Two new Gaertnera species from West Africa, G. pedunculata Jongkind and G. monticola Jongkind, are described. Gaertnera pedunculata is described from three specimens from Liberia that were not cited in the recent revision of the genus by Malcomber & Taylor; G. monticola was earlier considered to be an isolated population of G. longevaginalis (Schweinf. ex Hiern) E. M. A. Petit occurring in West Africa. Gaertnera monticola has conspicuous ruminate endosperm, a character shown by most West African Gaertnera species but absent in the Central African ones such as G. longevaginalis s. str. A table is presented to show important differences between the seven Gaertnera species in Upper Guinea.

Citation: Jongkind C. C. H. 2018: Two new Gaertnera species (Rubiaceae) from West Africa. – Willdenowia 48: 391–397. doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.48.48308

Version of record first published online on 9 November 2018 ahead of inclusion in December 2018 issue.