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16 December 2008 New Species of Commelina (Commelinaceae) from East and South-Central Africa
Robert B. Faden
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Commelina lukei Faden (Commelinaceae) is newly described from southeastern Kenya, also distributed in northeastern Tanzania and Madagascar. It is distinguished from C. kotschyi Hasskarl by its larger, less undulate-margined leaves, larger spathes, and different distribution and ecology; from C. imberbis Ehrenberg ex Hasskarl and C. mascarenica C. B. Clarke by its capsule shape, appendaged seeds, and consistently clasping leaf bases; and from all three species by the presence of solely acicular hairs on the adaxial lamina midrib. Commelina milne-redheadii Faden is newly described from Zambia, also in Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo. It differs from C. scaposa C. B. Clarke by the presence of leaves on the flowering shoots and larger spathes; from C. hockii De Wildeman by its narrower leaves and much smaller, striped spathes; from C. welwitschii C. B. Clarke by its tuberous roots, fewer-veined spathes, and several- to many-flowered upper cincinnus; and from all three species by its blue flowers and seeds with a dorsal ridge.

Robert B. Faden "New Species of Commelina (Commelinaceae) from East and South-Central Africa," Novon: A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature 18(4), 469-479, (16 December 2008). https://doi.org/10.3417/2007025
Published: 16 December 2008
KEYWORDS
Commelina
Commelinaceae
hook-hairs
IUCN Red List
seed morphology
tropical East Africa
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