Notes on the endemic plant species of the Ebo Forest, Cameroon, and the new, Critically Endangered, Palisota ebo (Commelinaceae)

During a visit to the Ebo forest of Littoral Region, Cameroon in April 2005, an unusually small, variegated species of Palisota was seen dominating the forest understorey over a 2 km section of footpath. Although many hundreds of plants were seen, all appeared sterile, lacking the conspicuous erect central flowering axis usual in the genus. Passing along this path the following year, a determined effort was made to investigate this species further. Uprooted plants revealed dull, yellow–brown berries that had been concealed in the soil under the leaves. Other plants yielded axillary flowering shoots/ inflorescences, with flowers in bud, unopened, at 7–8 a.m. About 10 fertile live plants were taken and placed in plastic bags for later investigation where, after several days, some produced open flowers, which, with the fruits were preserved in alcohol. This material provides the basis for the description of Palisota ebo Cheek below. Dimensions of floral, fruit and seed features are taken from the fluid preserved specimens, while other elements are described from the herbarium material and photographs taken in the field. The genus Palisota P.Beauv.