new species of aloes - ethiopian biodiversity institute · aloes and other “lilies” (sebsebe...

Four new species of Aloe (Aloaceae) from Ethiopia, with noteson the ethics of describing new taxa from foreign countries

Sebsebe Demissew1, Ib Friis2, Tesfaye Awas3, Paul Wilkin4, Odile Weber4, Steve Bachman4 &Inger Nordal5

Summary. Subsequent to the treatment of the Aloaceae, with 38 species of Aloe, in the Flora of Ethiopia (SebsebeDemissew & Gilbert 1997), four more species, Aloe bertemariae Sebsebe & Dioli (2000), A. friisii Sebsebe & M. G.Gilbert (2000), A. clarkei L. E. Newton (2002) and A. elkerriana Dioli & T. A. McCoy (2007) have been describedfrom that country. Here four additional new species are described: Aloe benishangulana Sebsebe & Tesfaye fromnear Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz in Welega floristic region; A. ghibensis Sebsebe & Friis from the Ghibe Gorge,Kefa floristic region; A. weloensis Sebsebe from near Dessie in Welo floristic region and A. welmelensis Sebsebe &Nordal along the Welmel River in Bale floristic region. The phytogeographical positions of the new species areassessed by comparison with the previously known species. Complications with the deposition of type material ofA. clarkei and A. elkerriana is used to raise various issues regarding the ethics of describing new taxa from foreigncountries.

Key Words. Aloaceae, Aloe, Asphodelaceae, CITES, Flora of Ethiopia, new species, phytogeography,Xanthorrhoeaeeae.

IntroductionWhen the account of Aloaceae for the Flora of Ethiopia andEritrea was prepared, 38 species were recognised(Sebsebe Demissew & Gilbert 1997). Subsequently areview paper on the aloes of Ethiopia and Eritreaappeared (Sebsebe Demissew et al. 2001), followed by amonograph on aloes and other “lilies” (SebsebeDemissew et al. 2003). During the years 2000 – 2002,twomore species,Aloe bertemariae Sebsebe & Dioli (2000)and Aloe friisii Sebsebe & Gilbert (2000) were describedand duly incorporated in Sebsebe et al. (2003).

Before the monograph on Ethiopian aloes andother “lilies”, Aloe clarkei L. E. Newton (2002) wasdescribed from a specimen collected by a member ofthe Mountain Club of Kenya, Paul Clarke, whoclimbed Mt Naita. The mountain, at 5°29'N, 35°18'Econsists of basement rocks (granite) and reaches aheight of just above 2100 m. It marks the north-easternmost possible point of the “Ilemi triangle”between Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia. However not

only the international status, but also the exact extentof the “Ilemi triangle” is disputed. The northern slopeof Mt Naita is undoubtedly in Ethiopia, even with themost restricted definition of Ethiopian territory inthese parts, and the specimen was stated to have beencollected on the northern side of the peak, althoughthe expedition climbed from the disputed Kenyan-Sudanese side. The type specimen was stated to havebeen deposited at the East African Herbarium (EA) ofthe National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, but nomaterial of A. clarkei is found there according toinformation obtained from the herbarium. That specieswas not included in the monograph on Ethiopian aloesand other “lilies” because the publication did not cometo the attention of Sebsebe et al. (2003).

More recently, Aloe elkerriana Dioli & T. A. McCoy(2007) has been described, based on a specimencollected by Maurizio Dioli from a rocky outcrop nearEl Kere in the Bale floristic region, a site that is alsothe type locality of Aloe jacksonii Reynolds. The type

Accepted for publication March 2011.1 National Herbarium, Science Faculty, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Botanical Garden and Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Gothersgade 130, DK-1123 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

e-mail: [email protected] Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, P.O. Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. e-mail: [email protected] Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK. e-mail: [email protected], [email protected] and

[email protected] Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway. e-mail: [email protected]

KEW BULLETIN VOL. 66: 111–121 (2011)

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2011

specimen of A. elkerriana is stated in the protologue tohave been deposited at the Herbarium (O) of theNatural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norwaybut no material of A. elkerriana is found thereaccording to information obtained from the herba-rium. Both A. clarkei and A. elkerriana were describedin Haseltonia, the yearbook of the Cactus and Succu-lent Society of America. The procedures in relation tothe publication of these two new species are subject tofurther discussion below.

