THULIN, M., E. BIDAULT, V. BOULLET, N. HEIDARI, J. HIVERT & A. LARSSON (2024). Phylogeny and systematics of Paramollugo (Molluginaceae). Candollea 79: 179–228. In English, English and French abstracts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v792a1

The genus Paramollugo Thulin (Molluginaceae) comprises herbs or small shrubs or subshrubs mainly distributed in the Madagascar region, but one species also widespread in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, two restricted to the Caribbean and one to New Caledonia. In the revision presented here 11 species are recognized: P. decandra (Scott Elliot) Thulin, P. caespitosa (Scott Elliot) Thulin comb. nov., P. compressa Thulin sp. nov., P. simulans Sukhor. and P. elliotii Sukhor. endemic to Madagascar, P. nudicaulis (Lam.) Thulin in Madagascar and also widespread on neighbouring islands and in tropical and subtropical parts of Africa and Asia, P. angustifolia (M.G. Gilbert & Thulin) Thulin in Madagascar and Somalia, P. digyna (Montrouz.) Sukhor. endemic to New Caledonia, P. nesophila Thulin et al. sp. nov. endemic to Îles Éparses (Scattered Islands) in the Mozambique Channel, P. spathulata (Sw.) Sukhor. widespread in the Caribbean, and P. cuneifolia (Griseb.) Thulin endemic to Cuba. For each species descriptions and discussions are provided, as well as illustrations and distribution maps. New lectotypes are designated for Mollugo caespitosa Scott Elliot and M. digyna Montrouz. The phylogeny of the genus is reconstructed based on plastid trnK-matK and nuclear ITS sequences. Conflict between the datasets is seen as a result of the genus probably being a polyploid complex. Dating of the phylogeny resulted in two alternative topologies, both estimating the age of the stem clade to the Eocene, with a presumed origin in Africa, and mid-Miocene as the age of the crown clade, with a presumed origin in Madagascar and/or the Caribbean. The age of the crown clade is also the estimated date for a split between a Caribbean clade and the rest of the genus, long distance dispersal from Madagascar to the Greater Antilles being the most likely explanation.

THULIN, M., E. BIDAULT, V. BOULLET, N. HEIDARI, J. HIVERT & A. LARSSON (2024). Phylogénie et systématique du genre Paramollugo (Molluginaceae). Candollea 79: 179–228. En anglais, résumés anglais et français. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v792a1

Le genre Paramollugo Thulin (Molluginaceae) comprend des herbes ou de petits arbustes ou sous-arbrisseaux principalement distribués dans la région de Madagascar, mais une espèce est également répandue dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales de l'Ancien Monde, deux sont limitées aux Caraïbes et une à la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Dans la révision présentée ici, 11 espèces sont reconnues: P. decandra (Scott Elliot) Thulin, P. caespitosa (Scott Elliot) Thulin comb. nov., P. compressa Thulin sp. nov., P. simulans Sukhor. et P. elliotii Sukhor. endémiques de Madagascar, P. nudicaulis (Lam.) Thulin à Madagascar, mais également répandu dans les îles voisines et dans les parties tropicales et subtropicales d'Afrique et d'Asie, P. angustifolia (M.G. Gilbert & Thulin) Thulin à Madagascar et en Somalie, P. digyna (Montrouz.) Sukhor. endémique de Nouvelle-Calédonie, P. nesophila Thulin et al. sp. nov. endémique des Îles Éparses dans le canal du Mozambique, P. spathulata (Sw.) Sukhor. répandu dans les Caraïbes et P. cuneifolia (Griseb.) Thulin endémique de Cuba. Pour chaque espèce, des descriptions et des discussions sont fournies, ainsi que des illustrations et des cartes de répartition. De nouveaux lectotypes sont désignés pour Mollugo caespitosa Scott Elliot et M. digyna Montrouz. La phylogénie du genre est basée sur les marqueurs chloroplastiques trnK-matK et sur le marqueur nucléaire ITS. Les conflits entre les différents jeux de données sont vraisemblablement liés au complexe polyploïdique que constitue le genre. Deux topologies alternatives sont issues des analyses de datation moléculaire, toutes les deux estimant l'âge du groupe-souche à l'Eocène, avec une origine présumée en Afrique, et l'âge du groupe couronne à la mi-Miocène, avec une origine présumée à Madagascar et/ ou dans les Caraïbes. L'âge du groupe couronne est également la date estimée pour la divergence entre le clade caribéen et le reste du genre, l'hypothèse d'une dispersion éloignée de Madagascar vers les Grandes Antilles étant l'explication la plus probable.

