Piptostigma longepilosum Engl., Notizbl. Konigl . Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 297, 1899

Fig. 88; Map 11C

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; around Bipinde, Zenker G.A. 1075, 1896: holotype: B[B100154079]; isotypes: HBG[HBG502530]; L[L0183458]; M[M0107925]; NY[NY00026195]; P[P00363294, P00363295]; S[S07-13478]; WU[WU0025868] .

Description.

Tree, 4-16 m tall, d.b.h. unknown; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous, young foliate branches densely hispid, hairs 4-5 mm long. Leaves: petiole 4-7 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, hispid, hairs 1-5 mm long, cylindrical, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 7.7-24.3 cm long, 4-10.3 cm wide, obovate, apex acuminate, acumen 0.3-1 cm long, base rounded to obtuse, papyraceous, below glabrous when young and old, above glabrous when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed, above densely pubescent when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 14 to 34 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescence cauliflorous, pubescent all over, especially younger parts, with hairs 1-2 mm long, peduncle like base 5-20 mm long, axial internodes 14-40 mm long, lax to sub-lax, sympodial rachis 45-150 mm long. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 4 per inflorescence; pedicel 9-12 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; in fruit 10-12 mm long, 4 mm in diameter, pubescent; basal bract 6-12 mm long, 4-6 mm wide; upper bract 6-12 mm long, 4-6 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, ca. 6 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, 6-10 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 40-80 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, margins wavy, densely pubescent outside, pubescent towards base inside; stamens 70 to 90, in 5 to 6 rows, 1-2 mm long, broad; connective discoid, glabrous, red; staminodes absent; carpels free, 3 to 5, ovary ca. 2 mm long, stigma globose, pubescent. Monocarps sessile, 1 to 3, ca. 15 mm long, ca. 20 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, apex rounded, pubescent, warty, bumpy, orange, pink to yellow when ripe; seeds 10 to 12 per monocarp, ca. 10 mm long, ca. 8 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

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

Habitat.

A rare species; in the understory of lowland primary rain forests. Altitude 0-120 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Endangered (EN) (Cosiaux et al. 2019a j).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Piptostigma longepilosum is easily identified by the long (4-5 mm long) generally erect pubescence on the young foliate branches, petioles and young inflorescences, and rounded to obtuse leaf base. Piptostigma mortehanii also has a hispid pubescence, but its hairs are much shorter (less than 4 mm long) and the leaf blade base is acute. This species has not been recollected since 1994, despite efforts to locate it.

Specimens examined.

South Region: Route de Bipindi à Dihani, 3.26°N, 10.20°E, 24 June 1928, Annet E. 420 (P); ca 45 k from Kribi ca 8 km N of Lolodorf road, 3.1°N, 10.25°E, 02 April 1970, Bos J.J. 6683 (BR,K,LD,LM,MO,P,WAG,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 1896, Zenker G.A. 1075 (L,P,WAG) . South-West Region: Mokoko Forest Reserve Boa / Mokoko, 4.42°N, 8.972°E, 31 May 1994, Acworth J.M. 289 (K,YA); Mokoko Forest Reserve Dikome, 4.48°N, 9.033°E, 02 May 1994, Ekema S.N. 862 (K,YA); Aikoume(?) Banondo(?) forest (Cameroun), 4.45°N, 9.016°E, 03 May 1994, Sonké B. 1173 (BR,WAG); Mokoko Mount above Bonja village, 4.46°N, 9.1°E, 23 March 1993, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 613 (K); Korup National Park Primary rain forest, 5.03°N, 8.833°E, 01 March 1987, Thomas D.W. 6906 (MO); Mokoko Forest Reserve Ekombe-Mofako, 4.46°N, 9.066°E, 21 May 1994, Watts J. 1104 (K,YA); Likingi 35 hrs S on Wonge river E hills, 4.33°N, 8.98°E, 23 March 1993, Wheatley J.I. 814 (K) .