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Type: Article
Published: 2014-08-20
Page range: 26–34
Abstract views: 20
PDF downloaded: 1

Taxonomy of Atlantic Central African orchids 3. A new species of Bulbophyllum Thouars (Orchidaceae) from the Monts de Cristal, Gabon

Missouri Botanical Garden, Africa & Madagascar Department, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, U.S.A. Botanic Garden, Meise, Domein van Bouchout, Nieuwelaan 38, B-1860 Meise, Belgium. Herbarium et Bibliothèque de Botanique africaine, Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB, Boulevard du Triomphe, CP 265, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.
Jardi-Gab, B.P. 2345 Libreville, Gabon.
IGEAT-Institut de Gestion de l’Environnement et d’Aménagement du Territoire, 50 Av. F.D. Roosevelt, CP 130/02, B-1050 Bruxelles Belgium.
Missouri Botanical Garden, Africa & Madagascar Department, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, U.S.A. Herbarium et Bibliothèque de Botanique africaine, Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB, Boulevard du Triomphe, CP 265, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR AMAP, Botanique et Bioinformatique de l’Architecture des Plantes, Bd de la Lironde, TA A51/PS2, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France. Plant Systematic and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Africa forest refuge IUCN Criteria lowland forest taxonomy

Abstract

Two specimens of an apparently new Bulbophylum species were found in the Monts de Cristal, Gabon. They have a unique leaf shape among the species of this genus in Continental Africa. The flower shares the general morphology of Bulbophyllum saltatorium, one of the most common members of Bulbophyllum in Central Africa. Eight other taxa of the Continental African Bulbophyllum possess unifoliate pseudobulbs and long hairs on the lip. Comparison with them indicates that the new collections from Gabon represent a distinctive species, not yet known in the genus. We describe it here as Bulbophyllum pauwelsianum. The distinguishing features of the species include its leaves, which are pendant, coriaceous, linear, semiterete and v-shaped in transverse section, and its sepals, which possess relatively long hairs on their margins. A table of the taxonomic treatments of the nine Continental African Bulbophyllum taxa considered here is included. A taxonomic key and a table of the diagnostic characters of these nine taxa are given to facilitate identification. The new species is restricted to lowland forests of the Monts de Cristal in Gabon. A preliminary assessment of the conservation status, using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria is provided.