Justicia laeta S.Moore

Darbyshire, I. & Goyder, D. J., 2019, Notes on Justicia sect. Monechma (Acanthaceae) in Angola, including two new species, Blumea 64 (2), pp. 97-107 : 105

5. Justicia laeta S.Moore

Justicia laeta S. Moore (1880) 311; Hiern (1900) 820. — Type: Welwitsch 5108 (lecto BM* [BM000839214], chosen here; isolecto K [K000419259]), Angola, Pungo Andongo, inter Condo et Quisonde, fl., Mar. 1857.

Distribution & Ecology — Justicia laeta is known only from the two syntype gatherings from Malange province, collected from bushy hillslopes and amongst rocks ( Hiern 1900).

Additional Angolan specimen seen. Welwitsch 5081 (BM), Pungo An- dongo, Fonte de Casamba , fl. & imm. fr., May 1857 .

Note — Moore (1880) suggested that his J. laeta is allied to J. petiolaris (E.Mey. ex Nees) T.Anderson , but did not elaborate on this affinity. Justicia petiolaris belongs within sect. Tyloglossa (Hochst.) Lindau ( Vollesen 2015, Kiel et al. 2017) and is morphologically very different to J. laeta . The BM syntype Welwitsch 5081 includes an immature capsule with poorly developed seeds that appear to be smooth as in sect. Monechma . This, together with the prominently 3-veined calyx lobes, bracts and bracteoles, and the fact that some of the spikes of the inflorescence are secund, indicates that this species belongs in sect. Monechma Group I. See also note to species 6 below.