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| Amorphophallus dumboi Eb.Fisch., B.Dumbo & L.Dumbo, in Fischer, Dumbo & Dumbo, 2022. |
Abstract
Background and aims – A new species of Amorphophallus (Araceae) is described from D.R. Congo in connection with preparing the family treatment for the Flore d’Afrique centrale. Another species is recorded for the first time from Rwanda.
Methods – Standard herbarium practices were applied.
Key results – Amorphophallus dumboi sp. nov. is related to A. margretae. The differences between these species are discussed and distribution maps for the taxa are presented. Both species are range-restricted in the Albertine Rift and preliminarily assessed as Critically Endangered. Amorphophallus mayoi is for the first time recorded for Rwanda. The taxon, originally described as a subspecies of A. calabaricus, is raised here to specific rank.
Keywords: Albertine Rift, Amorphophallus dumboi, Amorphophallus mayoi, Central Africa, endemism, taxonomy
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| Amorphophallus dumboi Eb.Fisch., B.Dumbo & L.Dumbo. A. Inflorescence. B–C. Detail of spadix showing staminate (above) and carpellate zone (below). D. Carpellate flowers. E–G. Ornamentation on inner side of spathe. Scale bars: 5 cm (A), 5 mm (B–C), 1 mm (D–G). Photographs taken at the type locality on 10 Dec. 2018 by Bonny Dumbo (A), and in the laboratory by Eberhard Fischer (B–G). |
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| Amorphophallus dumboi Eb.Fisch., B.Dumbo & L.Dumbo. A–B, D. Habit with inflorescences showing the third author for comparison. C. Leaf, showing the third author for comparison. E. Base of plant showing roots and upper part of tuber. F. Leaf. G. Inflorescence. Scale bars: 20 cm (A–D), 1 cm (E), 5 cm (F–G). Photographs taken at the type locality on 10 Dec. 2018 by Bonny Dumbo. |
Amorphophallus dumboi Eb.Fisch., B.Dumbo & L.Dumbo, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Amorphophallus dumboi differs from A. margretae in the leaves and inflorescences that appear at the same time on the same tuber (leaves appear after inflorescence in A. margretae), the peduncle about 4 times the length of the spathe (peduncle not exceeding 2 times the length of the spathe in A. margretae), and the inner base of spathe with irregular rounded to elongate smallpox-like projections of 0.2–1 mm in length, between and on the veins (inner base of spathe smooth, with shallowly elevated dark veins in A. margretae).
Distribution: Only known from the rainforests in the southern part of Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Fig. 5A).
Habitat: Transitional montane rainforest at Mulolo, partially submerged along small stream, 1108 m, together with numerous ferns and Impatiens species.
Etymology: Named after Dumbo Kilundo (1 January 1930−18 September 2020), one of the most knowledgeable botanists from D.R. Congo, despite that he never received formal training. Born in Kisanga (Mulolo), Shabunda, he went to the Institut de Recherche Scientifique en Afrique Centrale (IRSAC) at Lwiro, today Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN). There he worked first with A.R. Christiaensen and later with G. Troupin. He made major contributions to the knowledge of the Flora of Central Africa, first for the IRSAC, later as Head of Irangi Forest Reserve and for the Herbarium of Lwiro.
Eberhard Fischer, Bonny Dumbo and Landry Dumbo. 2022. A New Species of Amorphophallus (Araceae) from Eastern D.R. Congo, and A New Record of the Genus from Rwanda. Plant Ecology and Evolution. 155(3): 333-342. DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.93804
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