A Synoptic Revision of Belonophora (Rubiaceae)

• DOI: 10.2307/4117761
• Publication Date: 2007-11-27T01:35:57Z
• Authors: Martin Cheek; Sally Dawson
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences

Summary. This is the first revision of Belonophora Hook. f., an evolutionarily isolated, African, woody genus distributed throughout West, Central to East Africa, but centred in western Cameroon, where all five species occur. One species from Cameroon, B. ongensis, is described as new. The most widespread species in continental Africa, B. hypoglauca (Hiern) Chev., is shown to be conspecific with the type of the genus from SSto Tome, B. coffeoides Hook. f., but is maintained as a subspecies. A key to the species is presented. The tribal placement, infrageneric groupings, geography, ecology, conservation and possible occurrence of myrmecophily in the genus are discussed. Leaf lobes, heterostyly, floral dimorphy, secondary pollenpresentation ('ixoroid' mechanism) and nectar, previously unknown in the genus, are described.