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Issue: Vol. 705 No. 1: 11 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-11
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.705.1.9
Page range: 106-114
Abstract views: 84
PDF downloaded: 8

Recollection and amplified description of Euphorbia neorubella (Euphorbiaceae), a Critically Endangered succulent

Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China; State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
East African Herbarium, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 45166-00100, Kenya
Department of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Kenya
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, P.O. Box MP167, Zimbabwe
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China; State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Euphorbia sect. Monadenium Kenya succulents taxonomy tropical Africa Eudicots

Abstract

Euphorbia neorubella is the most highly sought after species in the cultivation of succulent plants. Despite it being often grown by succulent plant collectors and in general horticulture, the species has not been collected from the wild since 1960. This paper reports on the recollection of E. neorubella from its type locality at Mbuinzau Hill in Kenya. The species is illustrated and an amplified description is presented. An identification key with which to separate E. neorubella from its close relatives is presented, and aspects of its distribution, habitat, and phenology are updated. Based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, the species is considered to be Critically Endangered (CR).

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How to Cite

Xin, Z., Olukoye, A., Belal, H.R., Mbuni, Y.M., Muchuku, J.K., Nyakudya, E., Wang, S., Wei, N. & Wang, Q. (2025) Recollection and amplified description of Euphorbia neorubella (Euphorbiaceae), a Critically Endangered succulent. Phytotaxa 705 (1): 106–114. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.705.1.9