Neostenanthera Exell, J. Bot. 73 (Suppl.): 5, 1935

= Stenanthera Engl. & Diels, Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 3: 57, 1900; Oxymitra sect. Stenanthera Oliv., Fl. Trop. Afr. 1: 32. 1868.

Type species.

Oxymitra hamata Benth. (= Neostenanthera hamata (Benth.) Exell).

Description.

Trees to shrubs, 3 - 25 m tall, d.b.h. 3-30 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs. Leaves: petiole 2-14 mm long, 1-3 mm in diameter; blade 6-31 cm long, 2-10 cm wide, ovate or elliptic or oblong, apex acuminate or acute, acumen 0.5-2.4 cm long, base rounded or obtuse or cuneate, discolorous, whitish below or concolorous; midrib sunken or flat; secondary veins 10 to 24 pairs; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences cauliflorous or ramiflorous on old leafless branches, leaf opposed or extra axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 8 per inflorescence; pedicel 5-46 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter; in fruit 20-60 mm long, 2-4 mm in diameter; bract 1, basal, 1-3 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 1-4 mm long, 1-3 mm wide, triangular or ovate or semi-circular, apex acute or acuminate, base truncate; petals free, valvate, outer petals longer than inner; outer petals 3, 6-33 mm long, 1-15 mm wide, elliptic or narrowly triangular, apex acute or attenuate, base narrowed and concave; inner petals 3, valvate, 1-10 mm long, 0.6-5 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base broad and concave; stamens 30 to 170, in 4 to 6 rows, 2-3 mm long, linear or broad; connective tongue-shaped; staminodes absent; carpels free, 20 to 109, ovary 1-2.5 mm long, stigma cylindrical or filiform. Monocarps sessile or stipitate, stipes 6-23 mm long; monocarps 7 to 144, 10-30 mm long, 10-20 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, apex apiculate, rounded or pyramidal in shape; seed 1, 4-14 mm long, 2-11 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Taxonomy.

Fero et al. (2014) [in part]; Le Thomas (1965b).

A widespread genus with five species (including Boutiquea platypetala, see under N. neurosericea), three species known from Cameroon, none endemic (the name Boutiquea platypetala is placed in synonymy with N. neurosericea see below).

When sterile, this genus can be confused with Monanthotaxis both being lianas with a whitish lower side of leaf blade and percurrent tertiary venation. They are however unmistakable when in flower or fruit.

Neostenanthera gabonensis occurs in Gabon and West Africa (Fero et al. 2014). To date it has not been collected from Cameroon as far as we know, but likely does occur there. We have added this species to the key.