Additional observations on Dombeya kefaensis (Sterculiaceae) and the diversity of Dombeya in SW. Ethiopia.

Friis, I.; Bidgood, S.

Additional observations on Dombeya kefaensis (Sterculiaceae) and the diversity of Dombeya in SW. Ethiopia.

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Friis, I.

ORCID

Bidgood, S.

Date published

August 2001

Abstract

was first described in 1998 from flowering material collected in a mosaic of humid montane forest, evergreen bushland and deciduous woodland of the Kefa Region, SW. Ethiopia. Fruiting individuals, ripe fruits and seeds have now been observed on an additional gathering made near the type locality in late January. The new observations confirm that is a distinct taxon closely related to K. Schum., recognised by characters of vegetative parts and inflorescence. This rare species has been observed between 1700 and 2200 m. a.s.l. for a distance of four kilometres in the transition zone between evergreen forest and deciduous woodland. The mountains and river valleys of S. and SW. Ethiopia with their mosaic of moist forests, highly fire‐prone wooded grasslands, evergreen bushlands and montane grasslands seem to have the highest diversity of ‐species on the African mainland, but the taxa are closely related.