Four new threatened species ofRinorea(Violaceae), treelets from the forests of Cameroon

Abstract

Four species of Rinorea are described as new to science; all four species are endemic to evergreen rain forest in Cameroon. Rinorea villiersii Achound., and Rinorea amietii Achound. are placed in Sect. Crassiflorae Wahlert, while Rinorea dewildei Achound. and Rinorea faurei Achound. fall in Rinorea section Dentatae (Engl.) Wahlert. The first species appears to be endemic to the Solé Forest Reserve northeast of Yabassi in Littoral Region. The second and the third species are found mainly in Littoral and South Regions, Rinorea amietii extending to South West Region and Rinorea dewildei extending to Central Region. The fourth species, Rinorea faurei is an endemic of the Santchou Forest Reserve at the foot of Dschang Plateau in West Region. The affinities of the four species are discussed, they are illustrated and mapped, and their conservation status is assessed. All four species are threatened with extinction according to the 2012 IUCN categories and criteria.

The endemic plant species of Bali Ngemba Forest Reserve, Bamenda Highlands Cameroon, with a new Endangered cloud-forest tree speciesVepris onanae(Rutaceae)

“…About 2000 species of vascular plant have been described as new to science each year for the last fifteen years or more. Cameroon currently has the highest number of new species to science published each year (Cheek et al 2020c), recent examples being published are (Achoundong et al 2021;Aguirre-Alvarez et al 2021;Cheek et al 2021b;Cheek et al 2021c;Cheek et al 2021d;Couvreur et al 2021;Gosline et al 2021). Until species are known to science, they cannot be assessed for their conservation status and the possibility of protecting them is reduced (Cheek et al 2020c).…”

Two new threatened species of Rinorea (Violaceae), forest trees from East and South Regions, Cameroon

“…Measurements were made from rehydrated or spirit preserved material. The terms and format of the description follow the conventions of Achoundong & Cheek (2005) and Achoundong et al (2021). Post-facto georeferences for specimens without coordinates were obtained from Google Earth.…”

“…In the course of revising the species of Violaceae of Africa, mainly in preparation for the account of the Violaceae for the "Flore du Cameroun", the first author has, with collaborators, published 17 new species to science for this group (Achoundong & Onana 1998;Achoundong & Bos 1999;Achoundong & Bos 2001;Achoundong 2003;Achoundong & Cheek 2003;Achoundong & Cheek 2005;Achoundong et al 2021). The new species published here have previously been referred to under provisional names (Achoundong 1996;Achoundong 1997;Amiet & Achoundong 1996;Achoundong 2000;Bakker et al 2006).…”