Trichoscypha laxiflora Engl.

Breteler, F. J., 2004, The genus Trichoscypha (Anacardiaceae) in Lower Guinea and Congolia: A synoptic revision, Adansonia (3) 26 (1), pp. 97-127 : 112-113

9. Trichoscypha laxiflora Engl.

Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 1: 110 (1892). — Type: Soyaux 320, Gabon, Munda, Ƌ fl. Nov. 1881 (holo-, B, delet.; lecto-, K!, designated here; iso-, Z!) .

Trichoscypha camerunensis Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 15: 109 (1892); Keay in Hutch. & Dalz., Fl. West Trop. Afr. ed. 2, 1: 736. — Type: Preuss 99, Cameroun, Kumba-Ninga to Mokonje, Ƌ fl. Apr. 1889 (holo-, B, delet.). Neotype (designated here): Bos 4918, Cameroun, 2 km N of Longii, Ƌ fl. June 1969 (WAG!; iso-, BR, K, MO, P, PRE, UPS, YA). See Notes.

Trichoscypha talbotii Bak. f. in Rendle et al., Cat. Talbot Nig. Pl.: 22 (1913); Keay in Hutch. & Dalz., Fl. West Trop. Afr. ed. 2, 1: 735. — Type: Talbot 579, Nigeria, Oban, Ƌ fl. (holo-, BM).

Trichoscypha heterophylla Engl. & Brehmer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 314 (1917). — Type: Zenker 2147, 2147a, 1883, Cameroun, Bipindi , fl. July-Aug. 1899-1900 and Mildbraed 5837, 5838, Cameroun, near Kribi, fl. July 1911 (syn-, B, delet.); lecto-, designated here, Zenker 2147, Ƌ fl. July 1900 (WAG; isolecto-, A!, BM!, COI!, G!, GOET!, K!, MO!, P!, Z!).

Trichoscypha dusenii Engl., Pflanzenw. Afrikas, III, II : 191 (1921). — Neotype (designated here): Bos 5459, Cameroun, 15 km N of Kribi , Ƌ fl. Oct. 1969 (WAG!; iso-, K!, P!, YA). See Notes.

Shrub-treelet up to 2.5 (-15?, see Notes) m tall. Leaves very variable, (1-)3-5(-13)-foliolate; folioles variable in size and shape, from broadly elliptic to oblong-obovate, (5-)12-30(-40) × (2-)5-10(-16) cm, (1.5-)2-3(-5) times as long as wide, ± glabrous, beneath with minute, brown dots; lateral nerves 3-12(-17) pairs, impressed above. Flowers (Jan.-Dec.) dark red to purple; the male ones arranged in loose many-flowered panicles on thin, (2-)3-5(-7) mm long pedicels, the female ones in narrow panicles, borne on shorter pedicels; petals distinctly valvate. Fruits (Jan.- Dec.) ellipsoid, 1.5-4.5 × 1-2.5 cm, glabrous, orange, smooth, glossy; pulp sweet, cotyledons purple. — Figs 1H ; 4.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. — Rain forest , from SE Nigeria to Congo (Brazzaville). Alt. up to c. 800 m.

