Tinnea coerulea Gürke var. linearifolia (Bamps) Vollesen

Meerts, Pierre, 2022, New identifications of Lamiaceae (Lamioideae and Scutellarioideae) from D. R. Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, Bothalia (a 9) 52 (1), pp. 1-7 : 5

! Tinnea coerulea Gürke var. linearifolia (Bamps) Vollesen

Distribution: Angola, D.R. Congo, Zambia.

Habitat: Miombo woodlands, steppic savannas, sometimes on copper-rich soil.

Specimens examined (new identifications only): D. R. CONGO: Haut-Katanga: Parc national de l’Upemba, rive droite de la Lusinga, ± 8°55’S, 27°12’E, alt. 1700 m, 28 Mar. 1947, de Witte 2453 ( BR); Parc national de l’Upemba, rivière Buye Bala, affluent de la Muye, 8°47’S, 26°56’E, alt. 1750 m, savane herbeuse, 4 Apr. 1948, de Witte 3637 ( BR); Parc national de l’Upemba, savane herbeuse autour de la tête de la source de la rivière Kalumengongo, 8°58’S, 27°06’E, alt. 1830 m, 31 Mar. 1949, de Witte 5974 ( BR); Entre Kisenge (10°42’S, 23°10’E) et Divuma (10°37’S, 22°56’E), alt. ± 1050 m, 1957, Duvigneaud 3287 T ( BRLU); Dikuluwe, copper hill, 2006, Lejoly 06/303 ( BRLU); Parc national de l’Upemba, 1 km au sud du confluent Wakasinga-Djipwa , ± 08°47’, 27°11’E, alt. 1550 m, 25 Jan. 1956 , P. Vanden Brande 171 ( BR, BRLU) .

Discussion: This variety was initially described at species level by Bamps (1962) on account of its narrow, almost linear leaves; it also tends to have less tomentose inflorescence than the type variety. The new specimens identified show that the variety is widespread in the Upemba region, where the other two varieties [ var. coerulea and var. obovata (Robyns & Lebrun) Vollesen ] are rare or lacking.

Bibliography: Bamps (1962), Vollesen (1975).