Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKBOJBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society0024-4074The Linnean Society of London, 2004?

2004
1462
237245
Original Article

NEW SPECIES OF
COFFEA
(RUBIACEAE) FROM TANZANIA

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245. With 3 figures

Two new and endangered species of Coffea (Rubiaceae)

from the Eastern Arc Mountains (Tanzania) and notes on
associated conservation issues
AARON P. DAVIS1* and ESTHER F. MVUNGI2
1
The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
2
Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, PO Box 35060, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Received February 2003; accepted for publication May 2004

Coffea bridsoniae and C. kihansiensis are described as new species from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania.
Full descriptions and conservation assessments are given, and affinities with other East African Coffea species are
discussed. Supplementary taxonomic notes on Tanzanian Coffea are given, including a concise species checklist.
Conservation issues concerning Tanzanian Coffea and the Kihansi River Gorge are briefly covered. © 2004 The
Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245.

ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: coffee – Coffeeae – hydroelectric power and conservation – IUCN Red List
Categories – Kihansi River Gorge.

INTRODUCTION MATERIAL AND METHODS

Recent fieldwork in Tanzania, from 2001 to 2003, has Field studies of C. bridsoniae were undertaken in
provided new material and field observations for 2001 (A. Davis), and for C. kihansiensis in 2001, 2002
several Coffea species. In particular, good herbarium and 2003 [A. Davis (only 2001) and E. Mvungi].
and spirit material is now available for two entities Herbarium material of Coffea was consulted at the
provisionally identified as new species: C. ‘sp. B’, University of Dar es Salaam (DSM), the National
listed in Flora of Tropical East Africa (Bridson, 1988: Herbarium of Tanzania (NHT) and the Royal Botanic
717), and C. ‘sp. 1’ (D. Bridson, pers. comm.; her- Gardens, Kew (K). Measurements, colours and other
barium sheets at Kew; Lovett et al., 1997: 921, 927). details given in the descriptions are based on living
In this contribution we describe these two provi- material, spirit and herbarium specimens, and data
sional taxa as new species: C. bridsoniae and derived from field notes.
C. kihansiensis, respectively. The recognition of The terminology and descriptive terms used in this
these species is based on morphological data alone, contribution follow those given in Davis & Rakotona-
although molecular data (E. Mvungi, unpubl. data) solo (2000, 2001a, b); a detailed account of Coffea mor-
supports their circumscription. Coffea bridsoniae and phology is given in Davis, Bridson & Rakotonasolo,
C. kihansiensis are endemic to Tanzania, and are 2004). In this paper we use the term calyculi for the
components of the Eastern Arc Mountain flora. The cupule-like structures of the inflorescence (see Davis
description of these two species, and the discovery of & Rakotonasolo, 2001b). In previous taxonomic works
C. fadenii Bridson in north-eastern Tanzania, brings on East African Coffea (Bridson, 1982, 1988, 1994)
the total number of naturally occurring Coffea spe- these structures are referred to either as bracteoles or
cies in Tanzania to 16. cupular bracteoles.
The conservation status of each species was
A. P. DAVIS and E. F. MVUNGI assessed by calculating the extent of occurrence using
GIS data (J. Moat & P. Wittle, pers. comm.), and apply-
*Corresponding author. E-mail: a.davis@rbgkew.org.uk ing the IUCN Red List Category criteria (IUCN, 2001).

© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245 237
238 A. P. DAVIS and E. F. MVUNGI
In this contribution we refer to the Eastern Arc
Mountains (Lovett, 1985, 1998a) and Eastern Arc For-
ests (Lovett, 1998b), two terrestrial ecoregions in
tropical eastern Africa. The former refers to an arc
of ancient crystalline mountains (under the climatic
influence of the Indian Ocean) in eastern Tanzania
and southern Kenya (Lovett, 1990). The latter repre-
sents a more inclusive ecoregion, with the addition of
the eastern lowland and coastal forests of Tanzania
and Kenya. These two regions are closely associated
and are not easy to separate on the basis of species
composition and/or phylogeny (E. Mvungi, unpubl.
data). The Eastern Arc Forests form part of the East-
ern Arc and Coastal Forests of Tanzania/Kenya
Hotspot (Myers et al., 2000).
SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS
COFFEA BRIDSONIAE A. P. DAVIS & MVUNGI SP. NOV.
(FIG. 1)
[C. ‘sp. B’ Bridson, Kew Bull. 36: 841, fig. 5, a–e
(1982); Bridson, Fl. Trop. East Africa, Rubiaceae part
2: 717 (1988).]
Diagnosis: C. pseudozanguebariae affinis sed inflores-
centiis (1–)3–6-floribus (nec 1-floribus), calyculis
plusminusve sessilibus (nec calyculis axe 2–6 mm
longo suffultis), hypanthiis laevibus (nec costatis),
distinguenda.
Type: TANZANIA, Tanga Region, Muheza District,
East Usambara Mountains: near Misozwe Village,
Milinga Forest Reserve, 260 m, 22.xi.2001 (fl. bud),
A.P.Davis, S.Hall & A.Ntemi APD 2904 (holotype: K;
isotypes: EA, BR, NHT, MO).
Description: TREELET OR SMALL TREE (2–)2.5–5(-10) m
high, d.b.h. 1.5–7 cm. Bark light brown to dark
brown, smooth. BRANCHES horizontal to erecto-patent,
grey to light brown, smooth to slightly rough.
BRANCHLETS terete, 1–3.8 mm in diameter, light
brown to dark brown, smooth, sometimes soft and
freely peeling, glabrous. STIPULES persistent, ovate to
broadly ovate or ± deltate, 1.5–2.8 ¥ 1.5–3.5 mm, sub-
coriaceous, glabrous, margin glabrous, apex acumi-
nate, acumen 1–2.5 mm long. LEAVES: petioles 0.2–
1 cm long; leaf blades broadly elliptic to broadly ellip-
tic-oblong, or sometimes broadly ovate, 4–14.8 ¥ 2.2–
8.5 cm, subcoriaceous, base cuneate to ± rounded, apex
cuspidate to slightly subacuminate; abaxial surface:
midrib prominent; secondary veins prominent, 6–7(-8)
pairs, ascending at an angle of 45–60∞; tertiary vena-
tion manifest to prominent, higher order venation
obscure; adaxial surface: venation less clearly mani-
fest than that of the abaxial surface; domatia crypt
type, prominent on the abaxial surface, located in the
© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
axils of the secondary veins, against or on the edge of
