Artabotrys aurantiacus Engl. & Diels, Notizbl. Konigl . Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 300, 1899

Couvreur, Thomas L. P., Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J., Crozier, Francoise, Ghogue, Jean-Paul, Hoekstra, Paul H., Kamdem, Narcisse G., Johnson, David M., Murray, Nancy A. & Sonke, Bonaventure, 2022, Flora of Cameroon - Annonaceae Vol 45, PhytoKeys 207, pp. 1-532 : 56-58

Artabotrys aurantiacus Engl. & Diels, Notizbl. Konigl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 300, 1899

Fig. 11 ; Map 2A

= Artabotrys pynaertii De Wild., Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. sér. 5, 3(1): 78, 1909. Type. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Equateur, Eala, Pynaert L.A. 606, 15 Oct 1906: lectotype, sheet here designated: BR[BR0000008809971]; isotypes: BR[BR0000008809964, BR0000008809988]; S[S07-13416].

= Artabotrys claessensii De Wild., Bull. Jard. Bot. État Brux. 3: 262, 1911. Type. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Orientale, Yangambi, Claessen, J. 725, Jul 1910: lectotype, sheet here designated: BR[BR0000008809995]; isotype: BR[BR0000008809988].

Type.

Cameroon. Central Region ; Yaoundé, Zenker G.A. 690, 1896: holotype: B[B 10 0153007]; isotypes: BM[BM000546848]; COI[COI00004927]; P[P00363375, P00363376]; K[K000198859, K000198860] .

Description.

Liana, height unknown, d.b.h. unknown. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches sparsely pubescent with short appressed hairs. Leaves: petiole 3-5 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent with short appressed hairs to glabrous, grooved, blade inserted on the side of the petiole; blade 7.5-10 cm long, 2.5-6 cm wide, oblong to elliptic, apex acuminate, acumen 0.5-1 cm long, base cuneate to rounded, coriaceous to subcoriaceous, below sparsely pubescent with short appressed hairs to glabrous when young, glabrous when old, above glabrous when young and old, concolorous; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent with short appressed hairs when young and old; secondary veins 10 to 12 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old leafless branches, leaf opposed. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 4 per inflorescence; hook-shaped peduncle 15-20 mm long, sparsely pubescent; pedicel 7-10 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent; in fruit 7-13 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, glabrous; bracts all basal, minute; sepals 3, valvate, free, 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, green, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal, green turning red-orange; outer petals 3, 15-30 mm long, 4-9 mm wide, narrowly elliptic to narrowly ovate, apex attenuate, base broad and concave, white to light green, margins flat, tomentose outside, tomentose with a glabrous base inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 15-30 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, linear to narrowly elliptic, apex acute, base broad and concave, white to light green, margins flat, tomentose outside, tomentose with a glabrous base inside; stamens 15 to 20, in 2 to 3 rows, 2-3 mm long, cuneiform; connective discoid, glabrous; staminodes absent; carpels free, 8 to 10, ovary ca. 2 mm long, stigma cylindrical, glabrous. Monocarps sessile, 4 to 6, 15-20 mm long, 7-13 mm in diameter, ellipsoid to oblong, apex rounded, glabrous, smooth, red when ripe, not ribbed; seeds 1 to 2 per monocarp, 10-13 mm long, 5-8 mm in diameter, flattened ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

A central African species, from Cameroon to the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; in Cameroon known from the Central, East, Littoral, South, South-West and West regions.

Habitat.

A common species across its range; in sub montane (sometimes lowland) secondary or primary rain forests. Altitude [phone] m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None recorded.

Notes.

Artabotrys aurantiacus is distinguished by its sparsely pubescent to glabrous branches and leaf blades (upper and lower sides), with leaves that are relatively small but wide (less than 10 cm and up to 6 cm wide) and oblong to elliptic in shape with a cuneate to rounded base. The flowers have narrowly elliptic petals and the monocarps are smooth, ellipsoid with a rounded apex.

Specimens examined.

