A new species of Drypetes (Putranjivaceae) discovered by J. Léonard in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Published in: Plant ecology and evolution Vol. 153; no. 2; pp. 312 - 320
• Main Authors: Quintanar, Alejandro, Harris, David J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Botanic Garden Meise and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium 01.07.2020; Royal Botanical Society of Belgium; Meise Botanic Garden
• Subjects: Central Africa; Congo Basin; Drypetes; New Species; Putranjivaceae; SHORT COMMUNICATIONS; Yangambi
• ISSN: 2032-3913; 2032-3921
• DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.2020.1709

Background - During his stay in Yangambi in the 1940s, the Belgian botanist J. Léonard collected a species of the genus Drypetes endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He named it D. morocarpa on herbarium labels, but never published it. Methods - The present study is based on the revision of 26 collections of D. morocarpa. Morphometric measurements on herbarium specimens belonging to the new species and its closest relatives in Drypetes were carried out in order to describe this new species. Results - We describe here D. morocarpa J. Léonard ex D. J. Harris & Quintanar. It is easily recognisable by its blackish twigs and young branchlets, orbicular stipules, leaf blades usually entire, and hard fruits, covered with irregular protuberances. It has been collected in two areas along the course of the Congo river or its tributaries. A differential diagnosis, a detailed morphological description, a key to distinguish it from the most similar species, an illustration and all the available information about its habitat, distribution and conservation status are provided.