the midrib, the orifice round, 0.1–0.5 mm in diameter,
puberulous (hairs c. 0.1 mm long), not manifest on the
adaxial surface. INFLORESCENCES 1–3 per leaf axil (1–)
3–6-flowered, 6–11 mm long, often covered with exu-
date; inflorescence axis (bearing calyculi) 4.5–6 mm
long. CALYCULI 3 (if 1-flowered) or many (if 3–6-
flowered), although each flower subtended by (2–)3
calyculi, not separated by inflorescence axis tissue
(‘sessile’), the basal calyculus (1-flowered inflores-
cences) or calyculus subtending fasciculate inflo-
rescences (3–6-flowered inflorescences) often falling,
subcoriaceous, glabrous to puberulous, margins
sparsely ciliate (hairs c. 0.1 mm long); basal (1st) caly-
culus 0.8–1 ¥ 0.7–1.2 mm, stipular lobes very broadly
ovate to deltate, 0.1–0.4 ¥ 1.2–1.6 mm, foliar lobes
ovate to elliptic, or indistinct 0.3–0.7 mm long; middle
(2nd) calyculus 1–2.4 ¥ 1–2.3 mm, stipular lobes
indistinct to manifest, ovate to broadly ovate, 0.3–
0.7 ¥ 1.2–1.5 mm, foliar lobes ± ovate to elliptic-
ligulate, 0.3–1 ¥ 0.3–0.7 mm, upper (3rd) calyculus
0.6–1.8 ¥ 0.7–1 mm, stipular and foliar lobes indis-
tinct; internal surfaces of calyculi sparsely covered
with colleters, particularly at the margins, intermixed
with numerous fine hairs (c. 0.1 mm long), colleters
narrowly conical to narrowly ellipsoid, c. 0.2 mm long,
white. FLOWERS 6–7-merous; pedicel 2–5.5 mm long.
CALYX (incl. hypanthium) ± obconical, 1.3–2.4 ¥ 1.4–
1.7 mm, glabrous, calyx limb truncate. COROLLA 15–
17 mm long, white, smooth to sparsely pustulate;
corolla tube shorter than corolla lobes, ± narrowly fun-
nel-shaped, 4.2–5.1 mm long; corolla lobes narrowly
elliptic to elliptic, 7.2–9.6 ¥ 2.4–3 mm, apex obtuse.
STAMENS: filaments 4–4.5 mm long; anthers narrowly
elliptic to linear, 2.4–6 mm long. Style 6.8–7.4 mm
long, stigma lobes 1.7–2.3 mm long. FRUITS not seen.
Distribution: Endemic to the Ngua, Mtai and Milinga
forest reserves, East Usambara Mountains, Muheza
district, Tanga region, Tanzania (see Fig. 2).
Habitat and ecology: Humid evergreen forest, often
slightly to moderately disturbed. Altitude 260–450
(-1050) m a.s.l.
Phenology: Flowering from November to December;
fruiting time not known.
Conservation status: IUCN Red List Category:
Endangered (EN B1 a, b). B1, total extent of occur-
rence less than 1000 km2 (c. 775 km2); a, severely frag-
mented, and existing at no more than five locations;
b(i–v), continuing decline inferred. Fieldwork (A.
Davis) indicates that there is a general decline in suit-
able habitat for C. bridsoniae at the Milinga Forest
Reserve. The apparent rarity of this species is sup-
 NEW SPECIES OF COFFEA (RUBIACEAE) FROM TANZANIA 239

