9 research outputs found
An analysis of a Soninke Ajami poem
No full textThis presentation deals with a Soninke Ajami poem about fish, water and fire. The fish is very strong in the water and becomes very weak while on fire. The fire cannot resist the force of the water. This poem is used to guide people to do good things and be humble in life. In the first part of the presentation, we will introduce the poem and play the recording as sung by the author. In the second part we will analyse and explain the poem using some known literary sources.
Blog: ajami.hypotheses.org/
Project: www.manuscript-cultures.uni-hamburg.de/ajami/index_e.html</p
Saxicolella marginalis
No full text5. Saxicolella marginalis (G.Taylor) Cheek (Cheek et al. 2000: 152; Onana & Cheek 2011: 252; Onana 2011: 116; 2012: 137). Type: Nigeria, “ Ogoja Province, River Butum, Utanga, about 2 km north of Bagga, on smooth granite rocks, just below, at, and just above water-level in fast-flowing stream.”, fl. 25 Dec. 1938, Keay, Savory & Russell in FHI 25152 (holotype BM 000910316!). Butumia marginalis G. Taylor (1952: 55; 1953: 123 – 125). Annual herb. Root rosette-like, 5 – 12 cm diam., radiating from a central point, the distal ends ribbon-like, 1.5 – 5 (– 7.5) mm wide, rarely bifurcating. Stems of sessile leaf rosettes, numerous, spaced along the margins of the roots, (0.9 –) 1.2 – 1.5 (– 1.7) mm apart, 1.2 – 22 mm long (including the single terminal flowers), phyllotaxy spiral. Leaves (3 –) 7 per stem, dimorphic, outermost (proximal), subulate, 0.25 mm long, lacking stipules; innermost (distal) 0.6 – 1 (– 2) mm long, stipulate, stipules paired, marginal, triangular, 0.2 mm from base. Spathellum bud (pre-dehiscence) ellipsoid, 1.1 – 1.25 mm long, 0.6 mm wide, apex mucronate, dehiscing irregularly into two halves. Flower erect, included within spathellum at anthesis. Pedicel 0.9 – 1 mm long at anthesis. Tepals subulate, 0.3 – 0.5 mm long. Stamen exceeding gynoecium, 1.7 mm long, filament dorsiventrally flattened, 1.2 mm long, anther oblong, 0.5 mm long, cells superposed. Gynophore 0.1 – 0.2 mm long. Ovary olive green, ellipsoid, 0.9 – 1 mm long, 0.6 – 0.75 mm wide, in transverse section orbicular, unilocular, longitudinal ribs 8, including two commissural ribs. Stigmas purple, 2, elliptic, complanate, 0.25 mm long, 0.15 mm wide. Fruit ellipsoid, 1 mm long, dehiscing into two persistent valves. Seeds ellipsoid, 0.2 mm long. (Fig. 5). DISTRIBUTION. SE Nigeria and NW Region Cameroon, one site in each. SPECIMENS EXAMINED. CAMEROON. North West Region, Fundong, Touristic Hotel, 20 m fall on Chumni R., 1300 m, fl. fr. 22 Nov. 1996, Cheek 8730 (K!, SCA!, YA!) HABITAT. Waterfalls and rapids in forested or formerly forested mountainous areas, on rounded boulders of granite or basalt, in Nigeria with Ledermanniella aloides (Taylor 1953: 127 re Keay in FHI 25152); 300 – 1300 m alt. CONSERVATION STATUS. Ouedraogo (2010) listed this species as Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), stating that it had only been recorded from Nigeria and Cameroon and that there is a continuing decline of its habitat quality due to water pollution and its populations are severely fragmented. He cited an earlier assessment of CR in 2000. This was probably that of Cheek in Cheek et al. (2000: 69) where the species was assessed as CR B1+2c due to the threat from laundry operations at the top of the fall housing this species in the town of Fundong, Cameroon. Nevertheless, following the discovery of the species at the site in 1996, monitoring by the first author in December 1998 and November 1999 showed that approximately the same number of plants, several hundred, were present (Cheek et al. 2000: 69). This publication also formally transferred the species from Butumia to Sapicolella. Ouedrago (2010) further states that “the species may also be present in Ghana and Niger but this needs to be confirmed”. No evidence has been found to support this belief and it seems unlikely. Several other extremely rare, range-restricted and threatened species also occur at high altitude at Mt Oku (Cheek et al. 1997, 2000) e.g. Scleria cheekii Bauters (Bauters et al. 2018), Deinbollia onanae Cheek (Cheek et al. 2021b). Sapicolella marginalis is genuinely rare in Cameroon, since the first author has targeted searches for it at other falls and rapids in the Mt Oku area and not found it, although two other species of Podostemaceae have been found (Cheek et al. 2000). Nearcomprehensive botanical surveys in other locations S, Wand Eof Kilum-Ijim have failed to find additional locations although they brought to light several other species of Podostemaceae (see references above under Sapicolella ijim). The status of the subpopulation at the type locality in Nigeria is unknown. The Red Data Book of Cameroon Plants (Onana & Cheek 2011: 252) reassessed the species as EN B2ab(iii) since two locations (above) are recorded. Kuetegue et al. (2019) also assess the species as EN B2ab(iii) citing no new data. PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting in late November to late December. ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet derives from the rows of sessile shoots that line the margins of the roots. VERNACULAR NAMES. None known. NOTES. In describing this species as a new genus, Butumia, Taylor (1952: 57) stated: “Amongst African genera the plant is most closely related to Sapicolella and Pohliella, in each of which the flowers is unistaminate and erect within the spathella, but it differs from these genera in having entire rosulate leaves, much more shortly pedicellate flowers and complanate stigmas”. At that time both genera were only known from their type species and their circumscription was incompletely known. It is remarkable that the only known Cameroonian site for this species is only a few kilometres distant and at similar altitude (c. 1300 m), to the only known site for Sapicolella ijim (see under that species). However, this submontane altitudinal band of the Cameroon Highlands is immensely rich in endemic rangerestricted species. Other examples include Coffea montekupensis Stoff. (Stoffelen et al. 1997) and Impatiens etindensis Cheek & Eb.Fischer (Cheek & Fischer 1999). The Cameroonian location is about 100 km SSE of the type and only other known location in Nigeria. The species most closely similar in morphology to Sapicolella marginalis is S. deniseae of the Guinea Highlands in Guinea, far to the west. Both species share the unusual character of sessile, rosette-like shoots arranged along the margins of the radiating ribbon-like roots. Several species of the Cameroon Highlands do occur disjunctly in the highlands of Guinea e.g Dorstenia astyanactis Aké Assi (Couch et al. 2019), Brachystephanus oreacanthus Champl. (Champluvier & Darbyshire 2009) and Isoglossa dispersa I.Darbysh. & L.J.Pearce (Darbyshire et al. 2011), so long-distance dispersal, perhaps by birds, is credible as an explanation.Published as part of Cheek, Martin, Molmou, Denise, Magassouba, Sekou & Ghogue, Jean-Paul, 2022, Taxonomic revision of Saxicolella (Podostemaceae), African waterfall plants highly threatened by Hydro-Electric projects, pp. 403-433 in Kew Bulletin 77 (2) on pages 419-420, DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10019-2, http://zenodo.org/record/759936
Saxicolella ijim Cheek
No full text2. Saxicolella ijim Cheek sp. nov. Type: Cameroon, North West Region, Bamenda-Fundong, Anyajua, “ Waterfall near Ijim Project HQ ”, fl. fr., 12 Dec. 1998, Cheek et al. 9920 (holotype K [K000229622]; isotypes SCA, YA). http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77297282-1 Ledermanniella cf. musciformis sensu Cheek (Cheek et al. 2000: 69, 152) Perennial or annual herb, rosette-like, 7 – 8 cm diam. Root crustose in the central part of the plant, at the edge radiating and divided into separate, free, lobes, 0.5 – 0.8 cm wide (Fig. 2A). Stems (1 –) 2 – 6, arising from the crustose centre of the root rosette (absent from the radiating lobes), erect, free-standing, branched from the base, (1 –) 3 – 7 cm tall, spreading as wide as the root rosette, terete, each c. 2 mm diam. at base, with 3 – 8, ± evenly spaced, short leafy side-branches (Fig. 2B), proximal branches up to 1.5 cm long, phyllotaxy spiral, diam. slightly more slender than the principal axes, leaves with axillary rosette shoots. Rosette (spur) shoots axillary with stems inconspicuous, 1 – 2 per axil, each bearing 2 – 8 leaves and a single terminal spathellum. Leaves of side branches withspiral phyllotaxy, internodes c. 1 mm long, laterally compressed, linear, (2 –) 2.5 – 8 × 0.25 mm, entire, very rarely bifid, apex obtuse-rounded, basal 1 – 2 mm canaliculate, shortly sheathing the stem, astipulate (Fig. 2B), subtending axillary rosette shoots. Leaves of rosette shoots, proximal leaves as those of the subtending sidebranches, but usually with a pair of stipules arising from near base of the leaf sheath; distal 1 – 2 leaves immediately subtending the spathellum usually astipulate, shorter, 1.5 – 2 × 0.3 mm (Fig. 2D). Stipules symmetrical, equal, on each side of the leaf, narrowly triangular, 0.1 – 0.5 (– 0.8) × 0.1 mm, apex rounded, size of stipules increasing towards stem apex-spathellum (Fig. 2C). Spathellum (undehisced) orbicular, 1 mm diam., mucro 0.2 mm long with apex rounded; dehiscing irregularly, post-dehiscence 1 – 2 × 0.7 – 1 mm (Fig. 2D). Flower ± erect in bud (in spathellum); at anthesis partly included in the ruptured spathellum (Fig. 2E – G). Pedicel 0.5 – 1.5 mm long at anthesis. Tepals 2, slightly spatulate-oblanceolate to filiform 0.2 – 0.3 mm, distal portion 0.1 mm broad, flat, stipe 0.05 mm broad, erect (Fig. 2F & G). Stamen as long as or exceeding gynoecium, filament 1 – 1.2 mm long, dorsiventrally flattened; anther oblong 0.5 × 0.25 mm. Gynophore 0 (– 0.2) mm long. Ovary ellipsoid 0.75 – 1 × 0.6 – 0.65 × 0.7 – 0.75 mm, in transverse section slightly ellipsoid, slightly narrower along the sutured plane; unilocular, longitudinal ribs well-defined, 6 (three on each valve), commissural ribs absent (Fig. 2J). Stigmas 2, complanate, ovate, 0.25 – 0.3 × 0.18 – 0.2 mm, minutely verrucate (Fig. 2E – H). Fruit about same size as ovary; pedicel accrescent (1.5 –) 2.5 mm long, carrying fruit beyond the spathellum (Fig. 2H). Seeds ellipsoid 0.2 × 0.15 mm. DISTRIBUTION. Cameroon, North West Region, Bamenda-Fundong, Anyajua, known only from the type locality. SPECIMENS EXAMINED. CAMEROON, North West Region, Bamenda-Fundong, Anyajua, “Waterfall near Ijim Project HQ”, fl. fr., 12 Dec. 1998, Cheek et al. 9920 (holotype K [K000229622]; isotypes SCA, YA). Only the type specimen is known. HABITAT. On boulders in spray zone below waterfall from basalt cliff, in former submontane forest belt. No other Podostemaceae present (Cheek pers. obs. Dec. 1998); 1200 m alt. CONSERVATION STATUS. Sapicolella ijim is known from a single waterfall, with only 20 – 30 plants scattered in an area of not more than 10 m × 10 m. Threats were not apparent at the time of collection. Here the species is assessed as Critically