In the present paper, four more new species,including two from the western part of Ethiopia aredescribed: Aloe benishangulana Sebsebe & Tesfaye,from near Assosa in Welega floristic region (WG, asreferred to in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea), in partof the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State; A. ghibensisSebsebe & Friis, from the Ghibe Gorge in Kefa floristicregion (KF, as referred to in the Flora of Ethiopia andEritrea), in part of the Southern Nations, Nationalitiesand People’s Regional State; A. weloensis Sebsebe, fromnear Dessie in Welo floristic region (WU, as referred toin the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea) in part of the AmharaRegional State, and A. welmelensis Sebsebe & Nordal,from along the Welmel River in Bale floristic region(BA, as referred to in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea), inpart of the Oromia Regional State. With this increasefrom 38 to 46 in the number of Aloe species known sofar from the area of the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea,there has been an increase of over 20% in just 12 years.

We would like to note that researchers who obtain ortake plantmaterial in amanner contrary to internationalconventions from another country and describe newspecies from this material behave unethically.

A much publicised example of this type of behaviourwas the publication ofPhragmipedium kovachii J. T. Atwood,Dalström & Ric. Fernández (June 2002), based on typematerial that Michael Kovach had taken from Peru to abotanical institution in the United States in violation ofthe CITES-regulations, after which the validating descrip-tion of the new name appeared in a preprint of a specialissue of the house journal of that institution. Thus thename obtained priority over Phragmipedium peruvianumChristenson (July 2002). Van Rijckevorsel (2006) andAnderson (2007) debated whether such behaviourshould result in the formal suppression of the publicationof June 2002. Higgins & Benzing (2007) opposed theproposal by van Rijckevorsel. They pointed out how thelegal battle had unfortunate consequences for thepreservation of type material in the institutions stated inthe protologues. A preserved specimen made from thelive plant brought to theUnited States by Kovach was sentback to the Peruvian National Herbarium at the Uni-versity of San Marcos, Peru (USM), where the specimenapparently is now, although USM is not a CITES-institution. The remainder of the single live plantbrought to the United States was handed over to theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which kept the plant as

evidence until it apparently died in custody in 2005. Atype specimen of the competing name, Phragmipediumperuvianum, stated to be “Christenson 2056 (holotypeUSM)” had in fact not been deposited with USM. Theresult of the whole battle is therefore the unfortunateloss of type material and disagreement between theinformation in the protologues and the actual placeswhere type material is deposited. The proposal by vanRijckevorsel has not been met with approval, partly sinceit would affect an unknown number of other cases.

In the case of Aloe clarkei and A. elkerriana, typematerial was obtained without the correct proceduresbeing followed. In the case of A. clarkei it appears thatthe type collection was made accidentally in Ethiopianterritory by crossing the Ethiopian border frominternationally disputed territory. In such a case thecorrect export procedure seems difficult to establish.In the case of A. elkerriana, however, type materialseems to have been illegally collected in and exportedfrom Ethiopia. In both cases the whereabouts of thetype specimen has apparently been incorrectly indi-cated in the protologues, where it has been impliedthat types had been deposited at recognised botanicalinstitutions that, moreover are listed CITES-institu-tions (O: CITES NO001; EA: CITES KE001).

All members of the genus Aloe are, like the Orchid-aceae, listed in CITES Appendix II, and specimens ofAppendix II-species can only be sent between CITES-registered institutions or in case the export is authorisedby a permit issued by a CITES-authority in the countryof origin. The Ethiopian National Herbarium (ETH) is aCITES-registered institution in Ethiopia (CITES ET001).The other institutions where material cited in this paperhas been deposited by us are also CITES registeredinstitutions (C: CITES DK001; K: CITES GB005).

