Tapura tchoutoi Breteler, 2002

Breteler, F. J., 2002, A new species of Tapura (Dichapetalaceae) from Cameroun, Adansonia (3) 24 (2), pp. 267-269 : 267-269

Tapura tchoutoi Breteler , sp. nov.

Tapura neglectae Hallé & Heine affinis inflorescentia libera, compacta axillarique, sed differt stipulis longioribus, foliis multo majoribus textura tenui, longiacuminatis, plurinervis et floribus majoribus petala nongeniculata habentibus.

TYPUS. — Tchouto & Elad 3288, Cameroun, South Province , Campo Ma’an area , Bifa , 2°41’37”N, 10°16’23”E, 10 Oct. 2001, fl., y.fr. (holo-, WAG; iso-, K, P, SCA) .

Small tree. Branches appressed-pubescent, glabrescent with age. Stipules narrowly triangular, 4-5(-6) mm long, appressed-pubescent, soon deciduous. Leaves: petiole semiterete, grooved above, (2-) 3 -6(-7) mm long, appressed-pubescent; lamina papery, (elliptic-) obovate, usually narrowly so, 2.5-3.5(-4) times as long as wide, (12-)15-24 (-28) × (4-)5-6(-8) cm, cuneate to ± rounded and sometimes slightly unequal-sided at base, ± abruptly acuminate at apex, the acumen (0.5-) 1.5- 3 cm long, rounded to acute apically; upper surface glabrous, subappressed-pubescent on midrib and main lateral nerves beneath, sometimes (in young leaves) with remnants of an arachnoid indumentum as well, midrib impressed above, prominently raised beneath, the (7-)9-11 pairs of main laterals slightly prominent above, more distinctly so beneath; glands small, usually on the lower surface, on either side of the midrib, near leaf base only or ± well distributed alongside the midrib and at some distance from the midrib towards the margins. Inflorescence a ± sessile, indistinctly branched, up to c. 25-flowered, pubescent dichasium; bracts and bracteoles triangular, 0.5-1.5 mm long, appressed-pubescent outside, glabrous inside. Pedicel articulate, up to 1.5 mm long, the lower part c. 1 mm long, pubescent, the upper part c. 0.5 mm long, ± glabrous. Flowers 6 mm long. Sepals 5, unequal in length, oblong-elliptic, sparsely hairy outside and with ciliate margins, glabrous inside, the outer two ± 3 mm long, the inner 4-5 mm long. Petals five, 5-5.5 mm long, fused with the stamens basally forming a 3 mm long tube, apical parts free, 2-2.5 mm long; tube and free parts glabrous outside, tomentose inside on upper part of tube and on basal part of lobes; large petals 2, free part 2.5 mm long, not geniculate, apex 1 mm bilobed; the 3 minor petals entire, with a ± ovate, 1 mm long apical part. Stamens 3 fertile, and 2 sterile, lacking anthers; the fertile ones distinctly shorter than the petals, the two lateral ones at one side (proximal to minor petals) provided with a small filiform lobe, anthers 0.6 mm long, connective smooth; free part of sterile stamens ± filiform, pubescent. Basal staminode 1, across the large petals, subquadrate, ± 1 × 1 mm, glabrous. Pistil 3-merous, 5- 5.5 mm long; ovary ± 1 mm long, apex velutinous; style pubescent in upper half, 3-lobed; lobes ± glabrous. Young fruits velutinous. — Fig. 1.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. — Caesalpiniaceae rain forest in South Cameroun, alt. up to c. 100 m.

PARATYPE. — CAMEROUN: Tchouto & Elad T 2 X 131, South Province , Campo Ma’an area, Bibabimvoto, 2°13’36’’N, 9°56’28’’E, 19 July 2000, ster. (WAG).

This species is named after the first collector of the type specimen.

Tapura tchoutoi is most closely related to T. neglecta Hallé & Heine from Gabon. Both species are characterized by a compact, ± sessile inflorescence which is free from the petiole of the supporting leaf. The two species may be distinguished from one another as follows.

Stipules 3(-3.5) mm long; leaves coriaceous, 2-3 times as long as wide, 7-12 × 2.5-5 cm, acumen 0.5-1 cm long; lateral nerves 4-7 pairs; flowers 4-5 mm long; large petals geniculate below the bicucculate upper part .... T. neglecta Stipules 4-5(-6) mm long; leaves papery, 2.5-3.5(-4) times as long as wide, (12-)15-24 (-28) × (4-)5-6(-8) cm; acumen (0.5-) 1.5-3 cm long; lateral nerves (7-)9-11 pairs; flowers 6 mm long; large petals not geniculate ............ ............................................................................................................................................................ T. tchoutoi

Figures

Fig. 1. — Tapura tchoutoi Breteler: A, flowering branch; B, stipule; C-D, flower, respectively abaxially and adaxially; E, staminal tube inside; F, pistil with basal staminode; G, calyx with young fruit. (A-G, Tchouto & Elad 3288). Drawing by H. DE VRIES.