Piptostigma glabrescens Oliv., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 8: 159, 1864

Figs 87, 94; Map 11A

= Piptostigma preussii Engl. & Diels, Monogr. Afrik. Pflanzen.-Fam. 6: 54, 1901. Type. Cameroon. South-West Region, Barombi Station, Preuss P.R. 251, Apr 1890: holotype: B[B100154082]; isotype: K[K000105585].

= Piptostigma glabrescens Oliv. var. lanceolata Le Thomas, Fl. Gabon 16: 120, 1969. Type. Gabon. Ogooué-Ivindo, Bélinga, mines de fer, Hallé N. 4087, 12 Aug 1966: holotype: P[P00363300]; isotypes: P[P00323698, P00363299].

Type.

Equatorial Guinea. Rio Muni; Kongui River, Mann G. 1792, Aug.-Sep 1862: holotype: B[B100154078]; isotype: K[K000199000, K000199706]; P[P00363305] .

Description.

Tree, 8-10 m tall, d.b.h. 12-15 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches pubescent. Leaves: petiole 2-3 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent, cylindrical, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 12-30 cm long, 4-8.5 cm wide, obovate, apex acuminate, acumen 1.4-1.7 cm long, base obtuse to acute, papyraceous, below pubescent when young, glabrous when old, above glabrous when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 19 to 27 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences cauliflorous, peduncle like base 5-20 mm long, axial internodes 10-150 mm long, lax to panicle-like, sympodial rachis 20-70 mm long. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 10 to 28 per inflorescence; pedicel 11-13 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 16-20 mm long, 6 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; bracts 2, one basal and one upper towards the lower half of pedicel, basal bract 4-5 mm long, 3 mm wide; upper bract 2-5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 4 mm long, 2 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, brown, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals shorter than inner; outer petals 3, 5-6 mm long, 2 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, red, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 30-50 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, red, margins wavy, pubescent outside, sparsely pubescent inside; stamens 90 to 110, in 6 to 7 rows, ca. 1 mm long, broad; connective discoid, glabrous, red; staminodes absent; carpels free, 5 to 8, ovary ca. 1 mm long, stigma globose, pubescent. Monocarps sessile, ca. 8, 20-65 mm long, 9-21 mm in diameter, oblong to narrowly oblong, apex sometimes mucronate, glabrous or sometimes very sparsely pubescent, puncticulate (covered by small blister-like pimples or wards), irregularly and longitudinally ribbed, color unknown; seeds 1 to 7 per monocarp, ca. 15 mm long, ca. 10 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

From Cameroon to Gabon, one specimen from Republic of Congo; in Cameroon known from the South, Littoral and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A common species when present; in forests and plantations on black volcanic soils. Altitude 200-1000 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

nom otoungui (Dial. Boulou, Endengle, E. s.n.).

IUCN conservation status.

Near Threatened B2ab(iii) (Cosiaux et al. 2019a h).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Piptostigma glabrescens is morphologically similar to P. multinervium (also a common species in Cameroon). Piptostigma glabrescens however has glabrous older branches which are longitudinally striate (versus shortly or sparsely pubescent and non-striate), and monocarps which are puncticulate, and longitudinally ridged (versus muricate and not longitudinally ridged.

Specimens examined.

Littoral Region: Douala (route Razel), 4.05°N, 9.71°E, 01 January 1955, Endengle E. 2061 (P); Foret de Bakaka 3 km E of Eboné a village on km 11 Nkongsamba-Loum Road, 4.83°N, 9.9°E, 13 September 1971, Leeuwenberg A.J.M. 8354 (WAG,YA); Hikoa Mahouda (chaine de la L’Hikoa Mandeng- 30 km ENE Edea), 3.87°N, 10.39°E, 17 December 1973, Letouzey R. 12415 (K); Tissongo, 3.58°N, 9.9°E, 07 July 1976, McKey D.B. 103 (K). South Region: SE slopes of Mt elephant SE of Kribi, 2.78°N, 10.01°E, 26 February 1970, Bos J.J. 6415 (BR,C,K,LD,P,WAG,YA); ca 3 km N of Lolodorf road, 3.01°N, 10.05°E, 18 March 1970, Bos J.J. 6594 (BR,K,LD,LM,MO,P,WAG,YA); 15 km before Kribi on N7 road from Ed 3.14°N, 9.968°E, 27 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1158 (MPU,P,WAG,YA); Nkoemvone, 2.81°N, 11.13°E, 09 September 1975, de Wilde J.J.F.E 8453a (BR,K,MO,P,WAG); Près Bella (45 km NE de Kribi), 3.25°N, 10.2°E, 25 January 1962, Letouzey R. 4167 (P,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1901, Zenker G.A. 2396 (B,BR,G,K,L,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1908, Zenker G.A. 3654 (BR,L,P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1911, Zenker G.A. 4006 (K,P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1912, Zenker G.A. 4472 (BR,L,P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1914, Zenker G.A. 505 (B,G,P,WAG). South-West Region: mountain circular road S of Koto II and the Onge river, 4.32°N, 9.064°E, 21 October 1993, Cheek M. 5071 (K,YA); Korup National Park nature trail near suspension bridge, 4.98°N, 8.85°E, 01 February 1995, Cheek M. 7230 (K,YA); Pente septentrionale de Nta Ali (1266)m) descente de la cote 1009 à Mbio 30 km SE de Mamfe, 5.59°N, 9.503°E, 21 June 1975, Letouzey R. 13912 (P,YA); Barombi F R Station, 4.65°N, 9.4°E, 1890, Preuss P.R. 251 (K) .