Endangered, CR B2ab(iii)+D. The waterfall is fed from a stream at the top of the Ijim Plateau where cattle have been introduced, posing a threat by their grazing and trampling increasing surface run-off and so silt levels in the stream feeding the falls. Targeted searches for Podostemaceae at numerous other waterfalls in the Fundong-Anyajua -Ijim area in 1998 did not uncover any additional sites for this species (Cheek et al. 1997; Cheek et al. 2000). Targeted searches by Ghogue to refind this taxon (then thought to be Ledermanniella musciformis) in the Bamenda area in 2006 with Ryoko Imachi and Yoko Kita failed to find it. Nearcomprehensive botanical surveys in other locations S, Wand Eof Kilum-Ijim have failed to find additional locations although they brought to light several other species of Podostemaceae (e.g. Cable & Cheek 1998; Chapman & Chapman 2001; Harvey et al. 2003, 2010; Cheek et al. 2003, 2010, 2011). PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting in December, 2 – 2 months after the end of the main wet season. ETYMOLOGY. Named for Ijim, tribal lands of the Kom people, to which area this species is unique on current evidence. NOTES. When revisiting an incomplete and unsatisfactory identification the first author had made of a specimen from the Fondom of Kom in the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon many years ago (Cheek 9920, Ijim, Anyajua, waterfall, 1200 m, 12 Dec. 1998, previously identified as Ledermanniella cf. musciformis: Cheek et al. 2000: 152) it was realised that the fruiting ovary was erect emerging from the spathellum and, given the ribbon-like roots, longitudinally ribbed fruit and single stamen, that this could not possibly be a Ledermanniella, but a species of Sapicolella. Prior to this paper, the only other published species of Sapicolella sensu stricto known which has long stems was S. flabellata. Sapicolella ijim differs from S. flabellata in the simple leaves, very rarely bifid (not flabellate, quadrifid); stigmas complanate, ovate (not filiform); fruit 6-ribbed, ellipsoid, length:breadth ratio c. 1: 0.65 (not 8-ribbed, fusiform, length: breadth c. 1: 0.22). Sapicolella ijim occurs within a few kilometres of S. marginalis. These two species, together with S. angola, occur at the highest altitudes known for the genus (1200 – 1300 m alt.). The two Bamenda Highland species are easily separated since while the first has long stems, which are only produced from the centre of the radiating root rosette, the second lacks long stems completely, and instead bears numerous sessile, rosette-like stems along the margins of the radiating ribbon-like roots. Sapicolella ijim is similar to Sapicolella sp. Ain the unusual feature of the ovary being sessile (the gynophore being absent). Asummary of the rare, high altitude plant species of Kilum-Ijim (Mt Oku) is given by Maisels et al. (2000). Additional narrowly endemic species discovered from the Kilum-Ijim area are: Ternstroemia cameroonensis Cheek (Cheek et al. 2017c), Dovyalis cameroonensis Cheek (Cheek & Ngolan 2006).Published as part of Cheek, Martin, Molmou, Denise, Magassouba, Sekou & Ghogue, Jean-Paul, 2022, Taxonomic revision of Saxicolella (Podostemaceae), African waterfall plants highly threatened by Hydro-Electric projects, pp. 403-433 in Kew Bulletin 77 (2) on pages 411-415, DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10019-2, http://zenodo.org/record/759936
Saxicolella flabellata subsp. usset
No full text1. Saxicolella flabellata (G.Taylor) C.Cusset (1987: 93); Onana & Cheek (2011: 252 – 252); Onana (2011: 116); Onana (2012: 137) all pro parte. Type: Nigeria, Ogoja, Aboabom- Boje path crossing the Afi R., fl. fr. 12 Dec. 1950, Keay FHI 28230 (holotype BM, isotype K [K000325201]). Pohliella flabellata G. Taylor (1952: 52; 1953: 123). Perennial herb (probably) with stems to c. 20 cm long, floating on surface of water when flowering. Roots green blotched red, ribbon-like, bearing both short shoots with sessile spathellae and long-stemmed shoots. Stems of long shoots terete, c. 2 mm diam., divided, internodes of principal axis 3.5 – 27 mm long. Leaves heteromorphic, leaves of long stems flabellate or dichotomously divided to 5 times, to 2 × 2 cm, ultimate segments capillary, base subpetiolate, sheathing, stipules absent. Leaves of short shoots s ubtending root-borne spathellae 2 – 2, spirally inserted, outermost two leaves scale-like, sheathing, triangular-ovate or quadrate, slightly concave, 0.25 – 0.5 × 0.2 mm, second leaf longer than first; third leaf linear, 1 – 2.75 cm × 0.05 mm, apex obtuse, sometimes bifurcate. Spathellae in clusters of (1 –) 2 – 3 (– 5) either sessile on root or in leaf axils, cylindrical to narrowly ellipsoid (1.1 –) 1.3 – 1.5 × 0.25 mm, apex obtuse, dehiscing at apex only. Flower at anthesis with ovary concealed within spathellum, only the styles and stamen exsert- ed. Pedicel minute, 0 – 0.2 mm long. Tepals 2, subulate, 0.2 – 0.5 mm long. Staminal filament 3 – 3.5 mm long. Anther quadrate 0.5 – 0.75 × 0.5 mm, latrorse, pollen in dyads. Gynophore 0.2 – 0.25 mm long. Ovary ellipsoid to fusiform, 2.25 – 2.5 × 0.9 – 1 mm, with 8 longitudinal lines. Stigmas 2, filiform, 2 mm long. Fruit capsule ellipsoid, 2.5 × 0.75 mm, 8-ribbed, 2-valved. Seeds ellipsoid 0.25 × 0.15 mm (Fig. 1). DISTRIBUTION. Nigeria, Cross River State, only known from the Afi River Forest Reserve near Ikom. SPECIMENS EXAMINED. NIGERIA. Cross River State, Ogoja, Aboabom- Boje path crossing the Afi R., fl. fr. 12 Dec. 1950, Keay FHI 28230 (holotype