Although, as shown by the above Phragmipedium-case,there is no penalty in the world of botanical nomencla-ture for infringing the rules of the Washington Con-vention, we do feel that collectors are under a collectiveobligation to follow the rules and to deposit duplicatesof types and/or any paratype or fragments of it at anational institution in the country of origin of a speciesand state this is in the protologue; ideally the holotypeshould reside in the country of origin and isotypeselsewhere. Sending good quality images of the typematerial to institution(s) in the country from which thespecies came is an absolute minimum approach. Thepermanent preservation of readily accessible typematerial is one of the foundations of botanicalnomenclature, and both the loss of the living plantthat was part of the type material of Phragmipediumkovachii and the apparent non-existence of the typesof Phragmipedium peruvianum and Aloe elkerriana at theinstitutions where they are stated to have beendeposited do not serve that permanence and acces-sibility. In the case of A. clarkei and A. elkerriana, wehave reasons to believe that the living material still

112 KEW BULLETIN VOL. 66(1)


exists in collections and neotypes based on plantspropagated from originally collected material couldbe made and duplicates sent to the country of origin.

It would also have served the purpose of availability andbeen in agreement with good scientific ethics had copiesof the protologues of the newAloe species in a publicationof narrow distribution like Haseltonia, been sent toEthiopia. This would have ensured that A. clarkei wouldhave been taken up in the monograph of Ethiopianaloes and other “lilies” (Sebsebe Demissew et al. 2003).

Taxonomy

Aloe benishangulana Sebsebe & Tesfaye sp. nov. A.schweinfurthii Baker pellide molli similis sed foliis nonmaculatis, spinis infirmis atque ad marginem albis(nec bruneis firmis), 1 mm (nec 3 – 5 mm) longis,bracteis c. 10 � 4 mm (nec. 4 – 7 � 2 – 3 mm),pedicellis 10 – 11 mm (nec c. 13 mm) longis etcapsulis 25 – 27 mm (nec 17 – 20 mm) longis differt.Typus: Ethiopia, WG: Benishangul, near Assosa, 3 kmfrom Amba “No. 11”, 10°11.08'N, 34°39.08'E, 20 Aug.2000, Herrmann 157 (holotypus ETH! photo K!).

http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77110963-1

Acaulescent, spreading by vegetative offsets, growing inrock crevices or “rock shelters”; rosette emerging fromrock crevices or from rock bottoms that partly shelter thelower parts of the plant; root system massive. Leaves laxlyrosulate, 20 – 46 � 1 – 4.5 cm; leaf surface dull green,smooth; marginal teeth 1 – 1.5 mm, white, 3 – 8 mmapart or 10 – 12 per 10 cm length; exudate dryingyellow. Inflorescence 50 – 60 cm long, simple; racemecylindrical, c. 28 cm long, lax, with 1 flower/cm. Flowerson both sides of the raceme. Bracts ovate, 8 – 10 � c.4 mm, acuminate at the apex. Pedicel 8 – 10 mm long.Perianth bright scarlet, becoming paler to almostwhite towards mouth, 37 – 40 mm long, basetruncate, c. 8 mm in diam.; outer tepals free for a lengthof 10 mm. Capsule 25 – 27 mm long, each segment 25 –27 � 10 mm. Fig. 1.

DISTRIBUTION. Known from a restricted area close toAssosa, Welega floristic region, in Benishangul GumuzRegional State. Map 1.SPECIMENS EXAMINED. ETHIOPIA. WG: Near Assosa, 3 kmNE of Amba “No. 11”, 10°11.08'N, 34°39.08'E, 1490 m,st. 3 June 2000, Herrmann 106 (ETH!); fl. 3 June 2000,Herrmann 156 (ETH!); fl. 20 Aug. 2000, Herrmann 157(holotype ETH! photo K!); bud 3 June 2000, Herrmann241 (ETH!); fl. 3 June 2000, Herrmann 253 (ETH!); st.19 km from Assosa, 13 May 2005, Sebsebe D., Herrmann& Tesfaye A. 5945 (ETH!); 20 km N of Assosa alongroad to Kurmuk,10°10'N, 34°39'E; 1500 m, fr. 20 Nov,

