Justicia moorei I.Darbysh. & Goyder, 2019

Darbyshire, I. & Goyder, D. J., 2019, Notes on Justicia sect. Monechma (Acanthaceae) in Angola, including two new species, Blumea 64 (2), pp. 97-107 : 106

9. Justicia moorei I.Darbysh. & Goyder , nom. nov. — Fig. 2d– e

Monechma rigidum S.Moore in J. Bot. 49 (1911) 310; S. Moore (1930) 138. — Type: Gossweiler 3355 (lecto BM [ BM00092362 ], chosen here; isolecto K [ K001009703 ]), Angola, Menongue [Munongue], fl., Apr. 1906.

Etymology. The epithet rigida is already occupied in Justicia ( J. rigida Balf.f. ) and so a new name is required for this Angolan species. The epithet ‘ moorei ’, honours Spencer le Marchant Moore (1850–1931) who worked extensively on the Acanthaceae of Africa amongst many other plant groups, and who originally described this species as Monechma rigidum .

Distribution & Ecology – Justicia moorei is endemic to Angola where it is recorded from Bié and Cuando Cubango provinces. It occurs in dry sunny sites on gravel-clay soils, on short grassy slopes and on raised ground above marshes; Goyder 8210 was collected from 1648 m elevation.

AdditionalAngolan specimens seen.Gossweiler2535 (BM [BM 000923663], K [K000378713],original syntypes), Cuando Cubango, Forte Princesa Ame- lia, Cubango , fl., 27 Jan. 1907 ; Mendes 2425 ( LUBA *), Cuando Cubango, Menongue [Vila Serpa Pinto],fl., 9 Feb.1960 ; Goyder 8210 ( INBAC, K, LUBA, PRE), Bié, Río Cutato 52 km W of Kuito, Cubango drainage,fl., 11 Feb.2016 .

Note — There is also an unnumbered Gossweiler specimen at K which appears to be a further duplicate of Gossweiler 3355.

Figures

Fig. 2 Species of Justicia sect.Monechma from Angola.a–c. Justicia cubangensis I.Darbysh. & Goyder; d–e. Justicia moorei I.Darbysh. & Goyder; f. Justicia virgultorum (S.Moore) I.Darbysh. & Goyder (a–c. Goyder 8068; d–e. Goyder 8210; f. Goyder 8471). — Photos by D. Goyder.