Uvaria muricata var. yalingensis (Engl. & Diels) Tisserant, Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 103: 468, 1956

Figs 112, 113; Map 14C

Type.

Central African Republic: Haute-Kotto; Yalinga, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 4241, 25 Oct 1922: holotype: P[P00362713]; isotype: BM[BM000554051].

Description.

Scrambling shrub to liana, 3-10 m tall, d.b.h. 6 cm. Indumentum of stellate hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches pubescent to sparsely pubescent. Leaves: petiole 5-15 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent to glabrous, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 12-19 cm long, 2.5-9.5 cm wide, elliptic to oblong, apex acuminate, acumen 1-1.5 cm long, base cordate, papyraceous to subcoriaceous, below sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, above sparsely pubescent to glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above densely pubescent when young, pubescent when old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 12 to 17 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation indistinct, slightly percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on young foliate branches, leaf opposed or extra axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 10-22 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent to sparsely pubescent; in fruit 20-40 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent; bracts 2, one basal and one in lower half of pedicel, basal bract 2-4 mm long, 3-4 mm wide; upper bract not seen; sepals 3, valvate, distinct in the flower bud, basally fused, 3-5 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, triangular to ovate to semiorbicular, apex obtuse, base truncate, tomentose with short stellate hairs outside, tomentose with short stellate hairs inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, 12-15 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, ovate to suborbicular, apex rounded, base truncate, margins flat, tomentose outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, imbricate, 12-15 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, ovate to suborbicular, apex rounded, base ungulate, margins flat, tomentose outside, glabrous inside; stamens numerous, number of rows not seen, 2-3 mm long, oblong to cuneiform; connective discoid, sparsely pubescent; staminodes absent; carpels free, 20 to 25, ovary 3-4 mm long, stigma obconical, pubescent. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 10-15 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, centrally inserted; monocarps 20 to 25, 10-18 mm long, 10-18 mm in diameter, globose, apex rounded, pubescent with stellate hairs, finely echinate, not ribbed, green to brown when ripe; seeds 4 to 5 per monocarp, ca. 10 mm long, 5-6 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

In its broad sense Uvaria muricata is a widespread mainly central African species (a few specimens collected from Sierra Leone) known from Cameroon to the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic; the variety Uvaria yalingensis is known from Central African Republic and Cameroon; in Cameroon known from Adamaoua, Central, North, South, South West and West regions.

Habitat.

A fairly common species in Cameroon; in lowland secondary or primary rain forests. Altitude 0-1200 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

To date, of the three varieties of U. muricata, only var. Uvaria muricata yallingensis is known to occur in Cameroon. The three varieties differ from each other by the pubescence of their leaves, the shape of the leaf base and the texture of the monocarps (Tisserant 1956; Le Thomas 1969b). Var. Uvaria muricata yalingensis is mainly found in drier parts of the country in the Adamaoua region, but also in the Central, South, South West and West and regions (at higher altitudes).

Specimens examined.

Adamaoua Region: ca 15 km NE of Meiganga, 6.63°N, 14.25°E, 24 November 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 4049 (WAG); Près Dota (route Meiganga-Baïbokoum à 85 km à vol d’oiseau de Meiganga), 6.97°N, 14.93°E, 14 October 1963, Letouzey R. 6167 (P,YA). Central Region: Eloumden, 3.83°N, 11.46°E, 20 October 1961, Breteler F.J. 1977 (WAG); Ca 50 km S of Badjob ca 60 km SW Of Eséka Along the Njong-River, 3.68°N, 10.68°E, 20 March 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 2164 (BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA). South Region: 24 km from Kribi ca 3 km N of Lolodorf road, 3.03°N, 10.08°E, 31 March 1970, Bos J.J. 6652 (BR,P,WAG,YA). South-West Region: Ndile waterfall below mission dispensary, 4.91°N, 9.745°E, 16 December 1999, Cheek M. 10415 (K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Mont versant de Munyenge, 4.37°N, 9.256°E, 21 January 1985, Nkongmeneck B.A. 954 (YA). West Region: Massif du Mbapit (1988 m) 30 km SW Foumban Versant Sud, 5.5°N, 10.63°E, 21 October 1974, Letouzey R. 12936 (P,YA).