1998, Friis et al. 9130 (C!, ETH!, K!); 19 km along theroad from Assosa to Homosha, 10°11.09'N, 34°39.14'E,1490 m, fr. 4 Oct. 2005, Tesfaye A. et al. 1428A (ETH).HABITAT. Bamboo (Oxythenanthera abyssinica) thicketwith open rocky outcrops or partially covered byslanting rocks giving protection against fire; 1490 –1500 m. This is the only species that occurs in themain Combretum-Terminalia woodland vegetation typein Ethiopia, where the species experiences natural andanthropogenic fire regimes, although another of thenew species in this paper, Aloe ghibensis, occurs in oneof the deep river gorges that represent penetration ofthe Combretum-Terminalia woodland into the EthiopianHighlands. Aloe benishangulana is very well adapted tothe prevailing fire regime, by having a deep, extensiveroot system and growing in rock crevices and shelteredparts of rocks (when the rocks are not firmly attachedto the ground). With such adaptations, fire would beunlikely to destroy all the above-ground parts of theplant. Even if there is occasional large-scale, persistentfire in the area of occurrence, the well-developed rootsystem would allow it to regenerate.CONSERVATION STATUS. Data Deficient (DD). Thespecies may be widespread in Benishangul-GumuzRegional State where habitats similar to those of theknown collecting localities are quite common.PHENOLOGY. Flowering April – August.ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet of Aloe benishangulanarefers to the “Benishangul-Gumuz Region” fromwhere the species is known.NOTES. The species resembles Aloe schweinfurthii Bakerfrom Southern Sudan, N Uganda and N Zaireextending to West Africa (Ghana). It differs from A.schweinfurthii by the leaves lacking spots (spotted),weak whitish marginal spines 1 – 15 mm long (notpungent brownish marginal spines 3 – 5 mm long),bracts c. 10 � 4 mm (not 4 – 7 � 2 – 3 mm), pedicel10 – 11 mm long (not c. 13 mm long) and capsule25 – 27 mm long (not 17 – 20 mm long).

Aloe ghibensis Sebsebe & Friis sp. nov. A. schelpeiReynolds caulibus decumbentibus usque 1 m longiset 5 – 7 cm diametro similis, sed foliis maturis nonmaculatis, spinis ad marginem 3 mm (nec 4 – 5 mm)longis, inflorescentiis racemos 7 – 8 ferentibus (necsolitarius vel racemos 2 – 3 ferentibus); floribussubsecundis (nec in omnibus lateris dispositis) atquein axe laxe dispositis 1 – 2 tantum (nec 6 – 8) per cm,bracteis 3 – 4 mm (nec 6 – 8 mm) longis et pedicellis5 – 6 mm (nec 10 – 17 mm) longis differt. Typus:Ethiopia, Cultivated in Addis Ababa, 8°9'N, 38°47'E,2350 m, fl. 8 April 2009; original plant collected fromKF, Ghibe Gorge, 160 km from Jima towards AddisAbaba; 8°10.659'N, 37°34.495'E; 1605 m; fl. bud 10Feb. 2009, Sebsebe D., I. Friis & Nigist A. 6764(holotypus ETH!; isotypus K!).

113NEW SPECIES OF ALOE FROM ETHIOPIA AND ETHICS OF DESCRIBING NEW TAXA





Caulescent with scandent stems to 1m long and 5 – 7 cmwide; rosette leaves rosulate, 35 – 50 � 7 – 10 cm; leafsurface dull green with smooth surface; marginal teeth3 mm long, white with brown tips, 7 – 10 mm apart or

6 – 8 per 10 cm length; exudate drying yellow.Inflorescence 45 – 55 cm long, 7 or 8 branched;raceme cylindrical, 10 – 22 cm long, lax, with 1 or 2flowers per cm length. Flowers subsecund on theraceme. Bracts ovate-acuminate at the apex, 3 – 4 � c.2.5 mm. Pedicel 5 – 6 mm long (elongating to 10 mm

Fig. 1. Aloe benishangulana: A habit (left); B fruiting inflorescence; C whitish marginal leaf spines.





