Erica rugegensis Engler (1909: 345)

Fischer, Eberhard, Nsanzurwimo, Aimable, Dumbo, Bonny, Richter, Ronny & Weghe, Jean Pierre Vande, 2024, An updated checklist of vascular plants (lycophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms) from Nyungwe National Park (incl. Cyamudongo Forest), Rwanda, Phytotaxa 673 (1), pp. 1-113 : 99-102

Erica rugegensis Engler (1909: 345) ( Fig. 19 ).

Type: — RWANDA. Western Province, Nyungwe National Park, trockene Waldmoore im Rugegewald , um 1800 m, August 1907, J. Mildbraed 979 (holotype B †; isotype BR [ BR0000008893499 ], fragment) .

Notes on Erica kingaensis , E. bequaertii , and E. rugegensis :—The genus Erica L. has been treated by Geerinck (2014) for the Flore d’Afrique centrale (D. R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi). In Rwanda, two similar species occur that, however, differ in morphology and ecology. Both species have been placed by Geerinck (2014) into synonymy of Erica kingaensis from Tanzania, but are resurrected here. Erica bequaertii differs in the leaves, the smaller flowers and the glabrous branches and pedicels. Erica rugegensis has shortly pubescent branches, often purplish, and longer pedicels (5–7 mm vs. 2–3 mm in E. bequaertii and 4–5 mm in E. kingaensis ). Also in Erica bequaertii the corolla is distinctly inflated at the base. Erica rugegensis has a more slender corolla that is less inflated at the base. It is confined to swamp vegetation, e.g., near the source of the Nile at the Rukarara, which is the type locality, and in the Rwasenkoko swamp. Erica bequaertii grows on slopes or summits on Mt. Bigugu and Mt. Muzimu.

Melastomataceae

Figures

FIGURE 19. A–C. Erica bequaertii., detail of inflorescence. D–F. Erica rugegensis, detail of inflorescence. Photographs: E. Fischer. A–C. Mt. Bigugu. D. Rukarara. E–F. Rwasenkoko.