Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coleus scopulideorum (Lamiaceae), a new Critically Endangered monocarpic mint from the Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon — described, despite the loss of critical material

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Kew Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Coleus scopulideorum B.J.Pollard (Lamiaceae), a distinctive synchronous-flowering herb from Nyale Rock, Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon is described and illustrated. Good practice to guide decision-making over discarding herbarium material is proposed following the loss of specimens that were key to the description of this species. Notes on its taxonomic relationships, ecology, ethnobotany, and conservation are presented, with an illustration. A key is provided to the four wild species of Coleus Lour. with yellow or partly yellow flowers known from western Cameroon (SW and NW Regions).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beentje, H. & Cheek, M. (2003). Glossary. In: H. Beentje (ed.), Flora of Tropical East Africa. Balkema, Lisse.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cable, S. & Cheek, M. (1998). The Plants of Mt Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheek, M. & Cable, S. (1997). Plant Inventory for conservation management: the Kew-Earthwatch programme in Western Cameroon, 1993 – 96, pp. 29 – 38. In: S. Doolan (ed.) African Rainforests and the Conservation of Biodiversity. Earthwatch Europe, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, Alvarez-Aguirre, M. G., Grall, A., Sonké, B., Howes, M.-J. R. & Larridon, I. (2018a). Kupeantha (Coffeeae, Rubiaceae), a new genus from Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. PLoS ONE 13: e0199324. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199324

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • ____, Edwards, S. & Onana, J.-M. (2023). A massive Critically Endangered cloud forest tree, Microcos rumpi (Grewiaceae) new to science from the Rumpi Hills, SW Region, Cameroon. Kew Bull. 78: 247 – 258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-023-10119-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____, Harvey, Y. B. & Onana, J.-M. (2010). The Plants of Dom, Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, ____ & Onana, J.-M. (2011). The Plants of Mefou Proposed National Park, Yaoundé, Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____ & Onana, J.-M. (2021). The endemic plant species of Mt Kupe, Cameroon with a new Critically Endangered cloud-forest tree species, Vepris zapfackii (Rutaceae). Kew Bull. 76: 721 – 734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-021-09984-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____, ____ & Pollard, B. J. (2000). The Plants of Mount Oku and the Ijim Ridge, Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, Pollard, B. J., Achoundong, G., Onana, J.-M., Gosline, G. & Moat, J. (2006). Conservation of the Plant Diversity of western Cameroon: a Darwin Initiative Project. Taxonomy and Ecology of African Plants, their Conservation and Sustainable Use. Proceedings of the XVIIth AETFAT Congress, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 779 – 791.

  • ____, ____, Darbyshire, I., Onana, J.-M. & Wild, C. (2004). The Plants of Kupe, Mwanenguba and the Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, Prenner, G., Tchiengué, B. & Faden, R. B. (2018b). Notes on the endemic plant species of the Ebo Forest, Cameroon, and the new, Critically Endangered, Palisota ebo (Commelinaceae). Pl. Ecol. & Evol. 151: 431 – 441. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2018.1503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____, Tchiengué, B. & Baldwin, I. (2020). Notes on the plants of Bakossi, Cameroon, and the new Cola etugei and Cola kodminensis (Sterculiaceae s. str.). Pl. Ecol. & Evol. 153: 108 – 119. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2020.1662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____, ____ & van der Burgt, X. (2021). Taxonomic revision of the threatened African genus Pseudohydrosme Engl. (Araceae), with P. ebo, a new, critically endangered species from Ebo, Cameroon. PeerJ 9:e10689 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10689

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • ____, Williams, S. A. & Etuge, M. (2003). Kupea martinetugei, a new genus and species of Triuridaceae from western Cameroon. Kew Bull. 58: 225 – 228. https://doi.org/10.2307/4119366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, F. E. M. (1995). Economic Botany Data Collection Standard. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cribb, P. J. & Pollard, B. J. (2002). New orchid discoveries in western Cameroon. Kew Bull. 57: 653 – 659. https://doi.org/10.2307/4110995