in fruit). Perianth scarlet, (yellow-flowered according toAsh 1757) 28 – 30 mm long, base truncate, c. 6 mm indiam.; outer tepals free for a length of 6 – 8 mm. Youngcapsules 17 – 20 � c. 7 mm. Fig. 2

DISTRIBUTION. Known from the Ghibe Gorge in Kefafloristic region, Oromia Regional State. Map 1.SPECIMENS EXAMINED. ETHIOPIA. KF: Ghibe Gorge,upper slopes, c. 283 km SW of Addis Ababa on JimaRoad, 1365 m, fl. & fr. 5 Nov. 1972, Ash 1757 (K!);190 km from Addis Ababa to Jima, Ghibe Valley onJima side, 8°10.26'N, 37°34.59'E, 1720 m, fl. 3 March2001, Tesfaye A. 848 (ETH!); st. 5 Dec. 2008, Tesfaye A.

1802 (ETH!); Ghibe Gorge, 160 km from Jima towardsAddis Ababa, 8°10.659'N, 37°34.495'E, 1605 m, fl. bud10 Feb. 2009, Sebsebe D., Friis & Nigist A. 6764(holotype ETH!; isotype K!).HABITAT. In Combretum-Terminalia woodland on edge ofcliffs on volcanic outcrops. Associated plants includeCombretum collinum, Acacia polyacantha subsp. campyla-cantha and Ficus sycomorus; 1365 – 1700 m.CONSERVATION STATUS. Critically Endangered (CR),based on EOO (8.5 km2); Endangered (EN), based onAOO (12 km2 based on 2 � 2 grid cell). Suitablehabitats are not likely to occur outside the relativelynarrow gorge.

Map 1. Distribution of A. benishangulana (●); A. ghibensis (*); A. welmelensis (■); A. weloensis (▲).



Fig. 2. Aloe ghibensis: A habit and habitat at type locality; B habit in cultivation; C flowering inflorescence.



PHENOLOGY. Flowering November; March – April.ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet ofAloe ghibensis refers tothe “Ghibe Gorge” from where the type specimen wascollected and the only known locality of the species.NOTES. The species resembles Aloe schelpei Reynoldsfrom part of the Blue Nile River system, in a gorge nearDebre Libanos, north of Addis Ababa on the way toGojam in N. Shewa in Oromia Regional State due to itsscandent stems. However, it differs from A. schelpei bythe inflorescence possessing 7 or 8 racemes (not single,2 or 3 racemes); flowers secund (not with flowersarranged to all sides), lax with 1 or 2 flowers per cmlength (not denser with 6 – 8 flowers per cm length);bracts 3 – 4 mm long (not 6 – 8 mm long) and flowerpedicel 5 – 6 mm long (not 10 – 17 mm long).

Aloe weloensis Sebsebe sp. nov. similis A. macrocarpaTod. foliis mollibus atque maculates similis, sed bracteis2 – 5 � 2.5 mm (nec 6 – 20 � 2 – 4 mm), perianthio21 – 23 mm (nec 25 – 35 mm) longo et supra ovariummodice tantum constricto atque distaliter ± cylindraceo(nec supra ovarium conspicue constricto nec orem versusdilatato) et capsulis 18 – 20 mm (nec 25 – 40 mm) longisdiffert. Typus: Ethiopia, Welo, 1.5 – 2 km from Dessie onthe main road towards Addis, 11°6'N 39°38'E, 2500 m, 6Sept. 2003, Sebsebe D., I. & V. Friis & Nigist A. 6275(holotypus ETH!).


Acaulescent, solitary or in clumps of 2 – 5. Leaves inrosettes up to 35, 20 – 45 � 5 – 10 cm, with greenishwhite elongate spots, seen both above and below,more conspicuous below; marginal spines, 1 – 2 mmlong, brownish-tipped, 10 – 12 per 10 cm length;exudate drying yellow. Inflorescence 1 or 2, 55 –150 cm long, with 4 – 6 racemes; raceme cylindrical,15 – 25 cm long and 6 – 8 cm in diam. Bracts white,ovate – acuminate, 2 – 5 � 2 mm. Pedicel 10 – 13 mmlong. Perianth pinkish red, 21 – 23 mm long, baseslightly swollen, truncate, 5 – 6 mm in diam.; outerperianth parts free for a length of 10 – 11 mm; stamensand styles exserted 3 – 5 mm long at anthesis. Fruits18 – 20 mm long. Fig. 3.

