Zehneria palmatiloba, a new species of Cucurbitaceae from Atlantic Central Africa

Abstract

A new species from Central Africa, Zehneria palmatiloba, is described and illustrated. It is very unusual in the genus by its deeply 5- to 7-palmatilobate leaves, a character otherwise only occasionally found in Z. racemosa from Angola. It differs from the latter by its non-scabrid and almost glabrous leaves, laxly racemose female inflorescences, and smaller male flowers with a receptacle that is glabrous inside. It is restricted to the continental part of Equatorial Guinea and adjacent northwest Gabon, and is assessed as Endangered according to IUCN Categories and Criteria. Phylogenetic analyses based on five plastid DNA regions and nuclear ribosomal DNA identify the West African Z. keayana as its closest relative.