BM, isotype K [K000325201]) (only known from the type specimen). HABITAT. River falls in evergreen forest, with Ledermanniella tenuifolia (G.Taylor) C.Cusset (Taylor 1953: 127 re Keay in FHI 28231). c. 112 m alt. CONSERVATION STATUS. Ouedraogo (2010) assessed the conservation status of Sapicolella flabellata as Data Deficient in 2008, stating that there are records from Cameroon, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria. However, no records have been found from either Niger or Ghana and this seems most unlikely. Independently, on the basis of a location in Nigeria and one in Cameroon, Onana & Cheek (2011: 252 – 252) assessed the species as EN B2ab(iii). Kuetegue et al. (2019) also assess the species as EN B2ab(iii) citing no new data. Cusset (1987) had erroneously identified Thomas 2653 (K, MO, P, YA) collected 9 Dec. 1982 from Korup, Cameroon as this species, but this was corrected by Cheek (2020) to Pohliella laciniata. In fact, S. flabellata remains known only from the type collection made by Keay in Dec. 1950 on a footpath across the Afi River in what is today the Afi River Forest Reserve of Nigeria. Reviewing Google Earth imagery for the site (placed at 6°15ˈ28.6"N, 9°00ˈ32.71"E, elev. 112 m, viewed June 2021) shows that the footpath has been upgraded to a motor road, and that clearing of the forest canopy is steadily taking place, confirming a report that dates from 6 Jan. 2016 and shows oil palm plantations, and open canopies indicative of logging, and these are confirmed by on-the-ground reports (https:// www.pandrillus.org/projects/afi- mountain-wildlifesanctuary/). Surface run-off due to these activities may have contributed to the extensive sediment deposits in the river that appear to be visible when the river is viewed by satellite imagery. Siltation of rivers is known to pose a threat to Podostemaceae (Cheek et al. 2017b). Therefore, we assess S. flabellata here as Critically Endangered CR B1+B2ab(i-iv), estimating the AOO and EOO as 3 km 2 using this cell-size as preferred by IUCN. PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting in mid-December. ETYMOLOGY. Referring to the shape of the leaves, flabellate meaning fan-shaped. VERNACULAR NAMES. None are recorded. NOTES. Distinct from all other known species of the genus in the very long stems, and in bearing spathellae from dimorphic leaved shoots, those arising from the roots being different from those from the long stems. Similar to Sapicolella angola in the spathellae in terminal clusters, not single, and subtended by more or less flabellate leaf rosettes. Originally described by Taylor as a Pohliella, he explained that he was in a quandary as to placement in this genus or in Sapicolella as described by Engler (1926) which work he criticised (“I am not satisfied that the key characters used by Engler are sufficiently diagnostic”). In fact, Engler had separated these two genera in his key (Engler 1920: 29) based on locule number, and fruit rib number although they differ in other features. Taylor based his placement on features other than those in Engler’ s key (“I have placed it in this genus due to the subulate stigmas and dichotomous leaves”), despite the first being discordant (“it deviates from the generic description in having a unilocular ovary”) (Taylor 1952: 55). It seems from the molecular phylogenetic evidence of Koi et al. (2012) that in this case locularity is indeed a better indication of relationships than leaf habit and stigma shape. Sapicolella submersa (J.B.Hall) C.D.K.Cook & Rutish. is superficially very similar to Pohliella laciniata which grows in the same area at the forest border of Cameroon and Nigeria. Both species flower from long stems when these reach the water surface as the levels drop in the drier season. That both species have clusters of several flowers surrounded by rosettes of flabellate leaves that form a protective funnel, borne on long stems may be convergence to this scenario. These rosettes may function to float on the surface and protect the flowers they contain from water droplets (observed by the first author for Pohliella laciniata in Cameroon). The same trait (several flowers surrounded by a rosette of flabellate leaves) is seen otherwise seen only in Sapicolella angola where the ecology is unreported and the specimens fragmentary. Other species of Sapicolella have single flowers borne terminally in rosettes of leaves that are linear or highly reduced and can have no protective function during flowering (although they are likely to protect the developing flower buds). Other species are also both confined to the forest of the Afi River Forest Reserve and adjoining Cross River forests in SE Nigeria and known from only one or two collections, e.g. Anchomanes nigritianus Rendle (Moxon-Holt & Cheek 2021) and Talbotiella eketensis Baker f. (Mackinder et al. 2010).Published as part of Cheek, Martin, Molmou, Denise, Magassouba, Sekou & Ghogue, Jean-Paul, 2022, Taxonomic revision of Saxicolella (Podostemaceae), African waterfall plants highly threatened by Hydro-Electric projects, pp. 403-433 in Kew Bulletin 77 (2) on pages 410-411, DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10019-2, http://zenodo.org/record/759936
Saxicolella undefined-A
