Achyranthes talbotii Hutch. & Dalziel, Fl. W. Trop. Afr. 1: 127 (1927)

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

Achyranthes talbotii Hutch. & Dalziel, Fl. W. Trop. Afr. 1: 127 (1927)

Type.

Nigeria, Keay, R. W. J. FHIFHI 28284 (holotype: K, K000243718).

Description.

Perennial herb with soft woody stem to 45 cm tall; strong fibrous root system; lanceolate leaves 2-4 × 1-1.5 cm.

Specimens examined.

Near Ndokman II, approximately 8 km east of Yingui or 35 km east of Yabassi, 4°34'N, 10°10'E, 00 Jan 1972, R. Letouzey 10938 (YA); bank of Nkam River, near Sake, 3 km southwest of Nkondjok, 4°77'N, 10°17'E, 07 Jan 1972, R. Letouzey 11163 (YA); Mumgo River, Kumba-Loum road, 2°49'N, 9°33'E, 00 Jan 1981, Breyne 5062 (YA); Kombon at the bank of Kombon River, 4°59'N, 9°26'E, 23 Mar 2011, F. Kuetegue 316 (YA).

Habitat.

Sandy and rocky riverbeds or up to flood level on the bank, in rainforest.

Distribution.

Cameroon (Fig. 5 ) and Nigeria.

Conservation status in Cameroon.

Achyranthes talbotii was assessed by Cheek (2014) globally as Near Threatened (NT) at http://www.iucnredlist.org. The species was, however, assessed by Onana and Cheek (2011) for Cameroon as Vulnerable, since at that time it was known from only 10 sites. The taxon is currently known from about 25 localities. The extent of occurrence is estimated to be above 20,000 km2 and the area of occupancy is about 100 km2. At some localities, road construction and arable farming are in progress but on a limited scale. Although the habitat of the species is under pressure, it does not appear to qualify as threatened under the IUCN red list criteria ( IUCN 2013, 2017). While the expectation is that human pressure will increase the loss of habitat, and reduce the area of occupancy and extent of occurrence, it is not anticipated these threats will be significant. A. talbotii is here reassessed as of Least Concern. IUCN Red List Category: Least Concern (LC).

Figures

Figures 2 - 10. 2 Bolbitis fluviatilis (Hook.) Ching 3 Bolbitis heudelotii (Bory ex Fee) Alston 4 Lepidagathis alopecuroides R. Br. ex Griseb. 5 Achyranthes talbotii Hutch & Daziel 6 Crinum natans Baker 7 Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. 8 Anubias barteri Schott 9 Cyperus rheophyticus Lye 10 Cyperus tonkinensis C. B. Clarke var. baikiei (C. B. Clarke ex Kuk) S. S. Hooper.