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darbyshire, I., Anderson, S., Asatryan, A., Byfield, A., Cheek, M., Clubbe, C., Ghrabi, Z., Harris, T., Heatubun, C. D., Kalema, J., Magassouba, S., McCarthy, B., Milliken, W., Montmollin, B. de, Nic Lughadha, E., Onana, J.-M., Saïdou, D., Sârbu, A., Shrestha, K. & Radford, E. A. (2017). Important Plant Areas: revised selection criteria for a global approach to plant conservation. Biodivers. Conserv. 26: 1767 – 1800. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1336-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosline, G. & Cheek, M. (1998). A new species of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) from Southwest Cameroon. Kew Bull. 53: 461 – 465. https://doi.org/10.2307/4114512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____ & Malécot, V. (2011, published March 2012). A monograph of Octoknema (Octoknemaceae — Olacaceae s.l.). Kew Bull. 66: 367 – 404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-011-9293-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____, Cheek, M., Onana, J.-M., Ngansop Tchatchouang, E., van der Burgt, X. M., MacKinnon, L. & Dagallier, L.-P. M. J. (2021). Uvariopsis dicaprio (Annonaceae) a new tree species with notes on its pollination biology, and the Critically Endangered narrowly endemic plant species of the Ebo Forest, Cameroon. PeerJ. Jan 6;9: e12614. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Govaerts, R., Nic Lughadha, E., Black, N., Turner, R. & Paton, A. (2021). The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8: 215. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00997-6

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, Y. B., Pollard, B. J., Darbyshire, I., Onana, J.-M. & Cheek, M. (2004). The Plants of Bali Ngemba Forest Reserve, Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, Tchiengué, B. & Cheek, M. (2010). The Plants of Lebialem Highlands, Cameroon, a Conservation Checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hepper, F. N. (ed.) (1963). Flora of West Tropical Africa ed. 2, 2: 450 – 473. Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations, London.

  • Hoffman, P. & Cheek, M. (2003). Two new species of Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) from southwest Cameroon. Kew Bull. 58: 437 – 446. https://doi.org/10.2307/4120626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooker, J. D. (1864). On the plants of the temperate regions of the Cameroons Mountains and Islands in the Bight of Benin; collected by Mr. Gustav Mann, Government Botanist. J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 7: 171 – 240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1864.tb01067c.x

  • IPNI (updated continuously). The International Plant Names Index. http://ipni.org/. [Accessed 22 March 2023]

  • IUCN (2001). IUCN Red List Categories: Version 3.1. Prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____ (2012). IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge. Available from https://www.iucnredlist.org. [Accessed 22 March 2023]

  • L'Héritier, C. L. de B. (1788). Plectranthus. In: Stirpes Novae aut minus cognitae 4: 84 – 90 t. 41 – 42. Paris. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.12251

  • Loureiro, J. de (1790). Flora Cochinchensis. Lisbon. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.40199

  • Lye, K. Å. & Pollard, B. J. (2003). Studies in African Cyperaceae 29. Scleria afroreflexa, a new species from western Cameroon. Nord. J. Bot. 23: 431 – 435. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2003.tb00416.x

  • ____ & ____ (2004). Studies in African Cyperaceae 31. Cyperus microcristatus, a new species from Mt Kupe, Cameroon. Nord. J. Bot. 24: 269 – 272. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2004.tb00842.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton, J. K. (1962). Cytogenetic studies on the west African Labiatae. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 58: 231 – 283. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1962.tb00896.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____ (1963). Labiatae. In: F. N. Hepper (ed.), Flora of West Tropical Africa ed. 2, 2: 450 – 473. Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations, London.

  • Paton, A. J., Bramley, G., Ryding, O., Polhill, R. M., Harvey, Y. B., Iwarsson, M., Willis, F., Phillipson, P. B., Balkwill, K., Lukhoba, C. W., Otieno, D. & Harley, R. M. (2009). Lamiaceae (Labiatae). In: H. J. Beentje, S. A. Ghazanfar & R. M. Polhill (eds), Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1 – 430. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, Otieno, D., Balkwill, K., Phillipson, P. B., Harley, R. M. & Willis, F. (2013). Lamiaceae. In: J. Timberlake (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca 8: 1 – 346. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, Mwanyambo, M., Govaerts, R. H. A., Smitha, K., Suddee, S., Phillipson, P. B., Wilson, T. C., Forster, P. I. & Culham, A. (2019). Nomenclatural changes in Coleus and Plectranthus (Lamiaceae): a tale of more than two genera. Phytokeys. 129: 1 – 158. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.126.34988.figure1

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • ____, Pollard, B. J. & Meerts, P. (2022). Labiatae. In: M. S. M. Sosef, J. Florence, H. P. Bourobou Bourobou & P. Bissiengou (eds), Flore du Gabon. 58: 1 – 111. Joseph Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim; Backhuys, Leiden.

