Whitfieldia

Abstract: We present a synopsis and an identification key for the 13 species and one subspecies of the African genus Whitfieldia Hook. (Acanthaceae: Acanthoideae: Whitfieldieae). This work is based on the observation and analysis of morphological data from herbarium specimens and photographs of Whitfieldia species, and the study of all the relevant literature on the genus. Whitfieldia latiflos C.B.Clarke ex Stapf from Liberia is reinstated as an accepted species and a full description and illustration are provided. A new subspecies, W. colorata C.B.Clarke ex Stapf subsp. tigrina A.Grall & I.Darbysh., also from Liberia, is described. In addition, W. arnoldiana De Wild. & T.Durand and W. letestui Benoist are treated as synonyms of W. laurentii (Lindau) C.B.Clarke and W. preussii (Lindau) C.B.Clarke respectively for the first time. Eleven names in Whitfieldia are lectotypified. Reference specimens, relevant literature, habitat notes, distribution maps, taxonomic notes and a preliminary assessment of the conservation status and extinction risk are provided for each taxon. Four species are considered to be threatened of which two (W. latiflos and W. rutilans Heine) are assessed as Endangered (EN) while two others (W. purpurata (Benoist) Heine and W. thollonii (Baill.) Benoist) are placed in the Vulnerable (VU) category. In addition, two taxa are assessed as Near Threatened (NT) and one is currently considered to be Data Deficient (DD).

Abstract: Revision of the seven species of the genus Whitfieldia occurring in the area of the Flore de l'Afrique Centrale. Keys are provided together with both morphological and palynological descriptions as well as geographical distributions

Abstract: C. B. Clarke (1899) in his account of Whitfieldia for Flora of Tropical Africa included lowland East African material in W stuhlmannii without any comment but stated that the species has stellately hairy young branches, a unique character in Whitfieldia. But Lindau (1894), when he described Stylarthropus stuhlmannii from the Congo, stated that the type (since destroyed) was subglabrous, as is indeed all the Congo material (including the neotype) seen by the author in the herbarium at Meise (BR) as well as three recent Tanzanian collections of this species. Clarke's opinion as to the identity of the lowland East African material has been universally adhered to ever since, possibly because of the non-availability until recently of material of true W stuhlmannii at other herbaria. The first serious doubt as to the