No full text8. Saxicolella sp. A Syn. Sapicolella nana auct. non Engl. (GBIF.org) Prostrate herb with long, ribbon-like roots (black in life), infrequently bifurcating. Shoots sessile, forming 1-flowered leafy rosettes along margins of the root in rows, stem not visible. Leaves 2 – 6 per rosette, linear, flattened, as long or longer than the flower, entire, very rarely bifid at apex, apex acute to obtuse, stipules not seen. Spathellum caducous, sometimes visible as a broken ellipsoid remnant. Pedicel cylindrical, stout and white or pink in life, as long as ovary and nearly as broad. Stamen with filament 1.5 – 2 times as long as ovary, white to pink. Anthers with cells white, hemiglobose, isodiametric, semi-latrorse, each about as wide as filament. Gynophore absent. Tepals not seen. Ovary sessile narrowly ellipsoid, dull red, longitudinal lines not visible apart from commissure, orbicular in plan view (not laterally compressed). Styles 2, purple-red, erect stout cylindric, apices obtuse. Fruits 8-ribbed (Tepier et al. 2221). RECOGNITION. Differing from Sapicolella nana in that the root is long and ribbon-like with the shoots lacking visible stems, and arising along the margins of the root in rows (vs disc-like, crustose, the shoots with visible stems, arising from the centre of the root in a cluster); the leaves entire, linear, and not trifid from a point c. 1.5 mm from the base; the ovary sessile (the staminal filament inserted at its base), not with a distinct gynophore; fruit 8-ribbed (not 6-ribbed). DISTRIBUTION. Gabon, Ogooué River and its affluent the Ivindo. SPECIMENS EXAMINED. GABON. Ogooué-Ivindo Province, Ivindo National Park, Kongou waterfall area, islet in the middle of the Ivindou R., 00°17ˈ22"N 012°25ˈ22"E, 355 m alt. fl. 8 Feb. 2018, Tepier, Niangadouma & Akouangou 2221 (BRLU, LBV, MO all n.v. photo); Haut-Ogooué Province, Boumango, Ogooué R., 02°16ˈ27"S 012°28ˈ20"E, 382 m alt., fl. 5 Aug. 2019, Nguimbit with Boupoya, Ikabanga, Kaparidi 26 (BRLU spirit only n.v.); Ogooué-Lolo Province, Chute Sessengué sur l’ Ogooué, 00°39ˈ19"S 012°50ˈ05"E, 222 m alt., fl. 21 July 2019, Boupoya with Nguimbit, Kaparidi 1952 (BRLU spirit only n.v., photo.). HABITAT. Rocks in rivers sometimes (e.g. near Kongou Falls, Boupoya 1952) with other species of Podostemaceae, probably Ledermanniella (Boupoya 1952 – 1955, BRLU images); 222 – 382 m alt. CONSERVATION STATUS. Once this species is formally published it will be possible for it to be Red Listed, most likely as Endangered EN B1ab(iii) since three locations are known with threats and extent of occurrence is calculated as 881 km 2. Although the three points are widely separated, they plot in a straight line forming a nearly linear polygon. Tepier 2221 is stated to be “frequent on rocks on Ivindo River” but it is close to the Kongou falls. In 2007 the President of Gabon announced that a hydro-electric dam will be built at the Kongou falls inside the Ivindou National Park to support the Belinga Iron Ore project (Wikipedia, Kongou Falls, 2020). When implemented it can be expected to result in extinction of this species at this location as such projects have caused extinction of Podostemaceae elsewhere in Africa (Cheek et al. 2017b). While threats of this nature have not been found for the other two locations indicated, there is no scope for complacency. Six new large hydroelectric projects are planned in Gabon (Makoni 2020) and the total rises to 29 if potential and smaller projects are included (Cutler 2019). Apart from these, falls and rapids are the ideal sites for placing smaller hydro-power projects needed for future development projects. The location of Nguimbit 26 is close to an undeveloped iron ore project in Congo- Brazzaville, while Boupoya 1952 is about 10 km Eof Lastoursville, one of Gabon’ s major towns. PHENOLOGY. Collected in flower in Feb. and July and August (dry seasons). VERNACULAR NAMES. None are recorded. NOTES. The first author came across this taxon when doing final checks for additional records of the genus on GBIF.org before finishing the manuscript for this paper. The three specimens were identified as Sapicolella nana respectively by Rutishauser, Bidault & Rutishauser, Bidault & Mesterhazy. An excellent image of Tepier et al. 2221 and ten for Boupoya 1952 are available online through GBIF and Tropicos, (http://www.tropicos.org/ ImageDownload.aspx?imageid=100597656 and http: // www. tropicos. org / ImageDownload. aspx?imageid=100891262 respectively) but none for Nguimbit 26 which is included on the assumption that it matches the two specimens which had been named identically. Inspection of these images shows several characters that differ from those of S. nana which are given under “Recognition” above. No scale was available, so the description is made without giving dimensions, entirely on the basis of the online photos. Therefore, a full formal description of this taxon is still advisable, including observation to confirm the expected unilocularity of the ovary. Since there are limitations to studying specimens only from images which can be misleading, Sapicolella sp. Ais treated as unplaced here. While it appears to belong to subgenus Butumia, it is indeed similar to S. nana. It is possible that when the specimens themselves are studied, the dissimilarities with S. nana will be reduced and that Sapicolella sp. Awill be reduced to synonymy. Yet this seems unlikely given the number of qualitative morphological differences enumerated above, sufficient to result in separation at subgenus level. The specimens themselves could not be reviewed on loan because of technical difficulties due to their transfer from BRLU to ZT (Bidault pers. comm. to Cheek June 2021). Nguimbit 26 was collected at a point so close (<3 km) to the border with Congo- Brazzaville that it maps