Uvariopsis submontana Kenfack, Gosline & Gereau, Novon 13(4): 444, 2003

Figs 138, 139; Map 16I

Type.

Cameroon. South-West Region; Rumpi Hills, Kenfack D. 1334, 6 Feb 2000: holotype: YA; isotypes: K[000683145]; MO; SCA .

Description.

Tree, 8-25 m tall, d.b.h. up to 30 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches glabrous to pubescent. Leaves: petiole 3-8 mm long, 3-5 mm in diameter, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 16-38 cm long, 5-11 cm wide, oblong to obovate, apex attenuate to acuminate, acumen 2-3 cm long, base rounded to subcordate, papyraceous to subcoriaceous, below glabrous when young and old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 9 to 18 pairs per side, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals unisexual, monoecious; inflorescences cauliflorous, with hundreds (up to 500) of flowers packed at the base and then more sparsely distributed up to 6 m. Flowers unisexual, monoecious, with 6 perianth parts in 2 whorls, conical to pyramidal in bud, 6 to 50 per inflorescence, male and female inflorescences dimorphic; male pedicel: 25-50 mm, ca. 1 mm in diameter, pubescent; female pedicel: 30-60 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 25-90 mm long, 3-7 mm in diameter, glabrous; bracts 2 to 4, all basal, ca. 1 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; male sepals 2, connate, splitting at maturity, 5-10 mm long, 6-12 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, brown-red, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; female sepals 2, connate, splitting at maturity, 6-8 mm long, 6-9 mm wide, broadly ovate, apex acute, base truncate, brown-red, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; male petals, 4, basally fused, tube 4-9 mm long, 8-18 mm long, 5-8 mm wide, elliptic to narrowly elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, wine red, margins flat, tomentose outside, pubescent inside; female petals, 4, basally fused, tube 3-4 mm long, 15-17 mm long, 5-7 mm wide, elliptic to narrowly elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, wine red, margins flat, tomentose outside, pubescent inside; male flowers: stamens 700 to 1000, in 25 to 30 rows, 0.5-1 mm long, oblong; connective reduced or absent, glabrous, cream; staminodes absent; female flowers: carpels free, 60 to 100, ovary 15-24 mm long, stigma globose, pubescent. Monocarps shortly stipitate, stipes ca. 1 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter; monocarps 9 to 25, 17-80 mm long, 13-55 mm in diameter, ovoid to oblong, apex apiculate, sparsely pubescent to glabrous, smooth, slightly constricted over seeds in dried material, pale green turning dark yellow at maturity; seeds 6 to 12 per monocarp, 18-25 mm long, 8-13 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

endemic to Cameroon, known from the South, Littoral and South West regions.

Habitat.

A species restricted to submontane primary or old secondary rain forests. Altitude: (600) 900-1300 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Endangered (EN) (Cheek 2014d).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvariopsis submontana is distinguished by the combination of conical flower buds and basally fused 4 petals, and the trunk base completely covered with hunders of flowers. It is very close to U. korupensis, but differs by its smaller leaves, longer sepals, and submontane habitat ( U. korupensis being found in the lowlands, generally below 700 m).

Specimens examined.

Littoral Region: Ebo Wildlife Reserve Djuma permanent camp On east trail, 4.36°N, 10.25°E, 15 February 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 627 (WAG,YA); Ebo Bekob abandoned village CRES research station, 4.37°N, 10.41°E, 22 April 2005, Etuge M. 6482 (K); Nkam Yingui Bataba, 4.53°N, 10.24°E, 20 February 2002, Kenfack D. 1602 (MO). South Region: Campo Ma'an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town, 2.49°N, 10.34°E, 12 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 682 (WAG,YA). South-West Region: Nyasoso, 4.81°N, 9.7°E, 08 February 1995, Cable S. 1221 (K,MO,WAG,YA); Kupe village, 4.78°N, 9.716°E, 30 May 1996, Cable S. 2736 (K,WAG,YA); Esense river near farm of Philip Taza, 4.76°N, 9.683°E, 19 January 1995, Cheek M. 7034 (K,WAG,YA); Kupe village, 4.76°N, 9.683°E, 24 January 1995, Cheek M. 7131 (K,WAG); Nyasoso village on max’s trail to Mt 4.82°N, 9.692°E, 05 April 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1059 (WAG,YA); Rumpi mountains forest trail ca 5 km after Dikome Balue village ca 40 km north of Kumba, 4.93°N, 9.241°E, 10 January 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 965 (WAG,YA); Below Kupe rock near Esense river, 4.78°N, 9.683°E, 23 January 1995, Elad M. 69 (K,YA); South of Nyasoso (end of village) Trail at the end of the village left hand side Nyasoso-Mbulle road, 4.81°N, 9.683°E, 03 July 1996, Etuge M. 2562 (K,YA); Rumpi Hills, 4.95°N, 9.033°E, 06 February 2000, Kenfack D. 1334 (K,MO,YA); Forest trail 2 km south from Etube-Tape village, 4.85°N, 9.7°E, 01 February 1995, Lane P. 490 (K,WAG,YA); Nyasoso, 4.82°N, 9.666°E, 23 October 1995, Sebsebe D. 5035 (K,YA); 7 km WNW of Bomana 34 km NW of Limbé, 4.27°N, 9.112°E, 15 December 1984, Villiers J.-F. 2490 (P,YA) .