Figure 1. Coffea bridsoniae sp. nov. A, habit. Scale bar = 3 cm. B, stipule. Scale bar = 3 mm. C, domatium. Scale
bar = 1 mm. D, fasciculate (3-flowered) inflorescence, with three flower buds. Scale bar = 2 mm. E, 1-flowered inflorescence
(showing three calyculi, calyx and flower bud). Scale bar = 1 mm. F, flower. Scale bar = 3 mm. A–D, Davis, Hall & Ntemi
2904; E, Davis, Hall & Ntemi 2908; F, Greenway 3306. Drawn by Lucy T. Smith.

© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
240 A. P. DAVIS and E. F. MVUNGI
200 0 200 400 Kilometres
Figure 2. Distribution of Coffea bridsoniae sp. nov. (
) and C. kihansiensis sp. nov. ().
ported by the lack of collections between 1932 and
1996, despite the East Usambara Mountains being
relatively well collected botanically. Moreover, since
1982 several field collectors have been specifically
searching for this Coffea species (D. Bridson, pers.
comm.) but collections have remained very few.
Paratypes: TANZANIA, Tanga Region, East Usam-
bara Mountains: MUHEZA DISTRICT, near Misozwe
Village, Milinga Forest Reserve, 350 m, 22.xi.2001 (fl.
bud), A.P.Davis, S.Hall & A.Ntemi 2908 (BR, K, NHT);
ibid., 340 m, 22.xi.2001 (fl.), A.P.Davis, S.Hall &
A.Ntemi 2910 (K, NHT, MO); Mtai Forest Reserve,
W. of Maramba village, Isaza hill and valley, 450 m,
26.x.1999 (fl. bud), C.J.Kayombo 2955 (K, MO); Mtai
Forest Reserve, 10.ix.1996 (ster.), Kisena 1620 (K);
KOROGWE DISTRICT: Ngua, 1036 m, 28.xii.1932 (fl.),
P.J.Greenway 3306 (K).
Notes: Molecular data (E. Mvungi, unpubl. data)
shows that C. bridsoniae is most closely related to
C. pseudozanguebariae. Indeed, these species are
almost indistinguishable in the vegetative state,
owing to considerable similarities in leaf morphology.
They are also alike in that they both have flowers with
© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
usually more than five parts: C. bridsoniae has 6–7-
merous flowers and C. pseudozanguebariae has 6–8-
merous or rarely 5-merous flowers. Most species of
East African Coffea have 5-merous flowers (see
Bridson, 1988). Coffea bridsoniae differs from
C. pseudozanguebariae by its 3–6-flowered (rarely
1-flowered) inflorescences, calyculi separated by very
short axis tissue (calyculi ‘sessile’), and smooth
hypanthia. By comparison, C. pseudozanguebariae
has 1-flowered inflorescences, each with a distinct
axis (2–6 mm long) separating the calyculi (calyculi
‘stalked’), and ribbed hypanthia.
Another species from the Usambara Mountains,
C. mongensis, with similar leaves and occasionally fas-
ciculate inflorescences, is unlikely to be confused with
C. bridsoniae as it has very different stipules. The
stipule apex of C. mongensis is obtuse, as opposed
to distinctly acuminate in C. bridsoniae. Despite this
obvious difference, confusion may arise because the
leaf shape of C. mongensis is very much like that of
C. bridsoniae. However, in the former the leaves often
turn blackish upon drying, unlike C. bridsoniae, which
remain green. Other obvious differences are that the
inflorescences of C. mongensis are usually 1-flowered
(rarely 3-flowered), and have 5-merous flowers;
 NEW SPECIES OF COFFEA (RUBIACEAE) FROM TANZANIA
C. bridsoniae has 3–6 flowered (rarely (1-flowered)
inflorescences and 6–7-merous flowers. Closer inspec-
tion of inflorescence structure, and in particular caly-
culi morphology, reveals further differences between
C. bridsoniae and C. mongensis (see Bridson, 1982).
Coffea bridsoniae is named after Diane M. Bridson
in recognition of her considerable contribution to Cof-
fea taxonomy.
COFFEA KIHANSIENSIS A. P. DAVIS &
MVUNGI SP. NOV. (FIG. 3)
[C. ‘sp. 1’ Bridson, noted on specimens in herb. Kew]
Diagnosis: C. lulandoensi Bridson affinis sed
domatiis prominentibus (nec carentibus vel obscuris),
petiolo 1–3 mm longo (nec 7–10 mm longo), calyculis
superis colleteribus et pilis margine obsitis (nec colle-
teribus et pilis carentibus) fructibus pedicellis mani-
festis (nec calyculo supero occultis) distinguenda.
Type: TANZANIA, Morogoro Region, Kilombero Dis-
trict, Udzungwa Mountains: Kihansi Gorge, 900 m,
1.xii.2001 (fl.), E.F.Mvungi 4 (holotype: NHT; isotypes:
EA, K, MO).
Description: TREELET, 1.5–3 m high, d.b.h. not re-
corded. Bark greyish to brown, sometimes reddish
brown, slightly smooth to rough, with small longitudi-
