Uvariopsis congolana (De Wild.) R.E.Fr., Ark. Bot. ser. 2, 3: 42, 1955

Figs 130, 131 (no map)

≡ Thonnera congolana De Wild., Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. sér. 5, 3(1): 86.

Type.

Democratic Republic of the Congo. Equateur; Liboko, Thonner F. 100, 22 Sep 1896: holotype, sheets here designated: BR[BR0000008824394; BR0000008824202]; isotypes: BR[BR0000008824219]

Description.

Tree to shrub, 4-10 m tall, d.b.h. 20 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches pubescent to glabrous. Leaves: petiole 3-8 mm long, 1-4 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent to glabrous, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 16.3-39.2 cm long, 5-11 cm wide, elliptic to obovate, apex attenuate to acuminate, acumen 1-1.5 cm long, base acute to rounded, papyraceous, below glabrous when young and old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below glabrous when young and old; secondary veins 11 to 22 pairs per side, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals unisexual, monoecious; inflorescences cauliflorous. Flowers with 5 perianth parts in 2 whorls, conical in bud, 2 to 3 per inflorescence, male and female inflorescences dimorphic; male and female pedicels 43-450 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent, hanging from the base of the trunk and extending on the ground; in fruit 300-450 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent to glabrous; bracts 2, one basal and one upper towards the lower half of pedicel, basal bracts 1-2 mm long, 1 mm wide, upper bracts 1-3 mm long, 1-4 mm wide; male sepals 2, valvate, free, ca. 2 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, semiorbicular, apex acute, base truncate, brown, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; female sepals 2, valvate, free, ca. 4 mm long, ca. 10 mm wide, semiorbicular, apex acute, base truncate, brown, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; male petals 3, basally fused, tube 2-3 mm long, ca. 20 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, broadly ovate, apex acute to attenuate, base truncate, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous and papillose towards the center, pubescent towards margins inside; female petals 3, basally fused, tube 2-3 mm long, 20-30 mm long, 8-12 mm wide, ovate, apex acute to attenuate, base truncate, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous towards center and pubescent towards margins inside; male flowers: stamens 150 to 200, in 9 to 15 rows, 1 mm long, broad to linear; connective reduced or absent, glabrous, cream; staminodes absent; female flowers: carpels free, 20 to 40, ovary 3-4 mm long, stigma flat, densely pubescent. Monocarps shortly stipitate, stipes 3-4 mm long, 30-80 mm long, 10-35 mm in diameter; monocarps 1 to 5, cylindrical, apex apiculate, sparsely pubescent to glabrous, verrucose, longitudinally 4-6 ribbed, red when ripe; seeds (2)6 to 16 per monocarp, 6-15 mm long, 3-10 mm in diameter, 2 to 16, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

A central African species, from Cameroon(?) and Gabon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; unseen and verified specimens were collected in Cameroon from the South-West and South regions.

Habitat.

An uncommon(?) species; in lowland or premontane primary or old secondary rain forest. Altitude 200-1000 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Least Concern (LC) (Harvey-Brown 2019e).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvariopsis congolana is easily distinguished from other species by the unique combination of 2 sepals and 3 petals. To date in Cameroon its presence has yet to be confirmed, as we were not able to see any of the specimens identified as Uvariopsis congolana.