Gaertnera luteocarpa Jongkind subsp. sinoensis Jongkind, 2015

Jongkind, Carel Christiaan Hugo, 2015, Description of Gaertnera luteocarpa (Gentianales: Rubiaceae), with two subspecies, a new forest shrub species from Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana, European Journal of Taxonomy 126, pp. 1-8 : 5-7

Gaertnera luteocarpa Jongkind subsp. sinoensis Jongkind subsp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77147377-1 ( Figs 2 , 4 )

Diagnosis

Fertile branches half the size as of the other subspecies (2 mm wide in dry state). Stipular tube glabrous, not densely hairy.

Type

LIBERIA. Sino County, Sapo National Park not far from Camp 6, 5°18.5’ N, 8°44.8’ W, alt: 220 m, fr., 22 Nov. 2010, Jongkind, Bilivogui & Daniels 9832 (holo-: WAG, iso-: BR).

Etymology

The subspecies is named after “ Sinoe ”, the river close to which it was seen for the first time.

Distribution and habitat

Known only from the south-east of Liberia.

Additional specimens examined

LIBERIA. Sino County, SSW of Jalay’s Town near the Sinoe River, 5°20’ N, 8°49’ W, alt: 90–100 m, fl. bud, 10 Mar. 2009, Jongkind, Bilivogui & Dorbor 8923 (WAG); c. 50 km east of Greenville, 5°04.61’ N, 8°30.42’ W, alt: 59 m, fl., 18 Mar. 2014, Jongkind & Mulbah 12500 (BR, K, MO).

Conservation status

The EOO is 54 km 2 and the AOO is 12 km 2, both count as “Endangered”. The AOO is based on a cell width of 2 km. Only one of the specimens was collected in a protected area. Considering all the economical development planned in this part of Liberia, I propose “Endangered” for this subspecies (B1 & B2 ab(iii) IUCN 2015).

Figures

Fig. 2. Gaertnera luteocarpa sp. nov. subsp. sinoensis subsp. nov. A. Fruits and leaves. B. Close up of fruits. From Jongkind, Bilivogui & Daniels 9832. Photos C.C.H. Jongkind.

Fig. 4. Distribution map. Gaertnera luteocarpa sp. nov. subsp. luteocarpa (stars) and G. luteocarpa subsp. sinoensis subsp. nov. (dots).