  • Phillipson, P. B., Hooper, O., Haba, P., Cheek, M. & Paton, A. J. (2019). Three species of Coleus (Lamiaceae) from the Guinean Highlands: a new species, a new combination and clarification of Coleus splendidus. Kew Bull. 74: 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-019-9812-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollard, B. J. (2005). Two new names in African Plectranthus (Labiatae). Kew Bull. 60: 145 – 147. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110898

    Google Scholar 

  • ____, Parmentier, I. & Paton, A. J. (2006). Plectranthus inselbergi (Lamiaceae) a new species from Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni) and Gabon, with notes on other Central and West African species of Plectranthus. Kew Bull. 61: 225 – 230. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20443265

    Google Scholar 

  • ____ & Paton, A. J. (2001). A new rheophytic species of Plectranthus L'Hér. (Labiatae) from the Gulf of Guinea. Kew Bull. 56: 975 – 982. https://doi.org/10.2307/4119309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____ & ____ (2009). The African Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) expansion continues. Vale Leocus! Kew Bull. 64: 259 – 261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-009-9118-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ____ & ____ (2012). Further expansion of African Plectranthus (Lamiaceae): completing the subsumption of Isodictyophorus. Kew Bull. 67: 49 – 50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-012-9347-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher, C. F. (1827). Beskrivelse af Guineiske Planter: 271. Kongelige Danske Videnskabers Selskabs Skrifter, Kjöbenhavn. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35195187#page/277/mode/1up

  • Simmonds, N. W. (1980). Monocarpy, Calendars and Flowering Cycles in Angiosperms. Kew Bull. 35: 235 – 245. https://doi.org/10.2307/4114566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoffelen, P., Cheek, M., Bridson, D. & Robbrecht, E. (1997). A new species of Coffea (Rubiaceae) and notes on Mount Kupe (Cameroon). Kew Bull. 52: 989 – 994. https://doi.org/10.2307/4117826

  • Stone, R. D. & Cheek, M. (2018). A revised key to the Warneckea species of Cameroon, and description of Warneckea ngutiensis (Melastomataceae-Olisbeoideae), a new Critically Endangered rainforest shrub. Kew Bull. 73: 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-018-9739-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabi, E. A., Younchahou, M. N. & Mohanty, A. (2020). The effect of armed conflict on biodiversity and its implication on wildlife: a case study on the Lebialem Highlands, South-West Region, Cameroon. Int. J. Sci. Res. Biol. Sci. 7: 107 – 112. https://www.isroset.org/pdf_paper_view.php?paper_id=2190&13-ISROSET-IJSRBS-05008.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiers, B. M. (updated continuously). Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from http://sweetgum.nybg.org/ih/. [Accessed 22 March 2023]

Download references

Acknowledgements

The fieldwork which resulted in the discovery of this species was partly funded through a Global Environment Facility (GEF) contract for Herbier National Camerounais (YA) between MINEF Cameroon, and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The heads of the National Herbarium of Cameroon, Yaoundé, successively Drs Benoit Satabie, Gaston Achoundong, and Jean-Michel Onana are thanked for arranging collecting and export permits, and co-ordinating the partnership with R.B.G., Kew. Sponsorship was forthcoming from the Earthwatch Institute (Europe) with the support of DGVIII of the European Commission and a Darwin Initiative grant. His Excellency, the late Paramount Chief of Bakossiland, Chief Nhon Mbwog Richard Mambo Ntoko and his son Paramount Chief Nhon Mbwog Alexander Ngome Ntoko are gladly acknowledged for their interest and support of our work in their Kingdom. I am grateful to Martin Cheek, two anonymous reviewers and the editors for their suggested improvements to the manuscript, to Rosemary Wise for the illustration, and to Rafaël Govaerts for confirming the form of the specific epithet.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Visiting Researcher, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, U.K.

    Benedict John Pollard

Authors
  1. Benedict John Pollard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benedict John Pollard.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pollard, B.J. Coleus scopulideorum (Lamiaceae), a new Critically Endangered monocarpic mint from the Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon — described, despite the loss of critical material. Kew Bull (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10175-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10175-7

Key Words

Search

Navigation