just inside that country on Tropicos. Since the river concerned extends far into that country it is very likely that the species occurs there and that it is not endemic to Gabon. Gabon is seeing an upsurge in description of new species with 27 published in 2019, second only after Cameroon in tropical Africa, many of these being rare, range-restricted and endemic (Cheek et al. 2020b), joining those already documented narrow and threatened endemics as such Diospyros rabiensis Breteler (Breteler 1993), Whitfieldia purpurata Heine and Whitfieldia rutilans Heine (Grall & Darbyshire 2021), some of which are already extinct such Pseudohydrosme buettneri Engl. (Cheek et al. 2021a). asPublished as part of Cheek, Martin, Molmou, Denise, Magassouba, Sekou & Ghogue, Jean-Paul, 2022, Taxonomic revision of Saxicolella (Podostemaceae), African waterfall plants highly threatened by Hydro-Electric projects, pp. 403-433 in Kew Bulletin 77 (2) on pages 424-427, DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10019-2, http://zenodo.org/record/759936
Saxicolella angola Cheek
No full text3. Saxicolella angola Cheek sp. nov. Type: Angola, Cuanza Sul, Gango-Cuanza, Mussende, 1000 m alt., fl. fr. 21 June 1920, Gossweiler 9328 (holotype K [K000325202]). http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77297283-1 Annual (probably) herb, 1.2 – 1.9 cm tall. Root incompletely seen, probably crustose. Portion at base of stem (Fig. 2A) shield-like c. 1.1 mm diam., irregularly convex. Stems unbranched, erect, stout, selfsupporting 9 – 15 mm long, terete, c. 0.5 mm wide at base, increasing to c. 1 mm diam. at apex. Proximal 1.8 – 5.5 mm lacking leaf-scars, distal portion with 5 – 7 leaf scars, internodes 0.5 mm long (proximal-most internodes) to 2 mm long (more distal internodes). Scars ± amplexicaul, distal nodes with leaf bases persistent, sheathing (Fig. 2B); stem apex with a head of flowers surrounded by clusters of heteromorphic leaves, phyllotaxy spiral. Leaves of outermost (proximal) part of apical cluster ligulate, 2.5 – 2 × 0.25 – 0.2 mm, or spatulate, that is with the distal end broader, elliptic, 0.8 × 0.3 mm, apex rounded or obtuse, base slightly sheathing, stipules absent (Fig. 2C); innermost, more distal leaves of apical cluster broadly ovate, or ovate in outline 0.6 – 1 (– 1.5) × 1 – 1.5 mm, apex entire or slightly or deeply bifid, lobes equal or unequal, base broad, with or without marginal stipules. Stipules sometimes exceeding blades, subulate 0.5 × 0.2 mm. Spathellae in terminal cluster of (2 –) 5 – 8, pre-dehiscence narrowly ellipsoid c. 2.5 × 0.8 mm, dehiscing into (2 –) 2 – 5 subequal lobes, overall c. 2.5 × 1.5 mm. Flower partly concealed in spathellum at anthesis (Fig. 2D). Pedicel 0 – 0.5 mm long, concealed in spathellum. Tepals not seen. Stamen exceeding gynoecium, filament 2 – 2.05 mm long, anthers c. 0.3 × 0.2 mm. Pollen not seen. Gynophore 0.1 – 0.2 mm long. Ovary ellipsoid 1.5 – 1.8 × 0.6 mm, in transverse section suborbicular, unilocular; longitudinal ribs 6, ribs well-defined, 0.06 – 0.07 mm wide, commissural ribs absent. Stigmas 2, united at base, erect, cylindric, 0.3 – 0.35 × 0.1 mm, apex acute. Fruit about same size as ovary, mainly contained in spathellum (Fig. 2E) dehiscing by 2 equal valves, placenta spindle-shaped, 0.1 – 0.15 mm diam. Seeds ellipsoid c. 0.25 × 0.12 mm. RECOGNITION. Differs from other species of Sapicolella with elongated stems (S. ijim and S. flabellata) in that the stems are unbranched (not highly branched), stigmas shortly cylindrical (not filiform, nor complanate); spathellae narrowly ellipsoid (not obovoid nor globose); leaves a mixture of simple-ligulate and ± isodiametric entire or bifid (not, only deeply quadrid, nor only simple-ligulate). DISTRIBUTION. Angola, Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul Provinces (Cuanza River and its affluents). SPECIMENS EXAMINED. ANGOLA, Cuanza Norte, Loanda Moaba, Duque da Bragança (now Kalandula Falls), Lucuala R., 1000 m alt., “on rocks of river Loando near the waterfall”. fr. 29 Aug. 1922, Gossweiler 8858 (K000592225); Cuanza Sul, Cuene or Cuno, bridge on river, “submersiherbosa, Limno Nereida” 650 m alt., 12 July 1927, Gossweiler 11252 (COI [COI00071835]); Cuanza Norte, Cuanza R., Punta Filomeno da Camera, 100 m, submerged rocks, scarlet red plants, st. 7 March 1928, Gossweiler 12027 COI [COI00071833]. HABITAT. Waterfalls and rapids exposed to full sun, with gallery forest, 1000 – 1300 m alt. Occurring at the type locality near Mussende, with other species of Podostemaceae: Inversodicraea digitata H.E.Hess and Tristicha trifaria (Gossweiler 9291, BM, n.v., COI [COI00022957], ZT n.v.). At the Kalandula Falls, Cuanza Norte, occurring with Ledermanniella aloides (Engl.) C.Cusset (Gossweiler 8858A), Tristicha trifaria (Gossweiler 8858B) and Inversodicraea fluitans H.E.Hess (Gossweiler 8855, 8856, 8857) (Cheek et al. 2017b: 129). At Punta Filomeno da Camera, occurring with an unidentified Podostemaceae collected later that year (25 June 1927) “in swift currents of water” (Gossweiler 10697 COI [COI00022111]). CONSERVATION STATUS. Known from four collections, each at a different location of the Cuanza or an affluent. The collection site of “Punta Filomeno da Camera” has not been found but its altitude of 100 m on the Cuanza corresponds with the hydroelectric dam at Cambambe and so it is likely that the species has been lost at this location. However, the identification of the specimen is not completely certain since it was sterile and only viewed online. The site at “Cuene or Cuno, bridge on river”, since it is at 650 m alt. on the Cuanza, corresponds with the newly constructed Lauca Hydroelectric project, Angola’ s largest. Here again the species is unlikely to survive due to the loss of its habitat and hydrological change. This leaves two locations upstream where the species is likely to survive. These two locations are c. 200 km apart. Gossweiler 9328 (type specimen) near Mussende was recorded 21 June 1920 (presumably an error by Gossweiler for 1 July). The exact site was not given, but is most likely to be the ford across the Gango River 16.5 km from Mussende on the road to Quibala (10°26ˈ07.7" S, 15°52ˈ39. 