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| Triaspis bicuarensis R.F.Almeida & Goyder, in Almeida, Antonio-Domingues, Gonçalves et Goyder, 2024. |
Abstract
Triaspis hypericoides currently comprises three accepted subspecies endemic to woodland savannas of southern continental Africa. After an unusual population belonging to this complex was collected in southwestern Angola, we re-evaluated the classification of this group. This study was based on the analysis of type specimens, protologues, field photographs and herbarium sheets of all subspecies within T. hypericoides. We reinstate T. canescens, T. hypericoides and T. nelsonii based on differences in leaf, flower and fruit traits. Additionally, the Angolan population is proposed here as a new species of Triapis endemic to the dry miombo woodlands of Bicuar National Park, Huíla Province, southwestern Angola. Triaspis bicuarensis sp. nov. is easily distinguished from T. nelsonii by its alternate (versus opposite) leaves, ovate to widely ovate (versus widely ovate to very widely ovate) leaf laminas, rounded (versus sagittate) leaf base, flat (versus undulate) margins, sparsely white-tomentose (versus glabrous to glabrescent) abaxial leaf surface, petiole 4–8 mm long (versus 2–3 mm long), compound inflorescences in thyrses (versus corymbs) and bracteoles inserted below apex of peduncles (versus in the middle of peduncles). An identification key to all species belonging to this species complex is presented alongside a complete morphological description for the new species, photographic plates and comments on the distribution, ecology, palynology and taxonomy. These results underline the need for continued revisions of the taxonomy of the neglected African genera of Malpighiaceae.
Keywords: Angola, Malpighiales, Malpighioid clade, savanna, tropical Africa
Triaspis bicuarensis R.F.Almeida and Goyder, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: A species differing from T. nelsonii due to its alternate (versus opposite) leaves, with ovate to widely ovate (versus widely ovate to very widely ovate) lamina, rounded at base (versus sagittate), with flat margin (versus undulate), abaxially sparsely white-tomentose (versus glabrous to glabrescent), petiole 4–8 mm long (versus 2–3 mm long), flowers in thyrses (versus corymbs) and bracteoles inserted below apex of peduncles (versus inserted at the middle of peduncles).
Etymology: The epithet refers to the restricted distribution of the new species, known only from Bicuar National Park in Huíla Province, southwestern Angola.
Rafael Felipe de Almeida, Higor Antonio-Domingues, Francisco Maiato P. Gonçalves and David J. Goyder. 2024. A New Angolan Species from the Triaspis hypericoides complex (Malpighiaceae) based on Macromorphology and Palynology. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: 10.1111/njb.04336