KOENEN, E.J.M. (2024). A new species of Mimosa (Leguminosae) endemic to Central Madagascar. Candollea 79: 229–234. In English, English and French abstracts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v792a2

A new species of Mimosa L. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) from Madagascar is described and illustrated. The species is known only from the Massif d'Ibity and surrounding area in the Central Highlands, where it occurs in the understory of Tapia forest. Its morphological affinities to similar Malagasy species are discussed and a key to identify them is included.

KOENEN, E.J.M. (2024). Une nouvelle espèce de Mimosa (Leguminosae) endémique du centre de Madagascar. Candollea 79: 229–234. En anglais, résumés anglais et français. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v792a2

Une nouvelle espèce de Mimosa L. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) de Madagascar est décrite et illustrée. L'espèce n'est connue que du Massif d'Ibity et de ses environs dans les Hautes Terres centrales, où elle se trouve dans le sous-bois de la forêt de Tapia. Les affinités morphologiques avec les espèces similaires malgaches sont discutées et une clé d'identification est incluse.

TAYLOR, C.M., S. RAZAFIMANDIMBISON, M.W. CALLMANDER & H.H. SCHMIDT (2024). A new review of the Western Indian Ocean genus Danais (Rubiaceae: Danaideae), with seven new species from Madagascar. Candollea 79: 235–276. In English, English abstract. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2020v792a3

Danais Comm. ex Vent. (Rubiaceae) comprises about 49 species in Madagascar, the Mascarenes, and East Africa. A new species taxonomy is presented here, with an updated description and key to all Danais species, details of taxonomic changes, and lectotypifications. Four previously described species that were excluded from Danais are reinstated here: D. aptera Wedd. ex Homolle, D. baccata Homolle, D. coerulea Homolle ex Cavaco, and Sabicea verticillata Wernham under the replacement name Danais confusa C.M. Taylor. Identities and circumscriptions of some previously described Danais species are revised. The taxonomic circumscription of D. aurantiaca Baker is narrowed by the separation of a new species, D. reticulata C.M. Taylor; D. cernua Baker is diagnosed here by some different characters; D. fragrans (Lam.) Pers. in the Mascarenes is separated from plants of Madagascar formerly included in this species, now named D. lyallii Baker; D. longipedunculata Homolle and D. masoalana C.M. Taylor are no longer distinguishable and are synonymized; D. nigra Homolle is narrowed by the separation of the new species D. puffiana Razafim. & C.M. Taylor; D. perrieri Homolle is distinct from D. nigra Homolle; and D. terminalis Boivin ex Drake is still poorly known, but its circumscription is clarified and narrowed. Seven new species of Danais are described: D. coriacea C.M. Taylor, D. gracilis C.M. Taylor, D. ovata C.M. Taylor, D. puffiana Razafim. & C.M. Taylor, D. reticulata, D. sambiranensis C.M. Taylor, and D. schatzii C.M. Taylor. All the new species are threatened using the IUCN Red List Criteria: two are preliminarily assessed as “Critically Endangered” and five as “Endangered”.

LEMMEL, C. & C. CHATELAIN (2024). Disentangling the taxonomy of the Cleome africana species complex (Cleomaceae) in North Africa. Candollea 79: 277–281. In English, English and French abstracts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v792a4

We propose to revisit the taxonomy of Cleome africana Botsch. (Cleomaceae) in North Africa. The taxonomic circumscription of this species has been problematic over time leading to numerous confusions and misidentifications in most floras from this region. In North Africa, we propose to accept a single species, i.e., C. amblyocarpa Barratte & Murb. with two subspecies. Cleome africana Botsch., described as a replacement name for Siliquaria glandulosa Forssk., is accepted at subspecific rank under C. amblyocarpa as C. amblyocarpa var. glandulosa (Forssk.) Botsch. We consider that C. arabica L. only occurs in the Middle East. An identification key is provided for the C. africana complex.

