Monanthotaxis elegans (Engl. & Diels) Verdc., Kew Bull. 25(1): 25, 1971

Fig. 49; Map 7C

≡ Popowia elegans Engl. & Diels, Monogr. Afrik. Pflanzen.-Fam. 6: 45, 1901.

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 1321, 23 Mar 1897: holotype: B[B100153023]; isotypes: BM[BM000553832, BM000553833]; E[E00181437]; G[G00308366]; HBG[HBG-502506]; K[K000198990, K000198991]; M[M-0198713]; P[P00362605, P00362606].

Description.

Liana, up to 4 m tall, d.b.h. unknown. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches densely pubescent with dense appressed to ascending reddish brown hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long. Leaves: petiole 3-5 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, densely pubescent, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 4.6-15.4 cm long, 2.3-4.6 cm wide, narrowly oblong-elliptic to oblong-oblanceolate (to obovate), apex acute to acuminate, acumen ca. 3 cm long, base rounded to subcordate, papyraceous, below sparsely pubescent when young and old, above sparsely pubescent when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed, above glabrous when young and old, below sparsely pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 11 to 14 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on foliate branches, leaf opposed to extra axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 8 per inflorescence, glomerule-like; pedicel 1-2 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, densely pubescent with appressed yellowish brown hairs; in fruit 4-5 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter; basal bract ca. 1 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide; upper bract ca.1 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, ca. 1 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, triangular to ovate, apex acute, base truncate, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals longer than inner, inner petals entirely covered in bud; outer petals 3, 2.6-4.3 mm long, 2.6-3.5 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, yellow to cream, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, glabrous, pubescent towards margins inside; inner petals 3, valvate, ca. 3.5 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide, rhombic, apex acute, base truncate, yellow to cream, margins flat, pubescent towards base outside, pubescent inside; stamens 9, in 1 row, ca. 1 mm long, linear to oblong; connective truncate, glabrous; staminodes 6, alternating with the stamens, minute, glabrous; carpels free, 12 to 20, ovary ca. 1 mm long, stigma globose, glabrous. Monocarps stipitate, stipes ca. 2 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter; monocarps 2 to 8, 9-16 mm long, 5-6 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, apex apiculate, glabrous, verrucose, constricted around seeds when more than 1, color unknown; seeds 1 to 2 per monocarp, 7-9 mm long, 5-6 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

endemic to Cameroon, known from the Central and South regions.

Habitat.

In primary lowland rain forests and gallery forests, open rocky spot on sandy soil. Altitude 50-500 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

Preliminary IUCN conservation status.

Endangered (EN) (Hoekstra et al. 2021).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Monanthotaxis elegans is generally distinguished by its oblong-lanceolate leaves and extra-axillary or terminal glomerule-like inflorescences with yellow-brown pubescence.

The specimen Annet 348 [P01960095] has obovate instead of oblong-lanceolate leaves, but the inflorescence and flowers are typical for M. elegans.

Specimens examined.

Central Region: Riverine forest bank Nyong river near the new bridge ca 65 km SSW of Eseka, 3.46°N, 10.5°E, 16 June 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 2709 (B,BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Natchigal ca 20 km N of Obala, 4.35°N, 11.63°E, 01 July 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 2787 (B,BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA). South Region: Bipinde, 3.26°N, 10.20°E, 20 June 1918, Annet E. 348 (BR,K,P); Campo Ma’an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town, 2.48°N, 10.33°E, 13 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 704 (WAG,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 1897, Zenker G.A. 132 (L); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 1897, Zenker G.A. 1321 (E,M,P); Lokoundjé, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1913, Zenker G.A. 199 (U,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1904, Zenker G.A. 2693 (E,L,M,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1911, Zenker G.A. 4000 (E,L,M,P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1912, Zenker G.A. 4477 (E,L,M); Bipindi, 3.05°N, 10.25°E, Zenker G.A. s.n. (P).