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Palisota alboanthera
Palisota alboanthera is a species of plant in the genus Palisota. The species was validly published by Burg WJ. and Bidault E. in 2019. The species is the only species in the genus Palisota that has two yellow anthers and one white anther, hence the species epithet. Palisota alboanthera closely resembles P. bogneri, another species of the genus Palisota, but has a more robust habitat and unique physical characteristics including unequal anthers and purple to violet flowers

Description
Palisota alboanthera is a stemless rosette herb, meaning that the leaves are spread in a horizontal plane at the base of the plant. The height of the plant can be between 20-50cm tall. The leaves are in a pseudo-whorl configuration and are grooved longitudinally (canaliculate). The apex of the leaf tapers to a long point (apex acuminate) and the surface of the leaf is smooth (glabrous) on both surfaces except for the small appressed ginger-colored trichomes along the margin. The upper surface of the leaf is green to shiny dark green, and the lower surface has whitish ventilation. At the base of a leaf, a decumbent and erect cluster of flowers arises (inflorescence axillary). The stalk supporting the inflorescence (peduncle) is approximately 7-14 cm long, smooth (glabrous), pink to violet, with 3-4 persistent leafy ovate acute bracts of the same color. At maturity the peduncle can bear +/- 6 flowers. The flowers are 5-7mm in diam and the pedicel (stem that attaches the flower to the inflorescence) are 6-9mm long. The flowers are either all functionally male or all functionally female on the same inflorescence. The buds of the flower are pale pink to dark purple. There are 3-4 sepals about 1mm long that are equal and oblong. The petaloid are pale pink to violet and mostly smooth but can have a few purple to violet trichomes at the apex. The petals are like the petaloid but are more translucid. The ovary is ovoid, smooth, and can be white to dark violet. The style is 3mm long on the female flower and the stylode is shortened on the male flower. The most notable characteristic that distinguishes the Palisota alboanthera from other species of the genus Palisota are the 3 unequal stamens. The stamens are erect with white filaments. The two upper stamens are yellow, have a smooth filament about 2-3mm long, and oblong anthers. The lower stamen is white or pale yellow and more robust. The filaments are smooth and about 3-3.5mm long and the pollen is the same color as the anther. The anthers will remain closed at maturity on functionally female flowers (Bidault et al. 2019).

Habitat
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Conservation
There are 13 known collections of Palisota alboanthera in Gabon, 9 of which are in unprotected areas. Threats to the species include hydroelectric projects, forestry, and mining. The quality and location of habitats combined with the number of mature individuals led the IUCN to declare the species ad “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Conservation efforts include preserving the Palisota alboanthera’s natural habitat and preventing habitat fragmentation or loss. The goal is to establish protected areas to prevent mining, logging, and the development of the hydroelectric power plants.

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Monocots

Clade: Caommelinids

Order: Commelinales

Family: Commelinaceae

Genus: Palisota

Species: Palisota alboanthera