Uvariodendron angustifolium (Engl. & Diels) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 58, 1930

Fig. 120; Map 15B

≡ Uvaria angustifolia Engl. & Diels, Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 295, 1899.

Type.

Cameroon. South-West Region; Johann-Albrechtshöhe [Kumba], Staudt A. 742a, 20 Mar 1896; holotype: B[B 10 0153115].

Description.

Tree to shrub, 3-12 m tall, d.b.h. unknown; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches glabrous to pubescent. Leaves: petiole 3-7.5 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, glabrous to pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 10-19.9 cm long, 3-5.8 cm wide, narrowly elliptic, apex acute to acuminate, acumen 1.1-1.4 cm long, base acute to cuneate, subcoriaceous, below glabrous to pubescent at base, glabrous when old, above glabrous when young and old, lemon-scented when crushed; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below glabrous to pubescent at base when young and old; secondary veins 8 to 14 pairs per side, tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old or young foliate branches, axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 2 per inflorescence; pedicel 0-6 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; in fruit ca. 5 mm long, ca. 3.5 mm in diameter; bracts 2 to 6, several basal and one upper towards the middle of pedicel, basal bracts 2-3 mm long, 1-3 mm wide; upper bract 6-11 mm long, 9-15 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, basally fused, imbricate at the middle, 9-13 mm long, 9-13 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, 15-21 mm long, 9-15 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 15-22 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside; stamens 200 to 300, in 10 to 15 rows, 3-3.5 mm long, narrowly oblong; connective discoid; staminodes absent; carpels free, 7 to 30, ovary 3.5-4.5 mm long, stigma bilobed, slightly capitate, densely pubescent. Monocarps shortly stipitate, stipes 1-3 mm long, ca. 3 mm in diameter; monocarps 2 to 10, 23-40 mm long, 17-30 mm in diameter, ellipsoid to globose, yellow when ripe emitting strong lemon smell; seeds 9 to 18 per monocarp, 21-28 mm long, ca. 10 mm in diameter, ellipsoid to oblong; aril absent.

Distribution.

A species with a disjunct distribution in West Africa (Ghana, Ivory Coast) and Central Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon); in Cameroon, known from the South-West region.

Habitat.

A rare species, only collected five times in Cameroon, the last collection from 1987. In lowland primary or secondary rain forest. Altitude 200-400 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvariodendron angustifolium is distinguished by its narrowly elliptic and relatively small leaves (13-16 cm versus > 16 cm) compared to the other species in Cameroon.

Two collections, Thomas 6087 & 7018, record that this species emits a strong-lemon scent from the leaves when fresh, which is also recorded in Uvariodendron molundense var. citrata Le Thomas, a variety endemic to Gabon (Le Thomas 1969b) and in Uvariopsis citrata Couvreur & Niangadouma (Couvreur and Niangadouma 2016).

Specimens examined.

South-West Region: Between Bafia and Likoko, 4.37°N, 9.324°E, 05 February 1958, Keay R.W.J. 37524 (K); Kumba, 4.63°N, 9.416°E, 1896, Staudt A. 642 (K); Johann-Albrechtshöhe [Kumba] area 4.16°N, 9.2°E, 28 March 1896, Staudt A. 742 (B,K); Lake Barombi Kumba, 4.64°N, 9.45°E, 01 April 1986, Thomas D.W. 6087 (YA); Along the road between Konye and Bakole, 4.91°N, 9.466°E, 25 May 1987, Thomas D.W. 7018 (YA).