Open AccessEnglerodendron libassum (Leguminosae-Detarioideae-Amherstieae), a new Critically Endangered tree species from coastal Liberia
Author(s) -
C.C.H. Jongkind,
F.J. Breteler
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plant ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.422
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 2032-3921
pISSN - 2032-3913
DOI - 10.5091/plecevo.2020.1743
Subject(s) - critically endangered , herbarium , endangered species , endemism , geography , ecology , vegetation (pathology) , conservation status , key (lock) , biology , habitat , medicine , pathology
Background and aims – While searching the banks of a lagoon close to Monrovia for known local endemic plant species, an unknown tree species was discovered. Its unijugate leaves allowed to quickly establish that this legume belongs to Englerodendron. This paper formally describes the finding as a new species and assesses its conservation status.Material and methods – The paper is based on data from fieldwork and morphological investigation of available herbarium material.Key results – The novelty named here E. libassum is one more endemic species from the special coastal vegetation on old beach sand. Only five mature trees were found in a relatively well-known area where not much original forest is left. The species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered.