Spermacoce bequaertii subsp. brevituba, 2023

Kok, R. P. J. de & Dessein, S., 2023, A new subspecies of Spermacoce bequaertii (Rubiaceae: Spermacoceae), Blumea 68 (1), pp. 63-65 : 65

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2023.68.01.06
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039F9F50-187F-FF9E-FFD9-FE6BC6567A59
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Spermacoce bequaertii subsp. brevituba
status	subsp. nov.

Treatment

b. subsp. brevituba Dessein , subsp. nov. — Fig. 1c View Fig ; Map 1 View Map 1

This subspecies differs from the typical subspecies in having smaller mature flowers (corolla tube 0.5–0.7 mm long, lobes 1–1.5 mm long; filaments 0.7–1.5 mm long; style 2–3 mm long) with a glabrous corolla tube inside. While the typical subspecies has larger mature flowers (corolla tube 2–3 mm long, lobes 2–3 mm long; filaments 3–5 mm long; style 6–10 mm long) with a corolla tube with a ring of hairs inside at 2/3 of the base. — Type: Devred 1866 (holo BR![ BR0000008190352 ]), Democratic Republic of Congo, Kahemba-Vallée , Lutshima-Kwango (for paratypes see below) .

Inflorescences up to 0.7 cm diam. Corolla: tube cylindrical, 0.5– 0.7 mm long, glabrous inside; lobes c. 1–1.5 mm long. Anthers ellipsoid, 0.7–0.9 mm long; filaments c. 0.7–1.5 mm long. Style 2–3 mm long.

Distribution — Known only from the southern part of the Kasai district in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Habitat & Ecology — Grasslands and woodlands. Flowering: November to April; fruiting: unknown.

Other representative specimens ( Paratypes). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, Callens 2287 ( BR), Kasai, Entre Manzengele et Kibabu [?= Kibubu]; Devred 1555 ( BR), Vallée Lini .