Letestudoxa lanuginosa Le Thomas, Adansonia ser. 2, 6: 145 1966

Letestudoxa lanuginosa Le Thomas, Adansonia sér. 2, 6: 145, 1966

Figs 42, 43; Map 6A

Type.

Gabon. Woleu-Ntem; Ncout, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 9320, 13 Oct 1938: lectotype, sheet here designated: P[P00364781]; isotypes: P[P00364782, P00364783].

Description.

Liana, 20 m tall, d.b.h. 2-3 cm in diameter; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches densely pubescent to tomentose, young foliate branches densely pubescent to tomentose. Leaves: petiole 6-12 mm long, 3-6 mm in diameter, densely pubescent, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 15-28 cm long, 7-12 cm wide, obovate to sometimes oblong, apex rounded or emarginate or obcordate or mucronate, acumen 0.1-1.9 cm long, base cordate, coriaceous, below densely pubescent when young, densely pubescent when old, above glabrous when young and old, concolorous; midrib sunken or flat, above densely pubescent when young and old, below densely pubescent when young, densely pubescent when old; secondary veins 11 to 18 pairs, densely pubescent below; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old leafless branches, extra axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 3-11 mm long, 4-7 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; in fruit unknown; bracts 2, one basal and one upper towards the upper half of pedicel, basal bract 8-13 mm long, 10-15 mm wide; upper bract 8-18 mm long, 6-10 mm wide, clasping the flower bud; sepals 3, valvate, completely fused, tearing at anthesis, 10-20 mm long, base truncate, brown, pubescent outside, pubescent inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals longer than inner; outer petals 3, imbricate, 30-50 mm long, 30-40 mm wide, ovate, apex rounded to acute, base attenuate, orange to red, margins crisped, densely pubescent inside, pubescent outside; inner petals 3, imbricate, 25-35 mm long, 15-25 mm wide, elliptic to ovate, apex acute, base attenuate, claw ca. 5 mm long, orange to red, margins wavy, densely pubescent inside, pubescent outside; stamens 750 to 800, in 16 to 20 rows, 7-10 mm long, broad; connective flattened, pubescent; staminodes absent; carpels free, 150, ovary 2-2.5 mm long, stigma capitate, pubescent. Fruits unknown.

Distribution.

Known from southern Cameroon to Gabon; in Cameroon known from the South region.

Habitat.

A frequent species when present; growing on non-inundated soils, in primary or secondary forests, sometimes near rivers and swampy areas. Altitude 100-600 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

See under L. bella for differences between the two species. This species can be confused with Uvaria bipindensis (also a liana) by the size of its leaves (to 27 cm long) and cordate shape of the leaf base. They differ however but the presence of stellate hairs in Uvaria bipindensis.

Specimens examined.

South Region: Ma’an 3 km on small road towards Ntem river, 2.34°N, 10.63°E, 25 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1148 (MPU,WAG,YA); 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. 697 (WAG,YA); 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. 698 (WAG,YA); Campo-Ma’an area Boucle du Ntem, 2.34°N, 10.58°E, 16 February 2001, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 3166 (KRIBI,WAG).