<i>Ewangoa</i> , a new threatened Central African genus of Euphorbiaceae‐Acalyphoideae

Abstract A new morphologically divergent genus and species of Euphorbiaceae from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ewangoa cardiophora , is described and illustrated. This taxon is easily recognised by its leaf‐opposed inflorescences, which are surrounded by a single cordiform involucral bract. Molecular phylogenetic evidence shows that Ewangoa is a member of the alchorneoids clade and sister to a clade formed by the African and Malagasy genera Amyrea , Cyttaranthus , and Discoglypremna . The species is a ramose shrub endemic to the southern part of the central Congo basin depression (“cuvette congolaise”) and is only known from three localities. Its preliminary conservation status is assessed as Endangered, EN B2ab(iii), according to IUCN categories and criteria.