53"E observed on Google Earth), since this set of rapids is closest to Mussende (the town and river mentioned on the label) and is most readily accessible from that town. That vehicles are likely to drive over the plants at the type locality is highly possible, and this would constitute a threat. The second locality, the Kalandula Falls (also known as the Calandula falls and formerly Duque de Bragança falls) on the Lucuala (or Licuala) River (Gossweiler 8858, 29 Aug. 1922), is now a major tourist attraction, probably because it is one of the major falls by volume in Africa and is only 260 km by road from the capital, Luanda. It is evident from the numerous posts of photographs by tourists on the internet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Kalandula_Falls accessed 20 May 2021) that trampling by visitors occurs, which can destroy plants of Podostemaceae as at the Lobe Falls in Cameroon (Cheek et al. 2017b). Both locations, are here ascribed an area of occupancy of 3 km 2 as preferred by IUCN (2012). Therefore, Sapicolella angola is here assessed as Endangered EN B2ab(iii) using the categories and criteria of IUCN (2012). Despite this assessment, and the fact that this species has not been recorded in the wild for 78 years, and despite the fact that Hess (1952), a Podostemaceae specialist who visited the Kalandula Falls in 1950 did not find the species there, we doubt that this species is extinct, although it is probably not common. This is because at both known locations, further apparently suitable habitat can be seen on Google Earth immediately upstream and/or downstream. However, there is no guarantee that the species occurs at these sites because it is rare and infrequent (only 2 of the 25 Angolan Podostemaceae held at COI are this taxon, and one of these is only doubtfully identified). Finally, there is no cause for complacency about the security of this species since the surviving two sites are both at risk of future new hydroelectric projects in which there is currently an upsurge in Africa and which are inimicable to the survival of Podostemaceae (Cheek et al. 2017b). Angola is currently going through a surge of development posing risks to its species-diverse Flora. Additional range-restricted newly described species endemic to Angola are Justicia cubangensis I.Darbysh. & Goyder (Darbyshire & Goyder 2019) and Stomatanthes tundavalaensis D.J.N.Hind (Hind & Goyder 2013). PHENOLOGY. Only collected in flower (end June) and fruit (August) at the end of the dry season, the wet season being September to April ETYMOLOGY. Named for the country of Angola as a noun in apposition. This species is both unique to Angola and the only species of the genus currently known to occur in the country. NOTES. Sapicolella angola was first recognised as a distinct species, but informally, and not published, by C. Cusset in 1975. This is evident from her annotations of all four specimens of the species cited in this paper. She had annotated two specimens of what appears to be this taxon (Gossweiler 11252 and Gossweiler 12027 at COI, viewed online May 2021) as “ cf. Sapicolella angolensis ” dated 1975. Two other specimens, the basis of the description above, were sent on loan from Kto Pin 1982 (registered at Kas H960/82) and were annotated as “ Sapicolella gossweileri C. Cusset ined. 1998”, on one of which she had deleted an earlier annotation she had made of “ Pohliella angolensis C.Cusset ined.”. Since the Code (Turland et al. 2018) advocates that such names should not be perpetuated without the permission of the author, and since that permission has not been obtain- ed, an alternative name has been selected. Sapicolella angola is incompletely known. Both collections studied comprise of fruiting material. The roots, stem leaves, flowers at anthesis, pollen, are all either unknown, or only partially known. The ecology (microhabitat-ecological niche) is also unknown. Further field studies to fill these large gaps in our knowledge are advisable.Published as part of Cheek, Martin, Molmou, Denise, Magassouba, Sekou & Ghogue, Jean-Paul, 2022, Taxonomic revision of Saxicolella (Podostemaceae), African waterfall plants highly threatened by Hydro-Electric projects, pp. 403-433 in Kew Bulletin 77 (2) on pages 415-417, DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10019-2, http://zenodo.org/record/759936
Study and implementation of urogenital schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba islands) using an integrated multidisciplinary approach