nal fissures. BRANCHES horizontal to erecto-patent,
grey to brown, slightly rough. BRANCHLETS ± terete, 1–
2.5 mm in diameter, light brown to brown, smooth to
slightly peeling, pubescent (hairs c. 0.1 mm long).
STIPULES caducous, deltate to triangular, 1.2–2.3 ¥ 2–
2.4 mm, subcoriaceous, glabrous, margin puberulous
(hairs c. 0.1 mm long) or glabrous, apex acute, shortly
apiculate, apiculum 0.2–0.4 mm long. LEAVES: petioles
0.1–0.3 cm long; leaf blades elliptic to broadly elliptic,
sometimes ovate to elliptic-obovate, 3.5–10 ¥ 1.5–
5.5 cm, subcoriaceous, base cuneate to obtuse, apex
subacuminate to acuminate, acumen 0.5–1.2 cm long;
abaxial surface: midrib prominent; secondary veins
manifest, 4–6 pairs, ascending at an angle of 45–60∞;
tertiary venation ± manifest to weak, reticulate,
higher order venation obscure to invisible; adaxial sur-
face: venation less clearly manifest than that of the
abaxial surface; domatia crypt type, indistinct to prom-
inent, located in the axils of the secondary veins,
against or on the edge of the midrib, the orifice round,
0.1–0.5 mm in diameter, margins slightly raised,
puberulous (hairs c. 0.1 mm long), not manifest on the
adaxial surface. INFLORESCENCES 1–2 per leaf axil, 1-
flowered, 6–7.2 mm long, elongating slightly during
fruit development, slightly covered with exudate;
inflorescence axis (bearing calyculi) 2.5–5 mm long.
CALYCULI 3, the basal calyculus often falling, not sep-
© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
241
arated by inflorescence axis tissue (‘sessile’), subcori-
aceous, glabrous to pubescent, margins often ciliate
(hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long), colleters present (see upper
calyculus) or absent; basal (1st) calyculus 1.4–2 ¥ 0.6–
1 mm, stipular lobes broadly ovate, 0.1–0.5 ¥ 1.1–
1.4 mm, foliar lobes triangular-ovate to transversely
oblong, 0.4–0.6 ¥ 0.2–0.5 mm; middle (2nd) calyculus
1.8–2.5 ¥ 1.5–1.8 mm, stipular lobes deltate to ovate,
0.3–1.2 ¥ 0.7–1.1 mm, foliar lobes ± ligulate to elliptic,
2–3.6 ¥ 0.6–0.8 mm; upper (3rd) calyculus 0.5–
2.4 ¥ 0.8–1 mm, margins ± dentate, each tooth beset
with a colleter and 1–3 hairs (hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long),
stipular lobes triangular to ± transversely oblong, 0.3–
1 ¥ 1.1–1.2 mm, foliar lobes obscure to prominent, ±
ovate to ± elliptic, 1–2.5 ¥ 0.3–0.4 mm; internal sur-
faces of calyculi ± densely covered with colleters, coll-
eters narrowly ellipsoid to ± conical, 0.1–0.3 mm long,
white. FLOWERS 5-merous; pedicel 0.5–1 mm long. CA-
LYX (incl. hypanthium) ± turbinate, 1.6–2 ¥ 1–1.8 mm,
glabrous, calyx limb repand. COROLLA 7–10 mm long,
white, smooth to sparsely pustulate; corolla tube
shorter than corolla lobes, ± funnel-shaped, 3–4.5 mm
long; corolla lobes oblong or oblong-elliptic, 5–8 ¥ 1.5–
2 mm, apex obtuse to rounded. STAMENS: filaments
0.4–1 mm long; anthers narrowly elliptic to linear, 5–
7.5 mm long. STYLE 8–10 mm long, stigma lobes 1.5–
1.8 mm long. FRUITS ellipsoid to ellipsoid-obovoid,
9.5–12.6 ¥ 5–9.2 mm, yellow to orange at maturity, or
sometimes slightly pinkish, brown to dark brown when
dry; pedicel 1.5–2.2 mm long. Seeds ellipsoid to ellip-
soid-obovoid, 8–11.5 ¥ 5–6.4 mm, 3.3–4.4 mm thick,
brownish white (when dry).
Distribution: Endemic to Kihansi River Gorge, South-
ern Udzungwa Mountains, Morogoro region, Kilo-
mbero district, Tanzania (see Fig. 1).
Habitat and ecology: Humid evergreen escarpment
forest, slightly to moderately disturbed. On flat or
slightly sloping ground; at Kihansi usually near the
edge of the gorge, near the river. On humus-rich, rocky
soil. Altitude 800–900 m.
Phenology: Flowering in December; fruiting May and
June.
Conservation status: IUCN Red List Category: Criti-
cally Endangered (CR B1 a, b). B1, total extent of
occurrence less than 100 km2 (estimated at 1.5 km2) a,
existing at only a single location; b(i, iii), continuing
decline, observed and inferred in the extent of occur-
rence (i) and extent and quality of habitat (iii). Coffea
kihansiensis is restricted to Kihansi River Gorge,
southern Udzungwa Mountains. Fieldwork indicates
that the Lower Kihansi Hydroelectric Power Project
(dam construction) has caused a decline in the quality
(and potentially the area) of habitat for this species.
242 A. P. DAVIS and E. F. MVUNGI

