The family Zingiberaceae in Rwanda with description of two new species of Renealmia

Abstract

Background and aims – The Zingiberaceae of Rwanda are revised, and three new records of Aframomum species (A. corrorima, A. daniellii, A. zambesiacum) are provided. One previously recorded species, A. alboviolaceum, has to be excluded from the Flora of Rwanda. Two new species of Renealmia are described from Rwanda and Burundi in connection with the preparation of the family treatment for the Flore d’Afrique centrale. Material and methods – Field work and standard herbarium practices were applied. Key results – Renealmia timmiorum sp. nov. is similar to R. cincinnata and R. cabrae, and R. susannae-katziae sp. nov. is similar to R. africana and R. dewevrei. The differences with these species are discussed and distribution maps for the new taxa are presented. Renealmia timmiorum is assessed as Least Concern (LC), while R. susannae-katziae is assessed as Endangered (EN).