Get PDFABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that continues to be a major public health problem in many developing countries being responsible for an estimated burden of at least 1.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Africa alone. However, morbidity due to schistosomiasis has been greatly reduced in some parts of the world, including Zanzibar. The Zanzibar government is now committed to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis. Over the next 3--5 years, the whole at-risk population will be administered praziquantel (40 mg/kg) biannually. Additionally, snail control and behaviour change interventions will be implemented in selected communities and the impact measured in a randomized intervention trial. METHODS: In this 5-year research study, on both Unguja and Pemba islands, urogenital schistosomiasis will be assessed in 45 communities with urine filtration and reagent strips in 4,500 schoolchildren aged 9--12 years annually, and in 4,500 first-year schoolchildren and 2,250 adults in years 1 and 5. Additionally, from first-year schoolchildren, a finger-prick blood sample will be collected and examined for Schistosoma haematobium infection biomarkers. Changes in prevalence and infection intensity will be assessed annually. Among the 45 communities, 15 were randomized for biannual snail control with niclosamide, in concordance with preventive chemotherapy campaigns. The reduction of Bulinus globosus snail populations and S. haematobium-infected snails will be investigated. In 15 other communities, interventions triggering behaviour change have been designed and will be implemented in collaboration with the community. A change in knowledge, attitudes and practices will be assessed annually through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with schoolchildren, teachers, parents and community leaders. In all 45 communities, changes in the health system, water and sanitation infrastructure will be annually tracked by standardized questionnaire-interviews with community leaders. Additional issues potentially impacting on study outcomes and all incurring costs will be monitored and recorded. DISCUSSION: Elimination of schistosomiasis has become a priority on the agenda of the Zanzibar government and the international community. Our study will contribute to identifying what, in addition to preventive chemotherapy, needs to be done to prevent, control, and ultimately eliminate schistosomiasis, and to draw lessons for current and future schistosomiasis elimination programmes in Africa and elsewhere.Trial registrationISRCTN4883768
Plants and wound healing in Uganda: A mixed methods study
Get PDFIn Uganda, many people rely on traditional healers and medicinal plants for their health needs including managing wounds. To date no studies have been published regarding the local Ugandan practice of the use of medicinal plants for wound healing. This study was undertaken to document Ugandan local knowledge of wound healing, the preparation, administration and identification of local medicinal plants.
The mixed methods study comprised three phases:
1. A literature review of the existing literature on plants and wound healing employing systematic techniques.
2. Fieldwork where forty consenting traditional practitioners and local knowledge experts in South Western Uganda were interviewed about their knowledge of wound healing and participated in quantitative surveys regarding medicinal plant use.
3. The interviews and surveys yielded knowledge of wound healing and a list of plants used from which three were selected for relevant phytochemical assays in the laboratory work phase.
The literature review found nine studies that reported on the use of medicinal plants for wound healing in Uganda. The interviews provided data which demonstrated that respondents possessed knowledge of the definition, classification, and diagnosis of wounds. The ethnobotanical survey revealed 38 plants as being important for treatment of wounds. The most represented families were Asteraceae (26.3%) and Solanaceae (15.8%); Bidens pilosa L, Musa paradisiaca L., solenostemon latifolius, Ageratum conyzoides L., Hoslundia opposita Vahl. and Microglossa pyrifolia (Lam.) Kuntze were the most widely used. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the extraction efficiency through presence of polyphenol and flavonoid compounds and demonstrated antioxidant activity of the plant extract.
Ultimately, this thesis uses the mixed methods approach to gain a fuller and more complete understanding of the research questions. It also demonstrates evidence for the use of selected medicinal plants for wound healing in South Western Uganda and gives a description of the category of professionals involved in traditional medicine using medicinal plants
Abstracts of the 1st International Colloquium in Mine & Society
Get PDFThis book presents the abstracts of the selected contributions to the First International Colloquium on Mines and Society (CIMS) organized by The Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Boke. The theme of this colloquium was "Mining and Sustainable Development, a major challenge for an Emerging Africa" which aims to bring together teachers, researchers, and Professionals from different backgrounds in order to exchange the results of their research work, share their points of view on the issue of mining and sustainable development. It also aims to define, in a collaborative and inclusive manner, research prospects or future projects between all the actors involved in this field.
Colloquium Title: 1st International Colloquium in Mine & SocietyTheme: Mining and Sustainable Development, A Major Challenge for an Emerging AfricaColloquium Date: 20-22 May 2022Colloquium Location: A L’Hôtel Rio Nunez de BokeColloquium Organizer: The Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Bok