DISTRIBUTION. Known only from a restricted areaoutside Dessie towards Addis in Welo floristic region,Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Map 1.SPECIMENS EXAMINED. ETHIOPIA. Welo, 3 km along theroad from Dessie towards Addis Ababa, 2440 m, fl. &fr. 6 Nov. 1998, Tesfaye A. 612 (ETH!); 1.5 – 2 km fromDessie on the main road towards Addis Ababa, 11°6'N,39°38'E, 2500 m, fl. 6 Sept. 2003, Sebsebe D., I. & V.Friis, Nigist A. 6275 (holotype ETH!); 11°05'49.8"N, 39°38'10.8"E, 2520 m, fl. 26 Nov. 2005, Sebsebe D. 6491(ETH!); Original plant from Sebsebe D. et al. 6275 from

1.5 km S of Dessie towards Addis Ababa, cultivated inAddis Ababa, Bole Wereda, Kebele 23, House No. 4/175, 2350 m, fr. 12 Dec. 2005, Sebsebe D. & Nigist A.6495 (ETH!); fl. & fr. 3 Dec. 2007, Sebsebe D. & NigistA. 6527 (ETH!).HABITAT. Edges of roads and in disturbed places;2440 – 2500 m.CONSERVATION STATUS. Data Deficient (DD). Thehabitat type from which the species was collected,has a considerable range in the Ethiopian Highlands.PHENOLOGY. Flowering September – November in thewild; but, if regularly watered, almost throughout theyear in cultivation.ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet refers to the “Welofloristic region” with its central town, Dessie, fromwhere the type specimen was collected and the onlyknown locality of the species.NOTES. Aloe weloensis resembles A. macrocarpa by itsthin, soft and spotted leaves. Aloe weloenis differs fromthe latter by the bracts being ovate, 2 – 5 � 2.5 mm(not 6 – 20 � 2 – 4 mm); perianth parts c. 25 – 27 mmlong (21 – 23 in the dry state, not 25 – 35 mm long),the perianth being only slightly constricted above theovary and ± cylindrical (not conspicuously constrictedand then enlarging to the mouth) and capsule c. 20 mmlong (not 25 – 40 mm long).

Aloe welmelensis Sebsebe & Nordal sp. nov. similis A.tewoldei M. G. Gilbert & Sebsebe caulibus decumbenti-bus usque 3 – 4 cm diametro similis, sed spinis admarginem albis (nec roseis), obsoletis usque 1 mm(nec 2 mm) longis, floribus secundis (nec in omnibuslateralibus axe dispositis), perianthiis 30 – 32 mm (nec20 mm) longis et pedicellis 5 – 7 mm (nec 12 mm)longis differt. Typus: Ethiopia, BA: along the WelmelRiver, Sodu Kebele, 20 km W off the main Goba –Dolo road at 94 km, 6°25.511'N 39°38.819'E, 1470 m,fl. & fr. 15 Dec. 2007, Sebsebe D., Tesfaye A. & Nordal6655 (holotypus ETH!; isotypus K!).


Caulescent and forming groups. Stem erect to decum-bent, 30 – 60 cm long, 1.8 – 2 cm in diam. Roots hairy.Leaves scattered along the stem, 10 – 18, lax, arrangedin 2 – 5 turns along the stem, greyish green, notspotted, 30 – 50 � 2 – 4 cm, surface smooth; marginalteeth obsolete, to 1 mm long, white, reddish-tipped,3 – 5 mm apart or 15 – 17 per 10 cm length; exudatedrying yellow. Inflorescence 1 or 2, 50 – 80 cm long,with 1 or 2, rarely 4 – 6 racemes; raceme cylindrical,15 – 30 cm long, lax, with 1 or 2 flowers/cm. Stamensexserted 1 – 4 mm long. Flowers secund. Bracts white,ovate-acuminate, 4 – 5 � 2.5 mm. Pedicel 6 – 7 mmlong. Perianth bright scarlet, paler to almost whitetowards mouth, 28 – 32 mm, base slightly swollen,







Fig. 3. Aloe weloensis: A habit in cultivation; B inflorescence with flowering buds; C inflorescence and infructescence.



