Coleus schliebenii (Mildbr.) A. J. Paton

Coleus schliebenii (Mildbr.) A. J. Paton View in CoL , Phytokeys 129: 92. 2019 View Cited Treatment .

≡ Pycnostachys schliebenii Mildbr. View in CoL , Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 405. 1932. Type: Tanzania, Njombe District: Lupembe, stromgebiet des oberen Ruhudje, landschaft Lupenbe, nördlich des Flusses, Apr 1931, H. J. Schlieben 713 ( holotype B destroyed: isotype BM [ BM 000884009 ], BR [ BR 0000006410650 ], G [ G 00435269], K [ K 000405738 ] fragment, MA [ MA 384632], P [P 00541260]).

Description.

Paton et al. (2009: 410), Paton et al. (2013: 330), as Pycnostachys schliebenii Mildbr.

Distribution.

Tanzania to Zambia and E DR. Congo.

Habitat and ecology.

Mountain forest with Arundinaria , Erica scrub, river bank, more rarely wooded savannah; in Burundi also in savannah and fallow fields, (950 –) 1750–2500 m elev.

Additional specimens.

DR. Congo, Lacs Edouard et Kivu, Katana, 10 Jul 1959, Cambridge Congo Expedition 80 ( BR, US); Chaîne des Mitumba, W Lac Edouard, piste Mangi-Kipesa, 19 Jan 1956, J. de Wilde 623 ( BR); Entre Kasindi et Lubango, Dec 1931, J. Lebrun 4690 ( BR); Kalehe, Mont Kahuzi, 7 Jul 1971, J. Ntakiyimana 92 ( BR); Haut-Katanga, Upemba, galerie de la Kalumengongo, 18 Apr 1947, G. F. de Witte 2518 ( BR); Marungu, env. Kasiki, fourré de la source de la rivière Lunanga, 12 Jun 1969, S. Lisowski, F. Malaisse, J. - J. Symoens 6429 ( POZG); Upemba, tête de source de la riv. Kadidika, près de la piste Lusinga-Mitwaba, 11 May 1949, van Meel in de Witte 6321 ( BR).

Burundi, Mont Manga, 21 Apr 1982, Missumba, 4 Jun 1970, J. Lewalle 4676 ( BR); Rushubi, Mont Bona, 26 Apr 1977, M. Reekmans 6025 ( BR, WAG); Kitwe Rumonge, 12 May 1977, M. Reekmans 6211 ( BR, WAG); Kabuyekere, 5 Jun 1980, M. Reekmans 9287 ( MO, WAG); Bujumbura, Mont Manga, 21 Apr 1982, M. Reekmans 1099 4 ( BR, WAG); Bukemba-Muzye, 12 May 1981, M. Reekmans 10220 ( BR, MO, WAG).

Notes.

1. This species is variable in Burundi; a particular morphotype occurring in savannah has long ciliate bracts, calyx tube with a ring of hairs inside the throat, short inflorescence ( 1 cm at anthesis) and short calyx teeth (e. g. J. Lewalle 1912, G. Michel 2408, 2715, 2956, M. Reekmans 486, 5074, 6211, 7035, 9287, 10220, J. Saintenoy 158); such plants were identified in schedis as “ P. bruceae Gatheri ” (unpublished designation); further work is needed to assess their taxonomic status.

2. In the Marungu Massif ( Haut-Katanga), the species is represented by a large-flowered phenotype (corolla up to 20 mm long) e. g. S. Lisowski, F. Malaisse, J. - J. Symoens 6428 ( POZG) which could deserve taxonomic recognition; further work is needed on this polymorphic species.

3. The specimens J. F. Laurent 489 and Bytebier & Luke 3128 ( BR, EA) could represent Coleus livingstonei A. J. Paton , a species not yet recorded in Central Africa; however, the materials are poor and the presence of this species needs confirmation.