Adenia sajoreciae (Passifloraceae), a new species from Kenya and its phylogenetic placement

A new species, Adenia sajoreciae (Passifloraceae), from Kenya is described and illustrated. It is morphologically related to A. ellenbeckii but differs by being glabrous on all parts, except on the perianth lobes of male and female flowers (vs. subglabrous to pubescent throughout), bearing entire spinose-dentate leaves without laminar glands (vs. entire to deeply palmately 3–7 - lobed or pinnatifid leaves with laminar glands), narrower flowers (vs. broader flowers), and globose, smaller fruits (vs. subglobose to ellipsoid, larger fruits).

The phylogenetic analysis of Adenia based on ITS sequences placed three accessions of A. sajoreciae in a strongly supported and well-resolved clade (bootstrap support (BS) = 100 %; posterior probability (PP) = 1.00), which is sister to A. ellenbeckii (BS = 99 %; PP = 1.00), within Adenia sect. Blepharanthes. Based on both morphological and molecular evidence, Adenia sajoreciae N. Wei, S. W. Wang, Kirika & Q. F. Wang is described as a new species.

Additionally, an updated identification key for species in the genus Adenia in Kenya is provided.