SELECTED SPECIMENS. — CAMEROUN: Bamps 1742, Lolodorf, fr. Jan. (BR!); Bos 3718, 17 km N of Kribi, fr. Jan. (BR!, WAG!); Bos 4918, 2 km N of Longhi, fl. June (BR!, K!, MO!, P!, PRE!, UPS!, WAG!, YA); Bos 5459, 15 km N of Kribi, fl. Oct. (WAG!); Bos 6936, Ottôtomo Res., fl. May (WAG!); Dang 633, Nkolomang, fr. Mar. (P!); J.J. de Wilde 7683, Nkoemvone, fl., fr. Nov. (BR!, MO!, WAG!); J.J. de Wilde et al. 12108, Bingalanda Mts., fr. Dec. (WAG!); W. de Wilde c.s. 1557, 50 km W of Eséka, fr. Dec. (WAG!); Etuge & Thomas 154, Bakolle Bakossi, fl. May (A!); Gentry & Thomas 62430, Banyong, ster. May (MO!); Letouzey 12297, Boga, fr. Dec. (P!); Mambo et al. 15, Mbu, fl. Apr. (MO!); Mézili 47, Ngbouassa, fr. Nov. (P!); Nemba & Thomas 15, Mekom Bakossi, fl. Apr. (BR!, MA!, MO!); Tchouto et al. EGONX 186, Efoulan & Egongo hills, fr. Dec. (WAG!); Thomas 2096, Kala Mt., fl. b. May (MO!); Thomas & McLeod 5858, Korup Nat. Park, fl. b. Mar. (MO!); Zenker 2147, Bipindi, fl. (A!, BM!, COI!, G!, GOET!, K!, MO!, P!, WAG!, Z!). — CONGO (Brazzaville): Cusset 672, Dimonika, ster. Nov. (P!); Sita 2942, Masseka, fl. Oct. (P!); Sita 4167, Moutouala, fr. Apr. (BR!, WAG!). — CONGO (Kinshasa): Hauzer 36, Kisafu, fl. Nov. (BR!). — EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Lejoly 93/410, Mbini, fr. Oct. (BRLU!); Ngomo 86, Alen Mt., fr. Mar. (BRLU!); Van Reeth 147, Chocolate Mt., fr. Jan. (BRLU!). — GABON: Breteler et al. 14959, Makandé, fr. Feb. (LBV, WAG!); J.J. de Wilde et al. 59, Kinguélé, fr. Jan. (BR!, LBV, MO!, P!, WAG!); Hallé & Villiers 5098, Mela Mt., fr. Feb. (P!); Leeuwenberg 11464, 8 km WSW Makokou, fl. Nov. (WAG!); Le Testu 1643, Issala, fl. Oct. (BM!, P!); Louis et al. 930, Mouyanama, fr. Nov. (BR!, LBV, MO!, WAG!); Reitsma et al. 2117, 13 km S of Cocobeach, fr. Apr. (WAG!); Soyaux 320, Sibange Farm, fl. Nov. (K!, Z!); L. White 1341, Lopé Reserve, fr. Feb. (LBV, MO!); Wieringa 710, Tchimbélé, fr. Mar. (WAG!). — NIGERIA: Talbot 579, Oban, fl. (BM!).

NOTES. — ENGLER (1892) described the petals of this species as “ intus minute puberulis ”. The flowers analyzed always have glabrous petals. It may be that either the flower(s) seen by ENGLER had the petals molded inside or, being finely wrinkled, were misinterpreted as finely puberulous.

Trichoscypha camerunensis Engl. was published simutaneously with T. laxiflora . Its type was lost at Berlin and no duplicate has been found. As ENGLER’ s description leaves no doubt as regards the identity of T. camerunensis , a neotype has been designated accordingly. The only small difference between Trichoscypha laxiflora and T. camerunensis is found in the petals, which, for the latter are described by ENGLER as “ flavidis ”, with blackish veines (“von schwärzlichen Adern durchzogen”) whereas they are usually reported to be dark red to purple.

Trichoscypha dusenii Engl. was validly published, although no type material was mentioned. The short description in German, however, clearly points to T. laxiflora Engl. The neotype that has been chosen, originates from the same area where Ilende, the type locality indicated by ENGLER, is situated.

There are two collectors (Gentry & Thomas 62430) who described the habit of T. laxiflora as a treelet of 15 m tall, whereas all other collectors refer to it as a shrub up to at most 2.5 m tall, usually much smaller. Trichoscypha species can be variable as regards their habit (cf. T. mannii , T. reygaertii ) and it may therefore also occur in this species.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Flowers of Trichoscypha species, one petal removed: A, T. acuminata Engl.; B, T. arborea (A. Chev.) A. Chev.; C, T. bijuga Engl.; D, T. bracteata Breteler; E, T. engong Engl. & Brehmer; F, T. hallei Breteler; G, T. imbricata Engl.; H, T. laxiflora Engl.; I, T. lucens Oliv. A1, Breteler 15670; A2, Sosef et al. 516; A3, Breteler 15680; B1, Van der Burg 766; B2, J.J. de Wilde 311; C1, Stoop-van de Kasteele 210; C2, Beentje 889; D, Walker s.n.; E1, Mildbraed 5391; E2, Wilks 3519; F, N. Hallé 2822; G1, Breteler et al. 14477; G2, Breteler et al. 14491; H1, Bos 4981; H2, Van Andel et al. 3959; I1, de Koning 3909; I2, Beentje 875. Drawing by H. DE VRIES.

FIG. 4. — Distribution of Trichoscypha species 2, 4-9, 12.