Capparis khuamak Gagnep.

Capparis khuamak Gagnep. (Gagnepain 1938: 598).

Capparis trichopoda B.S.Sun (Sun 1964: 116). – Type: China – Yunnan • Ping-Bing [Pingbian] Hsien; 17 May 1954; P. Y. Mao 4316; holotype: KUN [KUN0494238].

Type material

LAOS – Houaphanh Province • Sam-Neua [Xam Neua]; 8 Oct. 1920; Poilane 2005; holotype: P [P04022035]; isotype: L [L0035330].

Other material examined

VIETNAM – Kon Tum Province • Village de Tou-Morang; 10 Mar. 1941; Poilane 32237; L [L1855479], P [P04747256], VNM • Nord de la province du Kon Tum près du village Moi de Tu-Inh; 6 Mar. 1941; Poilane 32085; L [L1855478], P [P04747230], VNM • NW slope of Ngoc Linh mountain system on elevation to Ngoc Gua peak; 9 Apr. 1995; Averyanov et al. VH 1231; HN, P [P05454046].

Description

Shrubs or climbers up to 15 m long. Twigs pubescent, later glabrescent. Stipular thorns recurved, up to 3 mm long, or lacking. Petiole (5–) 8–18 mm long, tomentose. Leaf blade subcoriaceous, (1.9–)2.2–3 times as long as wide, widest at the middle or above, (4.7–)5.5–10(–11) × (1.7–)2–3.5(–4.5) cm; base acute or rounded, top acute, obtuse or notched, often mucronulate; surfaces glabrous; nerves 5–9 pairs. Flowers conferted in the terminal part of the branches or at the top of lateral twigs; pedicels 1.7–4 cm long, tomentose; sepals 6.5–8 × 3.5–4.5 mm, puberulous outside; petals white, obovate or oblong, ca 6–9(–12) × 3–3.5(–4) mm, pubescent inside at the base; stamens ca 20–28, with filaments 2–2.5 cm long; gynophore 2.3–3.5 cm long, glabrous; ovary ellipsoid or ovoid, ca 1.7 × 1.3 mm, glabrous. Fruit globose, (2.5–)3–4(–6) cm in diameter.

Distribution and ecology

China, Laos, Vietnam (Zhang & Tucker 2008). The species was not reported in Vietnam by Ho (1999), while it was later recorded from Kon Tum Province by Ban & Dorofeev (2003). Forests and wet areas on loamy and clayey soils (Fici 2023). In Kon Tum Province collected at 1000 m a.s.l. (Poilane 32237) and in evergreen primary forest at 1800–1900 m a.s.l. (Averyanov et al. VH 1231).

Phenology

In Vietnam flowering material was collected in March (Poilane 32237 & 32085) and April (Averyanov et al. VH 1231).

Provisional conservation status

In the study area the species has been collected in a few locations of the Kon Tum Province. Due to the scanty information available, it is assessed as Data Deficient (DD) according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).

Vernacular name

ʻKhua mật' (Ban & Dorofeev 2003).

Uses

The fruits are reported as soft and edible (Jacobs 1965).