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Geophytes diverging in rivers—a study on the genus Crinum , with two new rheophytic taxa from Cameroon
Author(s) -
Bjorå Charlotte S.,
Kwembeya Ezekeil G.,
Bogner Josef,
Nordal Inger
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.1002/tax.582020
Subject(s) - amaryllidaceae , biology , genus , botany , taxon
Most species of the genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) are bulbous geophytes and grow in areas with strong seasonality. A few have abandoned their geophytic habit and grow inundated in rivers and possess leaves without stomata and seeds without buoyancy. Traditionally the genus has been divided into sections, based on flowers being star‐shaped or bell‐shaped. Analysis of DNA sequences of ITS and trnL‐trnF regions has resolved a new clade of star‐shaped Crinum species: the Crinum natans clade of West Africa. From the rain forest of Cameroon two new river taxa are described: Crinum amphibium Bjorå & Nordal sp. nov. and Crinum natans Baker subsp. inundatum Kwembeya & Nordal subsp. nov. A key to the Crinum species of Cameroon is provided. The new name Crinum exile Bjorå & Nordal nom. nov. is proposed for Crinum humile A. Chev. (1950) non Herb. (1826).