Combretum gordonii Jongkind, 2014

Jongkind, Carel C. H., 2014, Notes on African Combretum Loefl. species (Combretaceae), Adansonia (3) 36 (2), pp. 315-327 : 316-318

Combretum gordonii Jongkind , sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Liana magna. Folia opposita, lamina elliptica usque ad obovata, pilosa; basi auriculata usque ad cordata. Inflorescentia axillaris; flores tetrameri, sessiles; receptaculum superius infundibuliforme, lobi calycis deltoidei; petala obovata, glabra, alba; stylus exsertus glaber.

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Manongarivo Massif , above village of Ambodisakoana, East of Ankaramy, 14°05’S 48°20’E, fl., 20.X.1994 , G. McPherson and H. van der Werff 16426 (holo-, MO).

DESCRIPTION

Woody climber. Leaves opposite, 4-9 × 2.5-7 cm; petiole up to 5 mm long, velutinous; blade elliptic to obovate, beneath velutinous, conspicuously reticulate and with many small colourless to pale brown scales, scales roughly circular 65-80 µm in diameter, divided by c. 8 radial walls,blade above shiny,midrib and main lateral nerves densely hairy but with few hairs on the blade in between, 7 to 10 pairs of main lateral nerves; base cordate to auriculate; apex rounded to emarginate and apiculate.Inflorescence an axillary spike,up to 6 cm long, axes velutinous.Flowers sessile, white; receptacle 5 mm high and 2.5 mm in diameter, lower receptacle c. 1 mm high, upper receptacle infundibuliform, calyx lobes triangular. Petals 2 × 1 mm, obovate, glabrous. Style c. 5 mm exserted, glabrous. Stamens c. 4 mm exserted; anthers c. 0.3 mm long. Fruits unknown.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION

Only known from the forest on the type locality in the NW of Madagascar .

Combretum comosum G.Don ( Table 1) Large liana. Lower part of petiole often changing into a woody hook. Flowers 5-merous, partly reddish, petals glabrous except for a fringe of many tiny glandular hairs, flower-bract for a short distance fused with the peduncle of the flower. Fruits with 5 thinly papery wings.

DISTRIBUTION. — Guinea to Uganda and Angola.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Combretum gordonii Jongkind, sp. nov.: A, branch with flowers; B, scales on the lower side of the leaf; C, flower; D, flower opened. After McPherson & van der Werff 16426. Drawn by Hans de Vries. Scale bars: A, 1 cm; B-D, 1 mm.