Fig. 4. Aloe welmelensis: A habit and habitat at type locality; B leaf arrangement on the stem; C part of inflorescence.



truncate, 6 – 7 mm in diam.; outer perianth parts freefor a length of 10 – 12 mm. Young fruits 17 – 20 mmlong. Fig. 4.

DISTRIBUTION. Known only from along the WelmelRiver in Bale floristic region, Oromia Regional State,Ethiopia. Map 1.SPECIMENS EXAMINED. ETHIOPIA. BA: Welmel R. 29 km Sof Dolo Mena (Masslo), at the water fall (called “SofOmar”, like the caves) on the R. Welmel, 6°13'N,39°50'E, 1050 m, st. 3 Nov. 1984, Friis, Gilbert & Vollesen3736 (ETH, K); along the Welmel R., Sodu Kebele,20 km W off the main Goba – Dolo road at 94 km,6°25.511'N, 39°38.819'E, 1470 m, fl. & fr. 15 Dec. 2007,Sebsebe D., Tesfaye A. & Nordal 6655 (holotype ETH;isotype K); along the tributary of the Welmel R.,Fenkel Kebele, 17 km W off the main Goba-Dolo roadat 94 km, 6°26.478'N, 39°39.124'E, 1500 m, fl. 15 Dec.2007, Sebsebe D., Tesfaye A. & Nordal 6656 (ETH).HABITAT. Vertical rock faces, edges of rocky valleys andon outcrops along rivers; 1050 – 1500 m.CONSERVATION STATUS. Critically Endangered (CR),based on EOO (25 km2); Endangered, based on AOO(12 km2 based on 2 � 2 grid cell). Seeminglyrestricted to habitats near one river, the species isunlikely to occur in the surrounding vegetation types.PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting in December.ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet of Aloe welmelensisrefers to the Welmel River, along which the species isdistributed.VERNACULAR NAME. Hargeissa (Oromiffa)USES. Sap from leaves used to relieve pain from earinfection. Warming the leaves and putting them onaffected parts is reported to help against headachesand rheumatism.NOTES. Aloe welmelensis resembles A. tewoldei by having asimilar decumbent habit. However, the new speciesdiffers from A. tewoldei by the marginal spines beingwhite (not pinkish), obsolete to 1 mm long (not 2 mmlong), flowers secund (not in all sides), perianth 30 –32 mm long (not 20 mm long) and pedicel 5 – 7 mmlong (not 12 mm long).

Notes on phytogeographyIn Sebsebe Demissew et al. (2001) the 40 species knownthen were classified phytogeographically. The newspecies are all endemic (or, as in the case of Aloe clarkei,perhaps near endemic) to Ethiopia, raising the per-centage of species of Aloe endemic or near-endemic tothe country from the 87% recorded in 2001 to 89%now. No other genus with more than a few species inEthiopia has such a high degree of endemism.

Sebsebe Demissew et al. (2001) also analysed thedistribution of Aloe in relation to vegetation types, andshowed that the endemic and near-endemic species inparticular occurred predominantly in two vegetation

types. These are: (1) dry montane evergreen forest(and associated montane evergreen scrub or montanegrassland), and (2) Acacia-Commiphora woodland andbushland. The new species are noteworthy because atleast two represent a new group that occurs inCombretum-Terminalia-dominated deciduous woodlandswith regular fires. One of these species is adapted toregular fires in its natural habitats by growing on rockyoutcrops and the other occurs on steep slopes in ariver gorge, over which grass-fires would probably passquickly. Deciduous woodland with regular fires was ahabitat not envisaged as suitable for members of Aloeby Sebsebe Demissew et al. (2001).

