Genus Klingia

For Erich Kling (1854–1892), German traveller, explorer, naturalist in West Africa, army officer and plant collector, possibly working for the German East Africa Company, in search of treaties of friendship and protection with local tribes as part of imperial Germany’s colonial efforts. In 1889 Kling went to West Africa, specifically to Togo, bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. He went to Dapaon in Togo, Borgou, one of the 12 ‘departments’ of Benin, Sousou in Guinea, and Tchaoudjo in the central region of Togo, but was turned back because of the hostile population and African resistance. He fell ill several times during the expedition and died shortly after he returned to Germany.