cameroon, we collected two specimens of a new species that we considered to belong to the genus Angraecopsis. Afterwards, a careful examination of specimens housed at main herbaria, along with the nomenclatural types, allows us to place it in Distylodon, a monotypic genus previously known from East Africa. Distylodon sonkeanum Droissart, Stévart & P.J.Cribb, sp. nov. was collected in the lowland coastal forest of Atlantic Central Africa. It is known from a single locality in the surroundings of the Campo-Ma’an National Park. The species differs from D. comptum, by its several-flowered inflorescences, longer leaves and spur, and shorter pedicel and ovary. The species appears to be rare and is assessed as Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)] according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. New field investigations are required to attempt to find it in the low-elevation parts of the Campo-Ma’an National Park in Cameroon.

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