Pseudohydrosme ebo, commonly known as the Ebo false hydrosme, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae. It was described by Xander Van der Burgt in 2015 but was not officially classified as a true species in the genus Pseudohydrosme until 2018.[2]

Pseudohydrosme ebo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Genus: Pseudohydrosme
Species:
P. ebo
Binomial name
Pseudohydrosme ebo
Cheek

Description

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Pseudohydrosme ebo on average reaches about 30 cm (11.81 inches) tall. Spathe is 5 cm (1.96 inches) long, a dull white color, with brown stripes on the outer portion, and a light red-brown color with pale green veins on the inner portion. Leaves are 10 cm (3.93 inches) long, thick, oval shaped, and glossy.[3]

Distribution and habitat

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Pseudohydrosme ebo is endemic to the Ebo Forest, Cameroon, at elevations of 300-400 m, where its range stretches only 1.3 km (0.80 miles) within a small valley. It is quite rare, with only 50-100 mature individuals recorded in the past years, but approximately 1,000 specimens have been recorded and collected previously.[1]

Conservation

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Pseudohydrosme ebo is currently listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN Red List, for excessive logging, slash-and-burn, and poaching are greatly affecting the species population.[1]

Poaching

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Pseudohydrosme ebo is at a serious threat of poaching in its native habitat, with locals and wealthy collectors wanting to make a profit in the illegal plant trade and other major plant markets.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Whittaker, A. & Cheek, M. (2021). "Pseudohydrosme ebo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T194745722A196446862. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194745722A196446862.en. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Cheek, Martin; Tchiengue, Barthelemy; Burgt, Xander van der (2020-10-07). "Taxonomic revision of the threatened African genus Pseudohydrosme Engl. (Araceae), with P. ebo, a new, Critically Endangered species from Ebo, Cameroon". bioRxiv: 2020.10.05.326850. doi:10.1101/2020.10.05.326850.
  3. ^ "Pseudohydrosme ebo | Kew". www.kew.org. Retrieved 2023-05-01.