Central Region: Badjob, 3.68°N, 10.68°E, 21 December 1963, de Wilde W.J.J.O 1602 (BR,MO,P,WAG,YA); Bank Nyong River near the new bridge ca 65 km SSW of Eséka, 3.46°N, 10.5°E, 17 June 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 2720 (WAG); Yaoundé, 3.87°N, 11.52°E, 1896, Zenker G.A. 690 (B,K,P). East Region: Ebaka (Bertoua), 4.93°N, 13.32°E, 24 May 1961, Breteler F.J. 1429 (BR,K,M,P,WAG,YA); Ndo Riv (Bertoua), 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 12 December 1961, Breteler F.J. 2210 (BR,K,P,WAG,YA); Doumé Riv (Batouri), 4.23°N, 13.45°E, 15 April 1962, Breteler F.J. 2799 (K,P,WAG); Goyoum, 5.22°N, 13.38°E, 29 January 1961, Breteler F.J. 968 (A,BR,K,M,P,WAG); Nguélémendouka, 4.38°N, 12.92°E, 04 April 1962, de Bruijn J. s.n. (WAG[WAG0175010]); Rives du Dja près Ndongo à 40 km WNW de Moloundou, 2.15°N, 14.86°E, 18 March 1973, Letouzey R. 12141 (P,WAG,YA); Berge arbustive et broussailleuse du fleuve Sanaga au Nord de Goyoum, 5.24°N, 13.36°E, 29 January 1961, Letouzey R. 3309 (P,YA); Rives du Dja entre les rivières Meu et Edjune, 3.41°N, 13.33°E, 12 April 1961, Letouzey R. 3772 (P,YA); Rives de la Kadei entre Mindourou et Dongongo (40 km SSE de Batouri), 4.13°N, 14.60°E, 25 April 1962, Letouzey R. 4859 (P,YA); Betare Oya, 5.59°N, 14.08°E, Tisserant C. 3651 (P). Littoral Region: Manengouba mount base 4 km WNW Of Nkongsamba, 4.96°N, 9.883°E, 09 September 1971, Leeuwenberg A.J.M. 8319 (B,BR,MO,P,U,WAG,YA). South Region: Ebom, 3.1°N, 10.73°E, 13 August 1996, Elad M. 510 (WAG); Nyabesan, 2.4°N, 10.4°E, 05 March 1963, Raynal J. 10240 (P,YA). South-West Region: Likombe, 4.11°N, 9.183°E, 19 February 1995, Cable S. 1309 (K,MO,WAG,YA); Likombe, 4.11°N, 9.183°E, 19 February 1995, Cable S. 1310 (K,WAG,YA); Road to NLO Mt from Kodmin, 5°N, 9.683°E, 23 January 1998, Cheek M. 9063 (K,YA); Nyasoso, 4.81°N, 9.683°E, 08 February 1995, Elad M. 132 (K,YA); Mt Cameroon south slope Transect 8, 4.07°N, 9.015°E, 16 November 1985, Gentry A.H. 52942 (MO,P); Nzee Mbeng trail from Ngomin to Nzee Mbeng, 5.83°N, 9.716°E, 10 February 1998, Gosline W.G. 99 (K,YA); Ndum, 4.83°N, 9.7°E, 31 January 1995, Groves M. 21 (K,MO,WAG,YA); Nyasoso, 4.81°N, 9.683°E, 08 February 1995, Groves M. 77 (K,YA); South slope of mount north of Mt Etinde Forest, 4.08°N, 9.133°E, 20 March 1988, Nemba J. 953 (MO,P). West Region: Bali Ngemba grassland and forest patches northeast of Mantum, 5.82°N, 10.08°E, 12 April 2004, Etuge M. 5373 (K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Dschang, 5.45°N, 9.95°E, 01 May 1960, Jacques-Félix H. 5211 (K,P,WAG); Ngwenfon 35 km NW de Foumban, 5.72°N, 10.92°E, 11 December 1974, Letouzey R. 13495 (P,YA).

Figures

Map 2. A Artabotrys aurantiacus B Artabotrys aurantiacus var. multiflorus C Artabotrys congolensis D Artabotrys dielsianus E Artabotrys insignis F Artabotrys insignis var. batesii G Artabotrys jacques-felicis H Artabotrys rufus I Artabotrys thomsonii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 11. Artabotrys aurantiacus var. aurantiacus A flowering branch B outer petal, inner view C inner petal, outer and inner views D flowering receptacle with petals removed E stamen F carpel, side view and detail of basal ovules G fruiting branch. Artabotrys aurantiacus Var. multiflorus H flowering branch, note the numerous flowers. Artabotrys insignis var. insignis I flowering branch J outer petal, inner view K inner petal, inner view L flower, whole M stamen N carpel, side view, and detail of ovules O fruiting branch, note long apiculate apex of monocarps A-F from Le Testu 8499 G from Le Testu 4430 H from Le Testu 7116 I-N from Le Testu 8674; 15 from Berteler 2959. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 b; pl. 26, p. 143).