Ceropegia meveana (Apocynaceae—Asclepiadoideae)—A new species in section Bowkerianae from the Barberton Centre of Plant Endemism

We describe a new species of Ceropegia sect. Bowkerianae from the south-eastern extent of the Barberton Centre of Plant Endemism in Eswatini. In section Bowkerianae, C. meveana is morphologically very similar to C. scabriflora, but its combination of vegetative and floral characteristics is unique. In contrast to the obconical, verrucose and scabrid corolla inflation of C. scabriflora, the inflation of C. meveana is oblong-ovoid and entirely smooth. The gynostegium of C. meveana has very short, bulge-like interstaminal corona lobes and is also entirely glabrous and hence clearly distinct from the gynostegium of C. scabriflora. The most striking feature of C. meveana are the slender, filiform corolla lobes that are densely covered with long white trichomes reminiscent of animal fur. Ceropegia meveana is the first species with kettle-trap flowers in sect. Bowkerianae known from Eswatini. The section now comprises a total of 16 species, six thereof with tubular kettle-trap flowers.