CIBIRHIZA ALBERSIANA, A NEW SPECIES OF ASCLEPIADACEAE, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRIBE FOCKEEAE

In the course of a long-term study of African Cynanchinae, several spe cimens of a remarkable, undetermined asclepiad from E. Africa were fou nd in the Kew Herbarium (K). Its pollinarium structure shows strong si milarity with that of Cibirhiza dhofarensis Bruyns and Fockea Endl. sp ecimens. Anther morphology and basic corona structure agree with that of Cibirhiza, a genus established recently by Bruyns (1988). Since som e important aspects remain unclear in his description, a detailed stru ctural analysis of C. dhofarensis was necessary. Our specimens show a striking similarity to C. dhofarensis but some marked deviations in st aminal corona morphology. Therefore, it seems appropriate to describe our E. African material as a new species of the genus Cibirhiza, C. al bersiana. Between Fockea and the remainder of the Marsdenieae major di fferences have been noted several times in the past (e.g. Kunze, 1990, 1993) but systematic consequences have not been drawn yet. Our presen t anlysis supports the removal of Fockea from the Marsdenieae and the creation of a new tribe, Fockeeae, containing the two genera Fockea an d Cibirhiza.