Figure 3. Coffea kihansiensis sp. nov. A, habit. Scale bar = 2 cm. B, domatium. Scale bar = 1 mm. C, inflorescences and
inflorescence arrangement (also showing stipule and flower buds). Scale bar = 1 mm. D, inflorescence (showing three
calyculi (upper (3rd) calyculus ± truncate, lobes obscure), calyx and flower (bud). Scale bar = 1 mm. E, inflorescence
(showing middle (2nd) and upper (3rd) calyculi (lobes prominent), and calyx). Scale bar = 1 mm. F, detail of foliar lobe
from upper (3rd) calyculus, with colleters and hairs. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. G, flower. Scale bar = 2 mm. H, fruit (also showing
middle and upper calyculi). Scale bar = 3 mm. A, B, Lovett 5054; C–F, Mvungi 5; G, Lovett 5062; H, Mbago 1706. Drawn
by Lucy T. Smith.

© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
 NEW SPECIES OF COFFEA (RUBIACEAE) FROM TANZANIA
Paratypes: TANZANIA, Morogoro Region, Kilombero
District, Udzungwa Mountains: Kihansi River Gorge:
900 m, 22.vi.1995 (fr.), J.Lovett 5054 (K); 800 m,
26.vi.1998 (fr.), F.M.Mbago & J.Taplin 1706 (K);
900 m, 5.v.1998 (fr.), F.M.Mbago, J.Taplin & H.Msofe
1724 (K); 900 m, 18.xii.1995 (fl.), J.Lovett 5062 (K);
TANESCO HEP Project site, 800 m, 1.xii.2001 (fl.
bud), A.P.Davis & E.F.Mvungi 2922 (DSM, K, NHT,
MO); 900 m, 2.xii.2001 (fl. bud), E.F.Mvungi 5 (DSM,
EA, K, NHT); 800 m, 19.iii.2002 (young fr.),
E.F.Mvungi 21 (DSM, EA, K, MO, NHT); 850,
22.ix.2002 (ster.), H.J.Ndangalasi 771, 773, 782, 787
(DSM, K); 900 m, 22.ix.2002 (ster.), H.J.Ndangalasi
772 (DSM, K).
Notes: Morphological (Bridson, 1994) and molecular
evidence (E. Mvungi, unpubl. data) infer that
C. kihansiensis is most closely related to
C. lulandoensis. These two species occur in relatively
close proximity, in the Udzungwa Mountains. Coffea
lulandoensis is restricted to the Lulando Forest
Reserve, c. 25 km from the Kihansi River Gorge.
Coffea kihansiensis and C. lulandoensis have leaves
of similar size and shape, 1 or 2 inflorescences per
leaf axil, each inflorescence is 1-flowered, and has
5-merous flowers (sometimes 4-merous in
C. lulandoensis). Coffea kihansiensis differs from
C. lulandoensis by its shorter petioles (1–3 mm long),
prominent well-defined domatia, colleters and hairs
on the margin of each upper calyculus, and fruits with
a distinct pedicel (1.5–2.2 mm long). The precise
arrangement of hairs and colleters on the margin of
the upper calyculus seems to be unique: each colleter
is positioned upon a tooth-like projection, and is
subtended by one to three very small hairs (each less
than 0.3 mm long), as shown in Figure 3F. In
C. lulandoensis the petioles are 7–10 mm long, doma-
tia are either lacking or (if present) small, the calyculi
margins lack colleters and hairs and the fruit is not
borne on a distinct pedicel (see Bridson, 1994). In
addition, the stipule margins of C. kihansiensis are
often puberulous, whereas those of C. lulandoensis are
always glabrous.
DISCUSSION
A NEW COFFEA RECORD FOR TANZANIA: C. FADENII
In 2002, C. fadenii was found in the Shengena Hills, of
the Pare Mountains (Same District; T3), in north-east-
ern Tanzania [Mvungi 9 (DSM, NHT, EA, K, MO),
Mvungi 28 (DSM, NHT, EA, K, MO), and Mvungi 29
(DSM, NHT, EA, K, MO)]. The discovery of C. fadenii
in Tanzania represents a new country record, as this
species was formerly restricted to the Taita Hills of
Kenya (Bridson, 1988: 709). Morphology (Bridson,
© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
243
1982) and molecular sequence data (E. Mvungi,
unpubl. data) infer that C. fadenii is most closely
related to C. mongensis.
