Rutidea wieringae O. Lachenaud 2026, sp. nov.

A new species of liana, Rutidea wieringae, has been discovered in Gabon's Ivindo National Park and surrounding regions. This species is distinguished by its fulvous indumentum on inflorescences, sparsely hairy corolla, and numerous secondary leaf veins, setting it apart from related species like R. lujae and R. ferruginea. The discovery was made through detailed morphological analysis of herbarium specimens, confirming its unique characteristics and intermediate traits between previously described species. Rutidea wieringae is endemic to Gabon, found in evergreen forests at elevations of 100–500 meters. Preliminary IUCN assessment suggests it may be Endangered (EN B2 ab) due to habitat threats like urban expansion and shifting agriculture, with one occurrence protected within Ivindo National Park.

Jongkind, C. C. H., & Lachenaud, O. (2026). Rutidea wieringae O. Lachenaud 2026, sp. nov. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.19467973