Taxonomic novelties in African Dracaena (Dracaenaceae)

Abstract

In preparing the treatment of Dracaena for Flore du Gabon and Flore d’Afrique centrale, a relatively high number of taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties were discovered; these are presented here. Within Dracaena five species and one forma are described as new, D. bushii, D. haemanthoides, D. marina, D. wakaensis, D. waltersiae and D. laxissima forma aureilicia. Each new species is provided with a full description and taxonomic notes. Apart from that, five species are reinstated, D. braunii, D. nitens, D. perrottetii, D. tholloniana and D. usambarensis. A further 23 names are treated here as a synonym for the first time: D. bequaertii, D. buettneri, D. cuspidibracteata, D. densifolia, D. gabonica, D. gazensis, D. ledermannii, D. letestui, D. litoralis, D. longipetiolata, D. monostachya var. angolensis, D. oddonii, D. perrottetii var. minor, D. poggei, D. pseudoreflexa, D. reflexa var. buchneri, D. rubro-aurantiaca, D. soyauxiana, D. talbotii, D. tessmannii, D. usambarensis var. longifolia, D. vanderystii and Pleomele heudelotii, while for four names a neotype and for 14 names a lectotype has been designated. Distribution maps are provided for a total of 23 species. An index of taxon names is included.