Sebsebe Demissew et al. (2001, in Fig. 7) divide theendemic species into three phytogeographical groups:(1) a group of northern-central endemics that mainlyoccur in dry montane evergreen forest (and associatedmontane evergreen scrub or montane grassland), (2)an eastern group of endemics that has rather similarecological preferences to the first group, and (3) thesouthern endemics that mainly occur in Acacia-Commi-phora woodland and bushland. Of the new speciesdescribed since 2001, the phytogeographical affinities ofA. clarkei are not clear. A. elkerriana would appear tobelong to the southern endemics associated with Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland, as does A. jacksoniipreviously described from the same locality. A. weloensiswould appear to belong with the northern-centralendemics that are associated with Dry montane ever-green forest. However, with altitudinal records at 2400 –2500 m, A. weloensis is a typical Afromontane floristicelement; it does not seem to fall in the same category assome of the high-montane species in Ethiopia, such asA. steudneri Schweinf. ex Penz. or A. ankoberensis M. G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which are recorded from altitudesnear the lower limit for the Afroalpine flora. Thephytogeographical position of the last of the newspecies, A. welmelensis, is not completely clear, but itwould, like A. friisii that has been collected from verticalrocks along intermittent rivers, seem to belong with thesouthern endemic species that mainly occur in Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland. However, A.tewoldei in the eastern group has a somewhat similarhabit and habitat. The most surprising from ecologicaland phytogeographical points of view are A. benishangu-lana and A. ghibensis that seem to belong to an hithertounrecognised western group mostly associated with fire-susceptible Combretum-Terminalia woodlands.

AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to acknowledge support forfield studies on the genus Aloe in the Flora Ethiopiafrom the Norwegian University Cooperation (NUFU)and the Carlsberg Foundation. The Director of ETH isthanked for making material available for study. TheKeeper and Staff of the Herbarium, RBG, Kew, are



thanked for providing work space and support duringthe herbarium study. We would like to thank MelanieWilmot-Dear for help with the Latin diagnoses.

ReferencesAnderson, W. R. (2007). Reply to van Rijckevorsel’s

Proposal to Suppress Selbyana vol. 23 Supplement.Taxon 56: 615 – 616.

Atwood, J. T., Dalström, S. & Fernández, R. (2002).Phragmipedium kovachii. Selbyana 23 (suppl., preprint):1 [10 June 2002].

Christenson, E. (2002). Phragmipedium peruvianum.Orchids 71: 620.

Dioli, M. & McCoy, T. (2007). Aloe elkerriana (Aspho-delaceae), a new Ethiopian species from the typelocality of A. jacksonii. Haseltonia 13: 34 – 37.

Higgins, W. E. & Benzing, D. H. (2007). Response to:Proposal to add Selbyana vol. 23 Supplement to the“opera utique oppressa” by Paul van Rijckevorsel.Taxon 56: 968 – 969.

Newton, L. E. (2002). A new species of Aloe on theEthiopia-Sudan Border. Haseltonia No. 9: 14 – 16.

Sebsebe Demissew & Gilbert, M. (1997). Aloaceae. In:S. Edwards, Sebsebe Demissew & I. Hedberg(eds), Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Vol. 6: 117 –135. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa &Uppsala.

____ & ____ (2000). A new species of Aloe (Aloaceae)from SW Ethiopia. Kew Bull. 55: 683 – 686.

____ & Dioli, M. (2000). A new Aloe (Aloaceae) speciesfrom Ogaden (Southeastern Ethiopia). Kew Bull.55: 679 – 682.

____, Nordal, I. & Stabbetorp, O. E. (2001). Endem-ism and patterns of distribution of the genus Aloe(Aloaceae) in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea.Biol. Skr. 54: 233 – 246.

____, ____ & ____ (2003). Flowers of Ethiopia and Eritrea:aloes and other lilies. Shama Books, Addis Ababa.

van Rijckevorsel, P. (2006). Proposal to add Selbyanavol. 23 Supplement to the “opera utique oppressa”.Taxon 55: 1053 – 1053.



new species of aloes - ethiopian biodiversity institute · aloes and other “lilies” (sebsebe...

Documents