COFFEA SPECIES IN TANZANIA AND
CONSERVATION NOTES
The recognition of C. bridsoniae and C. kihansiensis,
and the discovery of C. fadenii in north-eastern Tan-
zania, brings the total number of naturally occurring
Coffea species in Tanzania to 16 (cf. Bridson, 1988:
eight spp.; and Bridson, 1994: 13 spp.), although the
presence of C. salvatrix in Tanzania is tentative (Brid-
son, 1988). A species list of indigenous Tanzanian
Coffea species is given in the Appendix.
Of the nine entities identified by Bridson (1988) as
possible new Coffea species for Tanzania (C. sp. A–I),
only three remain undescribed: C. sp. G, C. sp. H, and
C. sp. I. (see Bridson, 1994). Fieldwork undertaken by
us in 2001, 2002 and 2003 failed to locate C. sp. G and
C. sp. H, although we have recently received a report
(Q. Luke, pers. comm., 2004) that C. sp. H has been
found at its original collecting site (see Bridson, 1988:
720). It is likely that C. sp. G (Bridson, 1988: 718) may
never be rediscovered, as suitable habitat in the area
where this entity was found has greatly diminished.
Tanzania is one of the main areas for Coffea species
diversity, housing the second highest number of natu-
rally occurring Coffea species (16 spp.) after Madagas-
car (57 spp.) (A. Davis & P. Stoffelen, unpubl. data).
This might seem unremarkable given that Tanzania is
roughly twice the size of Madagascar, but is significant
given that most of the species are restricted to the
small, fragmented Eastern Arc Forests.
Tanzania is also home to a relatively high number
of endemic Coffea species. Eight of the 16 species
present in Tanzania are endemic to the Eastern Arc
Forests, including C. bridsoniae, C. costatifructa,
C. kihansiensis, C. kimbozensis, C. lulandoensis,
C. mongensis, C. pocsii and C. schliebenii. Coffea ses-
siliflora ssp. mwasumbi is an endemic subspecies.
Despite the relatively small size of the Eastern Arc
Forests they contain a large number of endemic spe-
cies (Lovett, 1998b; Myers et al., 2000). Many of these
species are locally endemic to a specific mountain
range or mountain, or forest fragment. The two new
species of Coffea described here follow this general
pattern: C. bridsoniae is endemic to the East Usam-
bara Mountains and C. kihansiensis is a narrow
endemic, restricted to the forest fragment within
the Kihansi River Gorge. Owing to their restricted
distribution, in combination with human pressure,
these species have been assessed by us as Critically
Endangered (C. kihansiensis) and Endangered
(C. bridsoniae) under the IUCN Red List Categories
and Criteria (IUCN, 2001). Coffea costatifructa,
244 A. P. DAVIS and E. F. MVUNGI
C. fadenii (also in the Taita Hills, Kenya),
C. kimbozensis, C. lulandoensis, C. mongensis,
C. pocsii, C. schliebenii and C. sessiliflora ssp. mwa-
sumbi are also narrowly range-restricted within the
Eastern Arc Forests and are thus also likely to be
threatened (i.e. Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically
Endangered) under the IUCN criteria. The production
of IUCN threat categories for all wild Coffea species is
in preparation (A. Davis, P. Stoffelen & J. Moat,
unpubl. data).
THE KIHANSI RIVER GORGE
Coffea kihansiensis joins other taxa from the Kihansi
River Gorge that have been assessed as Critically
Endangered (IUCN, 2001). This list includes the
Kihansi spray toad, Nectophrynoides asperginis
(Poynton et al., 1998) and the plant species Kupea
jonii Cheek and Kihansia lovettii Cheek (all Triuri-
daceae; see Cheek, 2003). The genus Kihansia Cheek
(Cheek, 2003) is endemic to the Kihansi River Gorge.