LEMMEL, C. & C. CHATELAIN (2024). Élucider la taxonomie du genre Cleome (Cleomaceae) en Afrique du Nord. Candollea 79: 277–281. En anglais, résumés anglais et français. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v792a4

Nous proposons de revisiter la taxonomie de Cleome africana Botsch. (Cleomaceae) en Afrique du Nord. La circonscription taxonomique de cette espèce a été problématique au fil du temps, ce qui a conduit à de nombreuses confusions et erreurs d'identification dans la plupart des flores de cette région. En Afrique du Nord, nous proposons d'accepter une seule espèce, à savoir C. amblyocarpa Barratte & Murb. avec deux sous-espèces. Cleome africana Botsch., désigné comme nom de remplacement pour Siliquaria glandulosa Forssk., est accepté au rang de sous-espèce de C. amblyocarpa en tant que C. amblyocarpa var. glandulosa (Forssk.) Botsch. Nous considérons que C. arabica L. n'est présent qu'au Moyen-Orient. Une clé d'identification est fournie pour le complexe C. africana.

LACK, H.W. & M.W. Callmander (2024). The discovery, naming and typification of Rosa persica (Rosaceae) with notes on its introduction into cultivation. Candollea 79: 283–294. In English, English abstract.

Rosa persica J.F. Gmel. (Rosaceae) stands out in the genus Rosa L. because of its simple undivided leaves lacking stipules and the intensely yellow petals carrying a dark-brownish to blackish blotch at their base. This rose was first collected by André Michaux in 1784 when he travelled in Persia [now Iran] in 1783–1784. Johann August Carl Sievers who explored for the first time the Tarbagatai Mountains in the Russian Empire (now Kazakhstan) in 1793 recollected this odd little plant and subsequently named it R. berberifolia Siev. This paper clarifies the taxonomy and nomenclature of this rose setting it into the context of its discovery and adds to our understanding of how R. persica was introduced into cultivation in western gardens. A neotype is designated for that name.

Submitted on July 24, 2024 – Accepted on October 18, 2024 – First published online on November 20, 2024

MOULY, A. (2024). Psydrax merrillii (Rubiaceae), a new combination for a Polynesian tree species. Candollea 79: 295–298. In English, English abstract.

Canthium merrillii (Setch.) Christoph. is a tree restricted to the Polynesian archipelagos of Samoa, Tonga, and Wallis and Futuna. The paleotropical genus Psydrax Gaertn., which belongs to the tribe Vanguerieae of the family Rubiaceae, comprises unarmed shrubs bearing stamens with anthers reflexed on the filaments, whereas the species of the genus Canthium Lam. are characterized by being spinescent shrubs. Canthium merrillii (Setch.) Christoph. is therefore transferred to Psydrax based on the absence of spines. A description and an illustration of the species are provided.

Submitted on June 16, 2024 – Accepted on October 21, 2024 – First published online on November 20, 2024

VAN WELZEN P., J. VAN DER VELDT, D. VAN DER MAREL, H.-J. ESSER, D. ARIFIANI & K. WURDACK (2024). A new generic affiliation for New Guinean Paracroton sterrhopodus (Euphorbiaceae, Crotonoideae) as a member of recently described Indonesian Weda. Candollea 79: 299–302. In English, English abstract.

New Guinean Paracroton sterrhopodus (Airy Shaw) Radcl.-Sm. & Govaerts (Euphorbiaceae), known only from its type collection, shows an enormous distributional disjunction from the rest of that genus found from India to West Malesia. Morphologically the species is also distinct from Paracroton Miq. as it lacks stipules (present in Paracroton), shows dendritic hairs (versus absent) and has a structurally different inflorescence, a bisexual cyme with two subopposite large bracts (instead of a unisexual thyrse). In reevaluating the affiliation of P. sterrhopodus we found these morphological characters perfectly match with the recently described Weda Welzen, from the island of Halmahera (North Maluku, Indonesia). Therefore, the new combination as W. sterrhopoda (Airy Shaw) Welzen is made here. This new generic affiliation extends the distribution of Weda by 1500 km, although each of the constituent species has a very narrow known range.

Submitted on September 9, 2024 – Accepted on October 25, 2024 – First published online on November 20, 2024