Piptostigma calophyllum Mildbr. & Diels., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53(3-5): 443, 1915

Figs 85, 86; Map 10H

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Ebolowa, Mildbraed G.W.J. 5791, 4 Jul 1911: holotype: B[B100154077]; isotypes: HBG[HBG502525, HBG502527, HBG50252]; L[L0196773]; P[P00363307, P00363307]; YA[YA0002833].

Description.

Tree, 8-10 m tall, d.b.h. 6-20 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches tomentose. Leaves: petiole 4-11 mm long, 3-6 mm in diameter, tomentose, cylindrical, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 30-66 cm long, 14-34 cm wide, obovate, apex emarginate to mucronate, acumen 0.7-0.8 cm long, base cordate to acute, coriaceous, below densely pubescent when young, densely pubescent when old, above glabrous when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed, above pubescent when young, sparsely pubescent when old, below pubescent when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 30 to 40 pairs, sparsely pubescent above; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescence cauliflorous, 2-2.5 cm long, peduncle like base 5-9 mm, axial internodes 2-4 mm long, compact, sympodial rachis 10-15 mm long. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 3 to 6 per inflorescence; pedicel ca. 6 mm long, ca. 3 mm in diameter, tomentose; in fruit 9-11 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, tomentose; bracts 2, one basal and one upper towards the lower half of pedicel, basal bract ca. 7 mm long, ca. 7 mm wide; upper bract ca. 7 mm long, ca. 7 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 4-5 mm long, 4 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, brown, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals shorter than inner; outer petals 3, 5-7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate to obtuse, base truncate, light yellow, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 50-60 mm long, 6-8 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, pink to yellow, margins wavy, pubescent outside, pubescent inside; stamens 70 to 150, in 5 to 6 rows, 1 mm long, broad; connective discoid, glabrous, red; staminodes absent; carpels free, 8 to 10, ovary ca. 3 mm long, stigma globose, densely pubescent. Monocarps sessile, 2 to 5, 12-35 mm long, 10-28 mm in diameter, obovoid, apex cuspidate, tomentose, smooth, not ribbed, brown when ripe; seeds number not counted, ca. 15 mm long, ca. 10 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

From Cameroon to Gabon; in Cameroon known from the Central, South and Littoral regions.

Habitat.

An uncommon species; in lowland rain forests on non-inundated soils. Altitude 0-400 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Vulnerable B2ab(iii) (Cosiaux et al. 2019a f).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Piptostigma calophyllum is characterized by its large obovate and coriaceous leaf blades (> 30 cm) with a broadly cordate base, tomentose petioles and young foliate branches, compact inflorescences, and tomentose smooth monocarps. It is a lowland species. It is morphologically close to P. submontanum, but the latter has a decurrent to cuneate leaf blade base, muricate and glabrous monocarps, and occurs in submontane areas (> 900 m a.s.l.).

Specimens examined.

Central Region: Edea (Mangombé), 3.8°N, 10.13°E, 01 January 1963, Letouzey R. s.n. (P). Littoral Region: Mapubi 30 km before Edea on Yaoundé-Edea road On forestry road 5 km direction to Sanaga river, 3.84°N, 10.39°E, 28 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1167b (K,MPU,P,WAG,YA); Bassin du Mungo, 4.17°N, 9.52°E, 01 June 1917, Fleury F. 33400 (P); Edea Mangombe, 3.86°N, 10.14°E, 01 January 1956, Letouzey R. 1936 (P,YA); Route Douala-Edéa près du km 28, 4.05°N, 9.689°E, 18 January 1962, Letouzey R. 4011 (P,YA). South Region: Ngovayang, 3.23°N, 10.57°E, 01 June 2015, Kamdem N. 295 (YA); Près Akak 10 km W Sangmeli 2.96°N, 11.88°E, 11 March 1970, Letouzey R. 10157 (P,YA); Piste Meyo Ntem-Evouzok 75 km W Ambam Entre 1er et 3e bras du Ntem, 2.28°N, 10.52°E, 28 November 1979, Letouzey R. 15272 (P,YA); Ebolowa Cameroon, 2.76°N, 10.91°E, 04 July 1911, Mildbraed G.W.J. 5791 (B,L,P).