In addition to Critically Endangered species, there
are many range-restricted taxa that occur in the
Kihansi River Gorge, such as Stenandrium grandiflo-
rum Vollesen, Uvaria tanzaniae Verdc., Dorstenia
alta Engl., and potentially at least 12 more poorly
known taxa with restricted ranges (see Lovett et al.,
1997). Stenandrium grandiflorum (Vollesen, 2000) is
a near-endemic of Kihansi River Gorge, as it is
known only from a few other locations in the
Udzungwa Mountains (J. C. Lovett, pers. comm.).
Extirpation or severe modification of the forest area
within the Kihansi River Gorge would reduce the
area of occurrence (IUCN, 2001) for many of these
range-restricted species, which would increase their
risk of extinction.
Considerable media attention has been focused on
the Lower Kihansi Hydroelectric Power Project in con-
nection with the threat posed to the Kihansi spray
toad. It is now evident that several plant species (see
above) are also in danger of extinction if engineering
and other activities in the Kihansi Gorge are not care-
fully managed. On the basis of three visits to Kihansi
River Gorge, we concluded that dam building at this
site has caused a decline in the quality of habitat for
C. kihansiensis (see above), inferring that some habi-
tat loss may have already occurred.
NOTE ADDED IN PROOF
Since this paper went to press the authors have been
informed that Coffea fadenii was collected in Tanzania
(Chome-Shengena Forest Reserve) in 1999, by Mis-
souri Botanical Garden’s Tanzania Botanical Training
Programme, working with the GEF Cross Borders
Biodiversity project.
© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to directors and staff at the Herbaria
at the University of Dar es Salaam (DSM) and the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K), for making speci-
mens available for study. We would like to acknowl-
edge the Tanzania Commission for Science and
Technology (COSTECH), for providing research clear-
ance to undertake fieldwork in Tanzania. At the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, we would like to thank Justin
Moat and Paul Wittle for their help with GIS and con-
servation assessments, Mark Coode for checking the
Latin diagnoses, and Lucy T. Smith for her drawings of
the new Coffea species. In Tanzania, we are grateful
for the help given to us by Franck Mbago (Herbarium
Manager, University of Dar es Salaam), Susie Hall,
Albert Ntemi, Roy Hind and Zöe Bridger. We would
also like to acknowledge the help and advice given to
us by Jon Lovett (University of York), specifically with
matters concerning the Eastern Arc Forests and the
Kihansi River Gorge.
Esther Mvungi gratefully acknowledges the
DANIDA-ENRECA biodiversity project, for their
financial support of a study on East African Coffea,
which included the funding of fieldwork and travel to
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
We would like to thank Kraft Foods International
for their generous support of Coffea research, and in
particular for funding laboratory and herbarium
research for Esther Mvungi.
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 NEW SPECIES OF COFFEA (RUBIACEAE) FROM TANZANIA 245

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ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COFFEA SPECIES 3. C. ‘sp. I’ Bridson, Kew Bull. 36: 841 (1982); Bridson in
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1. C. bridsoniae A.P. Davis & Mvungi sp. nov.1 4. C. cf. mufindiensis Hutch. ex Bridson, Kew Bull. 49: 334
(= C. sp. B)2 (1994).

© 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 146, 237–245